Peace in the school, workplace and community

Cool Schools Peer Mediation

The Peace Foundation’s Cool Schools Peer Mediation Programme has been operating in New Zealand since 1991 and has been delivered to nearly two thirds of schools nationwide. The programme empowers students by teaching them skills and processes to resolve conflict peacefully. They learn how to use conflict scenarios as an opportunity to build positive relationships with others. Non-violent, constructive, WIN/WIN solutions to a problem are negotiated. Students are providing a service for other students as “peace-keepers”. See the "Silent Movie" made by Year 8 student peer mediators at Havelock North Intermediate School.

Schools Peace Week

Schools Peace Week is a national week in which schools are encouraged to teach about peace and undertake peace promoting activities. These include peace art exhibitions, concerts, creating peace gardens, inviting guest speakers… Schools Peace Week was founded by the Minister of Education and organized by the Peace Foundation. It usually includes the anniversaries of the nuclear bombing of Hiroshima (Aug 6) and Nagasaki (Aug 9), International Day for Indigenous Peoples (Aug 9) and International Youth Day (Aug 12).

Workplace mediation

The Department of Labour provides mediation services to help people resolve their employment relations problems quickly and effectively. Mediation is a process in which the participants, with the assistance of a mediator, systematically isolate disputed issues in order to develop options, consider alternatives and reach agreements that will accommodate their needs. This process may occur by telephone or by email or in the workplace or in Mediation Service rooms.

Ethnic Forums

The Wellington City Council, Race Relations Office and various non-governmental organisations collaborate in holding annual Ethnic Forums to facilitate dialogue abd the development of understanding between ethnic communities.

Peace Cities/Capitals

Auckland

On 23 September 2007, in commemoration of UN International Day for Peace, the Mayor of Auckland endorsed the city as a Peace City dedicated to the promotion of, and respect for peace, tolerance and non-violence. The declaration committed Auckland City to actively support the importance of education for the development of peace, inter-cultural awareness, tolerance, human rights and conflict resolution. It also endorsed United Nations Resolutions on Nuclear Disarmament and Non Proliferation to abolish war and nuclear weapons through public education

Christchurch

In July 2002 Christchurch City Councillors voted in favour of declaring Christchurch a Peace City. This was seen as a way for Christchurch to celebrate its peace history, as many people involved in the peace movement and some of the movement’s peace initiatives started in Christchurch This decision was a way to show our city's commitment to actively contribute to a more peaceful future, through a range of initiatives, starting with new strategies for a more peaceful community, the development of education programmes, and the promotion of peace, non-violence and respect for all citizens.

Waitakere

On 8 March 2007 Waitakere City Council adopted a resolution declaring Waitakere a Peace City and to promote peace in the community, nationally and internationally, and to ‘act as the glue as the 'glue' for a peaceful future for our younger generation.” The Council committed itself to promoting non-violent methods of solving conflict as an effective method for reducing violence in the community.

Wellington

Wellington became a Nuclear-Weapon Free Zone in on April 14th, 1982 by decision of the Wellington City Council. In 1993 Wellington was declared a Peace Capital by Mayor Fran Wilde. Incoming Mayor Mark Blumsky re-dedicated Wellington as a Peace Capital in 1995 and a plaque commemorating this was installed in Cuba Mall. Mayor Kerry Prendergast is a member of Mayors for Peace. Wellington hosted the first New Zealand Mayors for Peace meeting in 2006. Wellington was designated a World Health Organisation Safe City in 2006 in recognition of the city’s efforts to prevent violence and increase people’s feelings of personal safety.

Peace Parks/Walks/Gardens

Christchurch

Christchurch City has a number of peace installations which are now linked in a peace walk. These include a Peace Bell from Japan, a camphor tree raised from the seed of one of the trees which survived the atomic bombing of Nagasaki, a Peace Mural and a Peace Mandala.

Wellington

The Peace Garden in the Wellington Botanic Gardens includes the Hiroshima Flame (which will remain lit until nuclear weapons are abolished), a classic anti-nuclear poem from Hone Tuwhare, a stone from the former Hiroshima City Hall (demolished in the nuclear blast) and a camphor tree raised from the seed of one of the trees which survived the atomic bombing of Nagasaki. Wellington also has a number of other peace heritage sites and sculptures which will be linked in the Wellington Peace Walk to be launched on 2 October as part of the World March for Peace and Nonviolence.

Auckland

There are a number of peace heritage sites and installations in Auckland that will be linked into a Peace Walk to be launched on 27 September 2009 as part of the World March for Peace and Nonviolence. These include a memorial to the Rainbow Warrior (sunk by French terrorists), the Sri Chinmoy Peace Mile, a mosaic commemorating the 100th anniversary of women getting the vote and a memorial honouring the Tiannamen Square protestors.