Manukau City, New Zealand - May 8 was an unseasonably wintry day in Auckland, but this did not stop a crowd of about 250 from gathering for the launch of Global Peace Festival in New Zealand. A diverse cross section of New Zealanders met at the Samoan Assemblies of God facility in Mangere at 7:00 p.m. Ambassador for Peace Bill Tangariki led a tradition Maori karakia (prayer) to open the evening backed by members of the Manurewa Marae Kapahaka group.

Planning Committee Chairman and Ambassador for Peace, Kampta Maharaja, welcomed the gathering and outlined some of the programs of the Global Peace Festival. This was followed by a video report of the Global Peace Festival around the world in 2008.

Geoffrey Prentice, Secretary General of UPF-New Zealand, delivered the Global Peace Tour 2009 keynote address.

The main speaker was Member of Parliament for the local area of Mangere, Su'a William Sio, who expressed heart-warming remarks on the themes of interfaith harmony, service, and family values.

Other entertainment was provided by the Martin Hautus Pacific Peoples Learning Institue Band, the Manukau Indian Association Peace Dancers, the Joy Dancers (a Taiwanese group) Edgewater College Kapahaka, and Lynn Walters.

A special thanks goes to the organizing committee for their work in the building the foundation for peace events in New Zealand.

For the keynote address and more information about the peace tour, click here.