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New Zealand World Harmony Run 2006 Begins!

Tuesday June the 6th: The New Zealand leg of the global World Harmony Run 2006 begins from Christchurch.

New Zealand's South Island turned on archetypal blue-sky and sunshine weather today for the launch of this years New Zealand leg of the World Harmony Run - an international torch relay that seeks to promote international friendship and understanding. As a symbol of harmony, runners carry a flaming torch, passing it from hand to hand between members of thousands of communities and travelling through over 70 nations around the globe. The World Harmony Run was founded in 1987 by Sri Chinmoy - a tireless ambassador for global harmony whose numerous initiatives have inspired people from all walks of life to strive for a more harmonious and fufilling world.

On what began as a crisp morning following snowfall throughout the Southern Alps over the Queens Birthday holiday weekend, members of the New Zealand World Harmony Run team visited four schools in Christchurch and offered a free lunchtime concert for passers-by in the city's Cathedral Square. The previous Sunday, the team also participated in the SBS Christchurch City Marathon - carrying the Harmony torch and banners for the whole distance and giving runners and spectators an opportunity to hold and run with the torch as well. Before the start of the Marathon, the World Harmony Run torch was held by Kiwi running icon Allison Roe and former All Black legend Jeff Wilson.

Sri Chinmoy - founder of the World Harmony Run

Sri Chinmoy with World Harmony
Run torch - New York 2006

The World Harmony Run hits the highway on Wednesday - heading north to run through Kaikoura, Blenhiem, Nelson and Picton. It will then sail to Wellington - New Zealand's capital city - and will visit several schools there before heading north again toward it's final destination of Auckland. The core team of runners is itself like a mini version of the United Nations - with participants from New Zealand, Austria, Rarotonga, Canada, Australia, Trinidad and Tobago, the Czech Republic and India. To follow the progress of the World Harmony Run in New Zealand, and to find out how you can participate, please visit New Zealand's World Harmony Run Live from the Road webpage.