Thousands gathered at Memorial Park Cemetery in Linwood on Firday to remember 26 of the victims of last week's Christchurch terrorist attacks.

Hina Amir believes she was in the right place at the right time to provide life-saving cover for people trying to escape from the Masjid Al Noor terrorist in Christchurch.

"The way he was shooting, the weapon he was using, there could be more [victims]," Hina said.

The software tester had migrated from Pakistan in December 2016 with her husband and two children.

IAIN MCGREGOR/STUFF Shooting witness Hina Amir outside the Masjid Al Noor in Hagley Park.

She was taking her husband, Amir, to the mosque to join the afternoon prayer service when they heard the first round of gunfire.

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The couple was confused at first but kept driving along Deans Ave towards Al Noor.

But within metres from the mosque they saw people bolting out of the building, dodging vehicles to escape the gunman. They were afraid because they knew their friends were inside.

IAIN MCGREGOR/STUFF Hina Amir says it is a little miracle she is still alive and her car being where it was helped to save lives.

Her husband told her to reverse the car, but she couldn't go far because of oncoming traffic.

Hina was able to back partially into Palazzo Ln less than 50 metres away.

Another vehicle also trying to escape stopped Hina's car from reversing completely out of harm's way and Hina's door was blocked so she couldn't escape.

HINA AMIR/SUPPLIED The couple tried to drive away from the shooter but they were trapped inside their car. Bullets shot pass them and windows shattered everywhere.

The car, now facing towards Hagley Park, was fully exposed.

To their left, the shooter had started his second round of firing outside the mosque.

He'd just reloaded the semiautomatic weapons in his car parked in a driveway on the other side of the mosque.

He walked along the footpath outside the mosque firing down the street at the backs of those running away from him and towards their car. The couple saw up to ten people make it past their car.

HINA AMIR/SUPPLIED "When he was shooting on our car the gun shots were so strong the car was actually shaking," Hina says.

The vehicle stopped the bullets from hitting those running for cover. But it was terrifying for the couple stuck inside.

"When he was shooting on our car the gun shots were so strong the car was actually shaking," Hina said.

The couple put their heads down as the bullets passed through the metal on the left side to the right, passing through the car.

Somehow – a little miracle, Hina said – none of the bullets hit them.

HINA AMIR/SUPPLIED Hina Amir and her husband Amir were shot at in their car near the Masjid Al Noor, a dozen people were saved by the car.

"For at least 10 seconds we heard bullets and the window glass breaking on us," Hina said.

"He kept shooting and shooting. He was making sure anyone in the car and on the other side got shot.

"A few bullets hit the dashboard and engine. Smoke started coming out of the car."

Days later, the couple estimated 26 rounds were shot at the car.

CARL COURT/GETTY IMAGES Armed police now guard Al Noor mosque 24/7 while New Zealand remains at a high security alert.

When the gunfire directed at their car stopped the pair was able to get out.

A Palazzo Ln resident named Norman opened his door and ushered in the couple, a woman called Fay from the other car and two Muslim men who'd escaped from the mosque. One of them had a cut on his hand where he'd smashed a mosque window to get out.

"Norman. He is amazing, very kind," Hina said.

"Definitely we were in [a] panic and the other Kiwi lady, Fay, made sure we are feeling fine.

"[Norman] made food for us, made sure I was getting my first aid done.

"Fay was sitting with me making sure I'm fine."

Hina tore a ligament in her left knee and left elbow. She couldn't move because of the injury. The police checked on local residents and asked Hina if she wanted medical attention. She refused telling them others needed the ambulances.

The two men from the mosque left within an hour of the shooting but the couple stayed in the safety of Norman's home for hours.

Stuff approached Norman for comment but he wasn't keen on any publicity. "They had a terrifying time," he said.

Hina plans to visit Norman to thank him again for all he'd done for them. Fay, had been back to thank Norman too with a bunch of flowers.

During the shooting, the couple never saw the gunman. They describe his actions as inhuman.

But the help she received and public support has given her hope.

"When I was walking on the road. Someone asked me if I feel safe? I said, I feel safer now. I don't have to tell people what we do in masjid. We're peaceful, we don't want this bloodshed anywhere in the world."

"New Zealanders, you guys have amazed us," Hina said.

"The way you have responded to the situation. You came out for us, you have stood by us. That's totally amazing."

* CORRECTION AND APOLOGY

An earlier version of this story reported Hina Amir's belief that she saw Muhammad Haziq Mohd-Tarmizi being shot outside the Al Noor Mosque. Police have now confirmed she was mistaken about the identity of the person she saw. We apologise for any distress caused to Haziq's family.