CCM PEACE TRAIL
In conjunction with UN PEACE WEEK 2025
As this was the first Walk for the UN-designated International Day of Peace, it was an important kaupapa.
Maungawhau-Mt Eden was ideal for the Peace Trail for many reasons, and we acknowledge the support and advice received from the Tupuna Maunga Authority for this event to go ahead as we hoped. The main issues we had to consider were balanced between the weather and the numbers attending, as well as accessibility for some people.
The weather forecast slowly improved after being very wet the previous days, and this stood against large numbers of people attending. By midday, September 21 st was merely overcast, allowing CCM to present this uniting day of peace with a group assembled at the sound shell in Tahake Reserve without umbrellas.
The kaupapa of the day was given admirably by a schoolboy’s speech about the United Nations, along with others volunteering statements, prayers, hopes and poetry, all bringing forward a sense of goodwill and shared positive presence amongst everyone there. The walk uphill therefore went well, one comment being
"I enjoyed the event very much. I met so many interesting people on the walk, and the more we talked the more connections we actually had.”
However with the wind becoming stronger by 3.00pm we may have been better to turn at the summit and descend by the main road, rather than proceed down the boardwalks as initially planned.
About 38 attended the initial sound shell meeting, with 26 at the summit. Although the numbers were below the 100plus we would have expected with good weather, we were well-organised for most eventualities, and being over-prepared this time was to our advantage for next time.
