The third annual Youth and Family Peace Day was held with great success on Saturday, 8 November 2025, at the Due Drop Event Centre, Sir Robinson Conference Centre. The event welcomed over 150 participants representing a variety of community, faith and cultural groups, celebrating unity and the importance of strong family foundations.

The programme commenced at 1:00 pm with an opening ceremony led by Mr Geoffrey Fyers (UPF NZ Secretary-General) and Mr Amon Watanabe (FFWPU Youth), featuring a karakia from Apotoro Shannon Leilua of the Ratana Church and the national anthem. Mr Ross Robertson, QSC, AFP, delivered a keynote address on the theme “Family Building is Nation Building,” followed by welcoming remarks from Mr Kenji Watanabe, UPF NZ Chairman. The ceremony also included a musical performance by the LDS Church Manukau Stake.

Three main sessions addressed the core objectives of the event:

1. Creating a Family and Marriage Culture: Presentations from Mr Elliot Ikilei, Mr Graham Malungahu, and Mr Geoffrey Fyers highlighted community initiatives supporting families and marriage.
2. Peace Starts with Me (Youth Breakout Session): Interactive activities emphasised the importance of individual responsibility in peacemaking, introduced ongoing initiatives such as weekly rubbish clean-ups, and encouraged creative engagement through hat decoration.
3. Becoming Blessed Families – Inclusion Across Faiths, Races, and Cultures: The session featured a Pasifika dance and blessings from faith leaders, promoting inclusivity and affirming family values.

Cultural performances showcased the vibrancy of Indian, Chinese, and Pasifika communities, contributing to the event’s spirit of inclusion. The day concluded with a “Visioning the Future” ceremony, closing remarks by Mrs Anne Degia-Pala, and a communal singing of “Where Peace Begins.” Participants had opportunities for networking over afternoon tea, with various organisations hosting exhibition tables.

As preparations begin for the fourth Youth and Family Peace Day, scheduled for 14 November 2026, organisers aim to build upon the successes of this year’s event. The focus will remain on fostering inclusive family values, encouraging youth engagement, and strengthening interfaith collaboration for peace and harmony.

Special thanks go to all our staff involved in this event, including Anna, Moana, and Rachael, our FFWPU dance Team, HTG missionaries, and Barry as our exclusive photographer.