The floral tributes grew outside the New Zealand mosque, even on Saturday morning, a week and a day after 50 people were slaughtered in an attack that tore through a community.

Christchurch police lifted the cordon and the Muslim community was allowed to return inside for the first time since the attack during Friday prayers last week.

Many of those who died lost their lives in Masjid al Noor. Many were injured there too.

The return was conflicting. Some found peace in knowing those who died had been martyred, taken while in their place of worship.

Others struggled with knowing so many of their friends had been killed there.

Inside it was silent. Not just during prayers but from the moment the barefoot worshippers stepped onto the shiny white tiles and a new grey mat at the front door.

Some paused to reflect.

It was there that Haji-Daoud Nabi had uttered his final words - "Hello, brother" to welcome the gunman inside.

Blood-soaked carpet has been ripped up and will be buried.

New carpet is still to come, but contractors volunteering their time have re-plastered and there's an overwhelming sign of fresh paint throughout.

But there are still signs of work to be done. Scars remain.

There's an unmistakeable bullet mark on the door to the women's prayer room, which remains closed.

Instead women and men prayed together but separately in the main hall.

"If a door is closed it is closed for a reason. Please leave it that way," volunteers told small groups of 15 at a time who were allowed in to pray and reflect for five minutes at a time.

One of the first to step inside was Rehanna Ali who described feeing a "very deep peace".

But Mohamed Safeer Mohamed Ismail felt "broken" as he returned to the mosque near his home, where he often prays with his wife and son

When he was six years old, more than 140 Muslim men and boys were massacred in four mosques in the Sri Lankan town Kattankudy, including two only a short distance from his home.

"That time I felt it, but I was small. But this has actually broken me," he said.

He was running late on Friday and was 50 metres down the road when shots were fired and men ran from the gate.

"The brothers jumped into my car. They said 'there's shooting inside'," he said.

"I got very scared and upset."

He, like most who returned on Saturday, knew many of the victims.

"It was so silent," he said of his return to the scene.

"It's not easy to come out from that (tragedy)."

The mosque wasn't just open for people to pray, but for people to observe and reflect and many beyond regular attendees were welcomed.

Jordanian Crown Prince El Hassan bin Talal laid flowers after praying inside.

Many non-Muslims were also welcomed inside.

Among them was Helen Zarod, a therapist who specialises in race-related issues on holiday from the UK.

"You've got to strike the balance between being voyeuristic and trying to be at one in solidarity with the people," she said.

"But that's obviously what they want."

Australian Associated Press