Peace Walk Maungawhau – Monday 21st September 2026
This was the second year that The Council for Christians and Muslims organised a Walk up Maungawhau-Mt Eden for the UN-designated International Day of Peace, the 21st September
We acknowledge the support and advice received from the Tupuna Maunga Authority for this event, and we appreciate the response received from the Albert-Eden Local Board.
The CCM made a decision last year to continue with a Walk for Peace on Maungawhau as an annual occasion which can honour those who have or do speak for peace. It is a very informal chance to bring local people together, simply to talk and share stories with each other. This is part of the United Nations purpose for this particular day, and is perhaps the most important element.
In line with the UN theme for 2026, one of the aims is to recognise those people "everywhere in every neighbourhood" or community who stood for peace. So the focus of the 2026 CCM Peace Walk on Maungawhau was to meet with some of the founders of the Mt. Eden Peace Group of the 1970's and 1980's, and to hear from them directly about reasons for change they sought in our wider society. There were 20 people in the original Mt Eden Group - nurses, neighbours, poets, potters and parents, teachers, artists, shopkeepers, friends of politicians and members of church congregations who met together in opposition to major injustices, both locally and internationally.
The weather gave us a sunny morning with a mild afternoon and no rain this year. Since it was a Monday, we expected modest numbers and there were 14 of us this year. As last year, we gathered beside the children's playground on Normanby Road, at the foot of Maungawhau-Mt Eden, where we sat in close quarters at the playground's park bench to hear recollections from those attending. We remained there talking a little longer than expected...some had to depart early and we may have lost a couple of attendees who couldn't find us. The walk uphill was easy though quite breezy, with 7 people at the summit for photos.
In some ways the whole discussion might have taken place in a nearby cafe, although the foremost aim was to 'walk the trail' together in the simplicity of presence with other people on the maunga on this day.
