Team A

This morning our team departed the Buller Court Motel in Westport...

... and ran down the road to the Municipal Chambers to meet with the Mayor of Westport, Pat Buchanan.

After a quick chat and photo with His Honour and local reporter and photographer Charles Bruning, we ran down round the corner to St Canices School.

The children ran a lap of the school grounds with us, and then we all gathered in their library.

The children sang us two beautiful songs, and read us some of their poems about what harmony means to them.

On the wall, they had a picture of children holding hands around the world, with words that described harmony around it.

Each child held the Torch and made a wish that each child in the world might one day live in harmony and peace.

Next we began our run from Westport to Barrytown, climbing steep and winding hills and admiring breath-taking views of the west coast beaches and native plant-life.

On our way, we stopped off at the Punakaiki 'Pancake Rocks' and watched the ocean waves come surging up through the blowholes, creating rainbows against a backdrop of distant glaciers.

Barrytown is a small but beautiful town settled between rolling hills and the ocean.

We spoke to the children at the local school about harmony to prepare them for their study on the subject next term. We also taught them our song and the actions that go with it. Then we had a running race with the children on their back field.

On our way around the coast we made friends with a couple of local Weka and kept our eyes open for any Little Blue Penguins.

– Rupashri Brown

Team B

Lisa at Bazil’s Backpackers saw us off this morning as we departed from Westport. Lisa was so inspired to learn about the Run and that she had held the Torch along with so many humanitarians like Nelson Mandela and Mother Teresa, that she couldn’t wait to tell her parents. The Run brings so many people into their child-like hearts.

Today we were happy to run along such a beautiful coast road. The crashing power of the ocean expanse has moulded the rocks over the aeons, forming the spectacular rocky coast. The route took us down into the heart of the West Coast, with school visits scattered amongst a handful of the small townships. A cool breeze kept us fresh under the heat of the sun as we made our way to Hokitika.

The children at Paroa School, who had made torches of their own and artwork for harmony,  joined us for a run around their school field.

After the school visit, we worked together to cover the final 32 km. The ocean views were again superb. With a rising swell and huge waves crashing onto the sandy shore, we were reminded of nature's ceaseless power.

We finally made it into town and our accommodation graciously provided by Vicki at the Heritage Highway Hotel in beautiful Hokitika.

– Grahak Cunningham

Team C

"Is New Zealand always like this?" asked birthday boy Lubos Svec, our Czech team member, as we journeyed towards the western shores of this far-flung country.

Mountain cliffs clad in black beech trees and nikau palms sank into the ocean as rolling white caps thundered in from distant shores. The air, thick with sea mist and the scent of earth, sea and sky combined to make for an awe-inspiring morning. There was much jostling in the van for the privilege of being the first to run alongside this stunning coastline – our solution, three of us jumped out at once.

The kids at Blaketown School, which was established in 1909 in this sunny seaside spot on the coast of Greymouth, were totally into their World Harmony Run visit.

Together with their fantastic teachers, they had prepared their own colourful versions of the World Harmony Torch and cute little peace doves.

They had already learned the World-Harmony-Run song and so with only a little encouragement, together we gave an enthusiastic performance. They even sang "Happy Birthday" for our own birthday boy, Lubos.

Everyone held the Torch in the assembly ground...

... followed by a lap of the playground...

... and a quick dash to the adjacent beach.

Just before entering Runanga School, a passing local hailed us and held the Torch.

We were greeted at Runanga School by the school captains and the enthusiastic Kerry Aitken, one of the teachers who had organised the program.

Riley, one of the school's star runners, ran in with the Torch through a Guard of Honour formed by all the students of the school. Each class had prepared special artwork on the theme of harmony and peace.

Room 2 had made a large flag of faces, while years 7 and 8 created artwork presenting their interpretations of what harmony means to them.

The entire school lined up outside for their chance to hold the Torch.

While the rest of the team were at Runanga School, I had the honour of running the 11 km into Greymouth township and on towards Karoro School on the South Main Road.

Here once again the children of Greymouth thrilled our team with their enthusiasm and joy.

Insightful questions were asked of the team members by the kids, who applauded with pride as their teachers posed with the Torch on this glorious Spring afternoon.

The Principal, Maureen Truman, then invited the team to listen to a spirited performance by the school instrumental group of 'The Sandman' which capped off a great meeting.

In the midst of our schedule we found a brief moment to visit one of the west coast's most famous landmarks – the Pancake Rocks of Punakaiki.

These limestone formations were created some 35 million years ago on the depths of the sea floor. Over time the constant pounding from the ocean swells has slowly eroded this spectacular coastline. What the scientists can't explain though, is how these giant sentinels came to be formed into thick layers like pancakes.

Whatever the science, these formations look spectacular!

Later in the day we found time for a few side activities as we travelled towards our evening accommodation. Our first stop was at the now-famous starting point of a classic Kiwi race – the 'Coast to Coast' – an annual multi-sport challenge including running, cycling and kayaking from the west coast of the South Island up and over Arthurs Pass to finish on the east coast.

Half of our team dropped in to 'Shanty Town', a living museum of a 19th century mining town with a charming steam train.

Our gratitude to the managers for inviting us for a courtesy tour with the Torch.

The other half of our team stopped in at the National Kiwi Centre in downtown Hokatika. Terry and his staff generously let us in to see the live Kiwi Birds and other exhibits.

Even though I live in New Zealand, I have never been as close to the kiwi as we got today. Unfortunately these nocturnal birds are very camera-shy and we weren't permitted to photograph them. We also saw varieties of fish and a freaky habitat of giant eels named Eel City.

And as the day drew to a close we filled up our sponsored Jucy vans with our G.A.S. sponsored fuel cards...

... and headed off to our rooms and a nice hot shower at the Jade Court Motel.

Team B prepared a yummy pasta meal after which we visited the local glow worm dell. Unfortunately the little tickers were having a nap and weren't up to their glowing best.

Actual photo of the glow worms' display – how many can you spot?

"I definitely remember them being better than this," said Aklesha Morrison, fondly remembering his previous visit here in 1987. And with that we trundled off home and commenced writing this report...

– Budhsamudra Knox

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Team Members:
Iris Klapper (Austria), Muslim Badami (India), Erika Pongracz, Gabor Horvath (both Hungary), Lubos Svec (Czech Republic), Melinda Pearson, Grahak Cunningham, Nigel Webber, Prachar Stegemann (Australia), Rupashri Brown, , Stacey Marsh, Harita Davies, Shobhavati Davies, Budhsamudra Knox, Anurakta O'Neill, Tim Cranfield

Gallery: See more images!

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