On the third day of the World Harmony Run in New Zealand we carried the torch to three schools in South Auckland.

We ran over the old Mangere Bridge.

Making a wish for harmony at the first school…

 

Two runners carried the torch with us to the next school

 

The school met us outside:

Pip’s introduction was based on a well known Maori proverb:

“Maui e mai

He aha te mea pai

Maku i ki atu

He tangata, He tangata,

He tangata, He tangata.

Aha koa

Maui e mai

He aha te mea

Nui o te ao

Maku I ki atu

Rangimarie

Rangimarie

Rangimarie.”

“If you ask me

What the most important thing is

I will tell you

It is people, It is people,

It is people, It is people.

But

If you ask me

what the greatest thing

in the whole world is

I will tell you

It is harmony, It is harmony,

It is harmony."

Team member Sean leads the actions to the World Harmony Run song.

Everyone was quick to catch on

Making a wish for world harmony

 

Running with the torch and flags

 

On the road again…

As the World Harmony relay team entered the third school visited today, two runners from the school took turns taking the torch around a circle of students. On the second time around we followed, exchanging high fives and low fives all the way.

They led us into the school hall where more students were waiting for us. The hall had been transformed for the formal ceremony they had organised. There was a yellow finishing tape at the foot of the stage which we ran through while everyone applauded. The stage was decorated with flags from around the world.

Speeches were made and lots of poems were read out about the importance of world harmony.

And of course we all enjoyed the World Harmony Run song!

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< New Zealand 18 October 2005

New Zealand 20 0ctober 2005 >