Parnell, New Zealand—About 85 participants attended the inauguration of the New Zealand chapter of the International Association of Parliamentarians for Peace.
The ceremony took place on February 17, 2018, at the Quality Hotel in Parnell, a suburb of Auckland.
Three members of the New Zealand Parliament—Mr. Kanwaljit Singh Bakshi, Mrs. Anahila Kanongata’a-Suisuiki, and Ms. Priyanca Radhakrishnan—were among the participants, as were former parliamentarian Mr. Ross Robertson, Philippine Ambassador Jesus Domingo, several leaders of NGOs and faith-based organizations, and UPF Ambassadors for Peace.
The Morning Session
Mr. Greg Stone, the regional secretary general of UPF for Oceania, spoke on the relationship between the family and world peace.
Mrs. Bev Adair-Beets, a youth spokesperson for the group Family First, gave a talk on “The Impact of Globalization on the Indigenous People.”
Mrs. Raewyn Bhana, the manager of the Safer Aotearoa Family Violence Prevention Services, spoke on “Domestic Violence: Indigenous Practices.”
Mr. Adel Jamati, the director of UPF-New Zealand, spoke on “Children Living in an Adverse Environment.”
The Afternoon Session
Mrs. Felicity Cairns, the president of the New Zealand chapter of Women’s Federation for World Peace (WFWP), an organization affiliated with UPF, was the panel coordinator.
Ambassador Domingo gave a warm testimony of his involvement with UPF in the Philippines since 2000. He said attending this event was a homecoming for him.
Mrs. Anahila Kanongata’a-Suisuiki, Ms. Priyanca Radhakrishnan, Mr. Kanwaljit Singh Bakshi, and Mr. Ross Robertson (the current deputy chair of the Otara-Papatoetoe local board) offered their insights on the topic “Critical Issues of Children, Youth and Families.” Their interaction with each other was warm and friendly.
Mrs. Raewyn Bhana and Mrs. Bev Adair-Beets joined the panel for a question-and-answer session. Some enthusiastic members of the audience asked good questions. Although there were more questions coming, the coordinator had to move the time forward to the final session, which was the launch of IAPP in New Zealand.
Greg Stone gave a presentation of photographs of the launch of IAPP around the world. Then he read the IAPP resolution and invited the parliamentarians and all the participants to sign it. The event concluded with a group photo and refreshments.
There was a moving moment when all stood and sang together the song Where Peace Begins.
