(Minghui.org) Falun Dafa practitioners participated in the Heritage Festival parade in Whanganui, New Zealand, on October 26, 2024.

Whanganui, a UNESCO City of Design, is in the south-central part of North Island. Eleven percent of New Zealand’s heritage buildings are located in this historic town.

Practitioners participated in the Heritage Festival parade in Whanganui, New Zealand, on October 26.

Led by the Whanganui classic car team, the parade set off at 1 p.m. as eager spectators lined both sides of the street. The Falun Dafa procession included the Tian Guo Marching Band, the waist drum team, celestial maidens, and banners worded “Falun Dafa is good” and “The World needs Truthfulness, Compassion, and Forbearance.” Some viewers praised practitioners for conveying traditional values in such a nice way.

Parade Organizers Appreciate Falun Dafa

Ariel thanks practitioners for participating in the parade.

Ariel, one of the parade organizers, said, “This parade mainly celebrates the 100th anniversary of the founding of Whanganui. In 1924, we officially became a city in New Zealand. So today we solemnly celebrate the traditional culture of our city and its origins.

“The Falun Dafa groups’ participation reflects the multiculturalism of our city of Whanganui. Although we have a traditional history, it’s the diverse culture that built Whanganui. I thank Falun Dafa practitioners for participating in the parade and being part of the community. They should be proud of their traditional culture and share it with everyone.

“The values of Truthfulness, Compassion, and Forbearance are needed by everyone and every society. Without these important values, our society cannot become a whole.”

Geoff Follett supports Falun Dafa.

Geoff Follett, another parade organizer, said, “The Falun Dafa group is really great! Next weekend, Falun Dafa practitioners will perform at the Fest of Cultural Unity in Majestic Square and demonstrate their exercises.

“The traditional values of Truthfulness, Compassion, and Forbearance are very important, because we all need to know that each of us is a passing visitor in this world, only staying for a short time and we cannot take anything away. So we must cherish the present and try to help and care for others. We are all just passersby, knowing little about the past and nothing about the future. It’s important to pass on beautiful traditions. And if I have the opportunity, I will learn how to meditate from Falun Dafa practitioners.”

Regarding the Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP) persecution of Falun Dafa practitioners, he said, “The persecution is very bad. We are all human beings, and human nature can be the best or the worst. The CCP does not represent the Chinese people. There is always a small group of so-called high-level people who try to make rules for others.”

People Like Falun Dafa’s Values

Helen Douglas likes the Falun Dafa group.

Local teacher Helen Douglas praised the Tian Guo Marching Band and the waist drum team. She said their performances were wonderful and their costumes were stunning.

What moved her most, however, were the values of Truthfulness, Compassion, and Forbearance. She thought that this was a perfect way to spread these concepts, and she was moved. With tears in her eyes, she said, “I love this concept. Kindness is very important. I am also a vegetarian and I cherish life very much, including animals.”

Karina Hunt

Photographer Karina Hunt took photos along the parade route. She said she really liked the principles of Truthfulness, Compassion, and Forbearance and that, “If everyone followed these principles, life would easy, and everyone could smile.”