WORLD PEACE MARCH AOTEAROA- NEW ZEALAND

Media Release September 2009

Children’s Rainbow Peace Dragon to Join September 27th Auckland Peace Heritage Walk

A dragon in the Auckland CBD!  And this one’s had some real life adventures.  It’s arisen from the wreckage of the Greenpeace flagship the Rainbow Warrior after it was bombed in Auckland harbour by the French Secret Service in 1985.

The rainbow peace dragon was formed from the sails of the Greenpeace ship by 65 children from the North Shore Children’s Art House. Aged from 7-17 and representing many cultures, the children worked to bring the dragon to life on the eve of the new millennium.

The dragon makes an appearance only on special occasions.  This time it is the Auckland Peace Heritage Walk, where it will be carried along the route, the first stop being Marsden Wharf by the Rainbow Warrior mural.

Recovered from the wreckage at Marsden Wharf, the sails featured whale’s blood and nuclear-free symbols.  They have been recycled into a constructive symbol of peace.

The Auckland Peace Heritage Walk, a free Auckland Heritage Festival event on Sunday September 27, begins at 10am in QEll Square and heralds the start of the first World March for Peace and Nonviolence to circle the planet, to be launched at a Wellington event on October 2nd.

The Auckland event will be assisted by 100 Event Management students from the School of Hospitality and Tourism at Auckland University of Technology, who will bring to Auckland’s CBD a celebration for peace with human peace symbols, dancing sails and whole lot of fun for all ages.

The Peace Heritage Walk starts with a “Wake up For Peace” flash mob at 10am in QEII Square by the Ahi Kā sculpture and ends with a celebration at St Matthew-in-the-City, corner Hobson and Wellesley Streets, from 12.30- 2.30pm.
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