June 16, 2016
Peace walk conversation needs to continue
New Plymouth mayor Andrew Judd says the conversations coming out of his peace walk need to continue after it reaches Parihaka tomorrow.
The hikoi today goes from Oakura to Okato, where there will be a community meeting this afternoon to discuss issues like race relations and Maori representation.
Mr Judd says he's pleased with the range of views so far.
"We do think differently, we are going to have a different take on things, but without talking about it in a safe, respectful way nothing's going to change or cut through, to have empathy and to understand each other better so we are going to continue on at Okato today, and then on to Parihaka where the message of peace was delivered to the world, but after this it is important we do carry on because where we have come from as a country, we need to talk about the new way," he says.
He's pleased at the impact the walk is having on school children, because they need to learn different values than their elders.
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