Me Rongo Congress for Peace, Sustainability and Respect for the Sacred

Rēkohu (Chatham Islands) November 7-21 2011

Hokotehi Moriori Trust is hosting an international Congress for Peace, Sustainability and Respect for the Sacred at Kōpinga Marae, on the Chatham Islands this November.

The Congress draws its inspiration from the Moriori culture founded on peace through the outlawing of warfare. Their collective vow of peace is known as Nunuku’s law, after the elder who called his people together to denounce violence and killing over 600 years ago. This peace covenant is possibly one of the oldest examples of a continuous peace tradition in the world. It is regarded by Moriori and others as a code for how to live in peace and harmony with each other and with the environment..

The 3 day Congress (11-13 Nov) will occur in the middle of two weeks of workshops focussed on carving, writing and arts, as well as community workshops on permaculture and transition communities. These workshops are being facilitated by some of New Zealand’s leading artists and exponents such as Wi and Liz Taepa, Owen Mapp, Hanne Eriksen, Tina Makereti, James Webster, Hori Parata, Rick Thorpe and Liz Stanway, and will also include wānanga on reviving the art and traditionof carving living trees. Attendees at the Congress will hear presentations on violence prevention, conflict resolution techniques, global peace traditions and ecological co-management.

Hokotehi’s vision is to host this congress every 2-3 years as a means of engaging our wider community and building a more sustainable economy on our remote islands.

ENDS

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