Torch lights message of peace

Imagine a simple concept everyone in the entire world could share at no cost and the whole planet would benefit from . . . and call it peace.

That message - and a symbolic torch were carried through Queenstown by runners yesterday, as part of an international relay.

The 10th edition of the World Harmony Run, which began in New York in April, arrived in New Zealand at the start of September, after travelling about 15,000km around Australia.

Part of a six-continent effort to promote international friendship, cultural understanding and world peace, the torch will have been to more than 80 countries and passed through millions of hands by year's end.

The event was founded in India in 1987 by author, musician and former athlete Sri Chinmoy and has been supported by sports, community and international leaders, including Nelson Mandela, Mikhail Gorbachev, Mother Theresa and New Zealand running heroes John Walker and Allison Roe.

A spokesman for the group, Grahak Cunningham, from Perth, said the aim of the run was to share in the concept of peace through understanding and "heart to heart" handling of the symbolic torch.

"We can all contribute to world peace and community leaders and political leaders can all participate.

"It doesn't work when politicians sign meaningless treaties. All it takes is to feel peace inside and to break down barriers."

Handing the torch "heart to heart" from one to another offered everybody the opportunity to feel part of a larger world family and symbolised the torch of harmony everyone could carry in their daily lives, he added.

After arriving in Queenstown on Monday, the group held a lunchtime ceremony with schoolchildren at the Lakes Leisure Centre and left at midday yesterday for Te Anau.

When the torch and relay left New Zealand on October 5, it would conclude the longest relay in the country, with tens of thousands of participants covering 3500km, Mr Cunningham said.