As the world is reeling from the horrific mass shooting that took place at Sydney's Bondi Beach last night, more eye-witness accounts are being shared - including one from a Kiwi caught up in the chaos. 

New Zealander Tiffany Salmond spoke to the NZ Herald about her "terrifying" experience, explaining she was around 20 meters from the footbridge where the gunmen began firing. 

"When the first shot went off, it sounded like a gunshot, but you just don't expect there to be a gunshot at Bondi Beach."

Salmond said she first thought it was a car backfiring, but then she heard a second and third shot. 

"I looked around, and people were running, so I started sprinting."

It wasn't until later that she understood how close she was to the gunmen. 

"I was pretty shocked I was that close, but I had no idea where the gunshots were coming from - I just knew it sounded close, so I sprinted for my life. It was terrifying".

Salmond called her dad once she had made it to safety, telling him: "I know so many people haven't made it through this because there were just so many shots."

Meanwhile, the Holocaust Centre of NZ has condemned the terror attack, in which a father and son killed at least 16 innocent people and injured over 40 when they opened fire on a crowd celebrating Hanukkah at a festival on the beach. 

“Our hearts and deepest condolences are with the families of those murdered and wounded," said chair Deborah Hart.

“New Zealand Jews, like our Australian brethren, now live with increased fear and vigilance,” Hart said. She added that similar events that used to be held in New Zealand had been stopped due to the rise in antisemitism and the threat of violence.

The New Zealand Jewish Council has confirmed there are armed police stationed at Jewish community sites across the motu today. 

President Juliet Moses told Stuff that Kiwi authorities are taking the situation "very seriously". 

We will have to see how things progress over the next few days," she said.

“It’s an extremely sad reality for Jewish people around the world… We are sickened by it, shocked by it, but not surprised by it, sadly. This is the environment we are in.”

NZ Prime Minister Christopher Luxon issued a statement reaffirming his "intolerance for antisemitism" in the wake of the attack.

"Last night's horrific attack at Bondi Beach has been confirmed by Australian authorities as a terrorist attack targeting Jewish people," he said. 

"Hanukkah is a time of peace and joy, not of pain and grief. This vile act of hatred is something all New Zealanders condemn." 

Luxon said his thoughts were with the Australian Jewish Community and people of Jewish faith in NZ and around the world. 

"My thoughts are with the Jewish community in Australia and with people of Jewish faith here in New Zealand and around the world, adding his Government was "committed to the safety and inclusion of all Jewish people".