Kia ora,

This is for anyone who wishes to participate in the opening blessing ceremony for the World March for Peace and Nonviolence*, which will take place at Kopinga marae, on Rekohu / Chatham Islands. There is a long history of commitment to peace and nonviolence on Rekohu, as demonstrated by the covenant of peace which Moriori have observed for more than 500 years, and which remains a beacon of hope today.

The opening ceremony will be part of a two day trip, hosted by the Hokotehi Moriori Trust, which will start with a charter flight from Auckland via Wellington to the Chathams on the morning of Tuesday, 29 September. On arrival at Kopinga, there will be a welcome and blessing ceremony followed by a hakaari (kai). There will be a dawn ceremony on Wednesday, 30 September, and later sight seeing for those who wish to explore; and the charter flight will return to Wellington then Auckland on the morning of Thursday, 1 October.

The cost will be $630 per person for the flight, plus accommodation at the Henga Lodge at $200 plus food, or the marae at $40 plus food; sight seeing costs will be additional. Information about the Hokotehi Trust and Kopinga marae is at http://www.moriori.co.nz with information about the Lodge at http://www.chatham-lodge.co.nz/

At the moment there are an extremely limited numbers of seats on the plane, but there is a possibility that some more may become available in the next couple of days and if there are sufficient numbers of people wanting to go, another plane may be chartered - so if you would like to be part of this trip, could you please reply to Peace Movement Aotearoa email [email protected] as soon as possible and let us know:

a) if you are definitely interested in going if a seat becomes available, or are just thinking about it; and

b) whether you would be travelling from Auckland or Wellington.

Everyone who replies will be put on a waiting list in the order that their reply is received; it would be most useful if you can reply on Thursday, 10 September at the latest. Thank you.

* Information about the World March for Peace and Nonviolence is at http://www.theworldmarch.org/ with the Aotearoa New Zealand section website at http://www.fusecreative.co.nz/worldmarch/index.html - associated events start in Whanganui on 20 September, see http://www.wanganui.com/activitieslbr-ga-events/events/wanganui-international-day-of-peace-celebration?6eea1a9fe9982ea59848074023d19e08=5be85223f5a3e652274de1591c6bd851 with events in Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch.