Other Peace Cities in Aotearoa-New Zealand

A number of other cities have either dedicated themselves as Peace Cities (unrelated to the Sri Chinmoy Peace Cities initiative) or are in the process of doing so. 

Christchurch has been a Peace City since 2002 and has a number of peace installments and activities including a peace mural, peace mandala, peace awards, peace park, peace bell, peace films, regular exhibitions, camphor tree from nuclear-bombed Nagasaki, annual peace week and peace archives. See Christchurch Peace City and Christchurch Peace City Events.

Waitakere has been given a UNESCO Peace City award for its Peace City initiatives, and is in the process of reaffirming its Peace City status. (see "Waitakere Declares itself a City for Peace"). They have plans to establish a Peace City homepage, Peace Festival and Peace Park featuring a Peace Bell, as well as to produce peace displays and signs.

In 2003 the Hon Marian Hobbs, then the Minister for Disarmament and Arms Control, sent a letter to all cities informing them of the United Nations Study on Disarmament and Nonproliferation Education, and encouraging them to implement the Study’s recommendation for the establishment of Peace Cities.

In response, Wellington City Council has begun discussing a proposal for a Peace City programme that would include a Peace Walk, annual Peace Celebration and Peace Awards. Auckland became a Peace city in 2007, while Upper Hutt and Tauranga cities are among others also discussing the proposal.

Christchurch Peace Mural