Team D

The day begins in Christchurch’s Cathedral Square, under the shadow of this city’s two great landmarks: Christchurch Cathedral, and major art feature The Chalice.

The torch is lit and the run begins, heading to Kaikoura

Our team is covering the first 90 km of the route. These are small towns we are passing through but here, just as everywhere, people stop, look and wave as we pass through; smile as they read our banners and hear the message, “World Harmony.”

– Shobhavati Davies

Some of the first people we meet are Chris Cairns, well-known New Zealand cricket player, and the WalkNZ team. They are heading south, on a walk from Auckland to Rolleston to promote rail safety.

Chris Cairns talks to the World Harmony Run team

Our teams stop, greet each other, chat and take photographs, then carry on, heading separate ways on this one same road.

It is a beautiful spring day and, as we wait on the roadside for our runners to catch up with the van, we can enjoy the new lambs playing amongst the daffodils – these fortunate lambs who are every day blessed with the countenance of the snow-capped Alps suspended on the skyline.

Snow-capped mountains, beautiful vineyards rolling green hills, jagged rocky beaches and glorious stunning ancient mountains.

There was a visit to see the seals up close on the beach and the press took a photo of us arriving in Kaikoura. Otherwise, we were all alone amongst the wonderment of creation.

We finish our distance and can now sit back, relax, and enjoy the drive to Kaikoura. The team is hungry from all the running and we are exceedingly glad our other team has prepared dinner for us. Now that’s harmony, we say! We then turn in for an early night at Kaikoura’s Top 10 Holiday Park, where we are being most graciously hosted and welcomed.

– Susan Marshall

Distance: 180 km

Team Members:
Tim Cranfield (New Zealand), Lubomir Svec (Czech Republic), Anurakta O'Neill (New Zealand), Manju Jackson (New Zealand), Akleska Morrison (New Zealand), Tihomir Djorjic (Bosnia), Ljiljana Djakovic (Serbia), (New Zealand), Iris Klapper (Austria), Shobhavati Davies (New Zealand), Tania Williams (New Zealand), Nina Diaz (Australia), Susan Marshall (New Zealand)

Gallery: See more images!