(Minghui.org) On the weekend of November 25 to 26, 2023, Falun Dafa practitioners in New Zealand participated in three Christmas parades to celebrate the holidays and introduce Dafa to local communities.
The 90th annual Santa Parade was held in the Auckland City Centre on November 26. Auckland is the most populous city in New Zealand and is considered one of the most livable cities in the world. One hundred and twenty-three groups participated, and about 100,000 spectators lined the streets.
In addition to the Tian Guo Marching Band, practitioners also brought a dragon dance and a float. The bright colours, beautiful music, and strong energy impressed spectators of all ages. Many people welcomed their performances with warm applause or gave them a thumbs up. Some Chinese spectators called out in Chinese, “Falun Dafa is great!”
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Kiri Whitford-Joynt, who owns a dance and performing arts studio, said that the practitioners and their float were excellent. She especially praised the costumes, saying that they were exquisite.
Ms. Whitford-Joynt said she really loves Dafa’s principles of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance and hopes the younger generation also cherishes these values. She affirmed, “Kindness and integrity are critical to our society.”
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Sumukhi, a local school teacher, also praised Falun Dafa practitioners for contributing to the Auckland community celebration. She said they were well organised and presented a clear message. She remarked that it’s hard to believe the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) continues to suppress Falun Dafa and she sincerely hopes the persecution ends soon.
“The principles of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance are wonderful,” Sumukhi added. She appreciates the meditation components of Falun Dafa, and said she meditates because it brings her peace in this chaotic society and helps her connect with the divine.
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Harriet, a doctor of Traditional Chinese Medicine, said she appreciates Chinese culture very much. She learned the Falun Dafa exercises in London. She said the practice is very peaceful and she resonates with the principles of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance. Harriet remarked that the CCP is against humanity and freedom, and that the regime suppresses peaceful groups like Falun Dafa in order to control people. She told the practitioners that she hopes they’ll keep up their efforts to expose the persecution.
Great Performance
Erica Esdaile watched the parade with her daughter Ella, who is interested in learning Chinese. Erica praised the principles of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance, and said they are important for everyone, especially children.
Erica said the Tian Guo Marching Band’s performance was amazing. She said she was impressed by the great melodies played by the band and praised their superb coordination. She added that everything was “awesome.”
Practitioners participated in two other parades that weekend, one in Orewa near Auckland on November 25 and the other in Christchurch on November 26.
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