The Christchurch Invitation has been founded on four principles of spread peace, share kai, reconnect and reflect. The Invitation is in service to these principles, and those who work to promote the principles.

When the Christchurch Invitation was asked to support the Peace Train Bike Ride, it was an irresistible proposition. We hope to see it become an annual event, that harnesses the diversity in our society and promotes inclusion.

Here we share reflections from the Peace Train organisers of the 2021 event.

Something unexpected happened after the March 15 2019 Christchurch terror attacks - it  became the start of a journey of  discovery of  ourselves as kiwis - demonstrating the caring  in our hearts. This journey has been revealed by so many kiwis in so many ways since that date. And one of those journeys has been by bicycle.

Shortly after that day in 2019, a few members of the Christchurch’s cycling network were wondering how to show support and love to our Muslim neighbours. The concept of a “Peace Train” interfaith bike ride was developed- a pilgrimage by bike whereby riders would visit multiple faith-based centers to learn more about peace, love and acceptance. Over 300 cyclists cycled together in May 2019 from Al Noor to Linwood mosques, stopping at 6 religious temples, citadels, synagogues and churches along the way.  

The simple action of cycling together quietly, and visiting centres of all faiths, reminded  us of our similarities but also of the differences we can celebrate and the walls we work to break down to bring all our whanau together. This ride reminded us of how our response to March 15 shaped who we are today. 

In 2021 cyclists started  from 4  locations around the city and converged together at Aldersgate Centre. The rides visited:

• Bahai Centre

• St Marks Church

• Fo Guang Shan Buddhist Temple

• Chinese Methodist Church

• St John Moraia Fijian Methodist Church

• St Barnabas Anglican Church

• Linwood Mosque 

• and Al Noor Mosque.  

• St Albans Baptist Church

• Hare Krishna Centre

• St Paul's Trinity Pacific Church

• Knox Presbyterian Church

• Canterbury Hebrew Congregation

• Gurdwara Jagat Guru Nanak Sahib Sikh Temple    

• Sri Chinmoy Sri Centre

• Quaker House

Supporting our message of peace and kindness, cyclists were welcomed at each place of worship in their own way: a resounding chorus by Fijian community, by tours of their rebuild from Chinese church and explanations about the Muslim faith and traditions. Sri Chinmoy's told us about their Peace Run event, held all over the world. The good folk at the Quaker House spoke of the tenants of the Quaker faith: sustainability, peace, integrity, community and equality. Some of us bought white poppies there, a symbol of peace which  commemorates  civilian victims of war. Rev Makesi  of St Paul’s Trinity church had preached that morning about the gift of Peace that Jesus shared with the disciples and repeated a synopsis of that sermon for the riders.

All 4 rides come together at Aldersgate where the Reverend (Philo) Philomeno Kinera welcomed us with her congregation providing beverages and kai.  We wrote our peace messages on flags which were hung in the main hall at Aldersgate.  City Councillor Sarah Templeton and MP  Duncan Webb and Mayor Lianne Dalziel all spoke eloquently in support of ways to build bridges among our diverse communities, of how much we have in common. There was resounding support for the Peace Train ride and events such as this.

Organisers hope that the  Peace Train ride will become an annual tradition here, a simple way of remembering how we came together after March 15 and the road we are travelling still as a  community. The  Peace Train Ride is  also a healthy and physically active way to enjoy each other’s company and the diverse, often beautiful, sometimes challenging cycling environment of the city.

For the 2022 ride(s) we encourage you to join in or sign up your place of worship to have a visit. Better still, this simple, healthy, inclusive and peaceful event is totally replicable and we hope this has inspired you to run a Peace Train Ride in your local town or city.

www.peacetrain.org.nz

Contact the Peace Train at 021 022 77502