Open letter on military deployment to Iraq     |     No military deployment to Iraq index page

Military deployment to Iraq? Not In Our Name

Nationwide peace vigils, 5 March 2015

peace poppy


Please scroll down this page for details of the 'Not In Our Name' peace vigils that were held on Thursday, 5 March 2015, calling for increased humanitarian assistance and diplomatic support for Middle East peace processes, and opposing the military deployment to Iraq - these details are available on Facebook here and the photo album is available here, please share the links on your page, thank you.

If there isn't a vigil in your area, you are invited to gather friends and family at 5pm on 5 March, light a candle for peace, then post a photo of yourself or your gathering holding the 'Military deployment in Iraq? Not in our name' message on our Facebook page - a specific link for posting vigil photos will be available there on Thursday. The 'Not in our name' poster is available in colour and black and white. If you are not a Facebook member, please email your photo to Peace Movement Aotearoa and we will post it for you. There is also the opportunity to add your name to the Open letter on military deployment to Iraq.

The vigils are coordinated by Peace Movement Aotearoa. If you would like to be involved in organising a peace vigil in your area in future, please contact us.

  • Hokianga - peace vigil at 5pm at the Opononi boat ramp, please bring a candle and a prayer for peace; organised by Hokianga Catholic Workers. For more information please email.

  • Matapouri Bay - peace vigil at 5.30pm, near Tutukaka end of Waetford Road, on the Esplanade (near the public toilet); organised by Matapouri Bay residents. For more information please email.
  • Auckland - peace vigil from 5pm to 6pm, Aotea Square near Queen Street; organised by the Women's International League for Peace and Freedom (WILPF) Tamaki Makaurau. For more information please email.
  • Thames - peace vigil starting at 4.30pm outside the Thames War Memorial Civic Centre; organised by Thames residents. For more information please email.
  • Tauranga - silent peace vigil / protest from 5pm to 6pm, between Wharf Street and Hamilton Street on The Strand. Please bring your banners, placards etc and show your opposition to our government's militarism; organised by Pax Christi Aotearoa New Zealand. For more information please email.
  • Hamilton - peace vigil at 5pm outside the Hamilton City Council Central Library in Garden Place; organised by Hamilton Quakers. For more information please email.
  • Raglan - peace vigil at 5pm on Bow Street, between the palm trees opposite Trade Aid; organised by Raglan residents. For more information please email.
  • Whanganui - peace vigil at 5pm in Majestic Square, Victoria Avenue, please wear something white and bring a candle and placards; organised by Whanganui peace people. For more information please email.
  • Palmerston North - peace vigil at 5pm in the Square, at the Church Street corner opposite The Plaza entrance; organised by Palmerston North peace people. For more information please email.
  • Otaki - peace vigil at 5pm at the Otaki War Memorial, 6 Main Street, next to the Otaki theatre; organised by Kapiti Quakers and Otaki Catholic Workers. Peace vigils will be held here at 5pm on the 1st and 3rd Thursdays of each month until further notice, for more information please email.
  • Wellington - peace vigil from 5pm to 6pm at the Cenotaph, corner Lambton Quay and Bowen Street, please gather in the area between the Cenotaph and parliament gate and bring a reflection to share as well as messages or symbols of peace to leave at parliament if you wish. Peace vigils will be held at the Centotaph at 5pm on the 1st and 3rd Thursdays of each month until further notice; organised by Peace Movement Aotearoa, for more information please email.
  • Takaka - peace vigil at 5pm on the Village Green; organised by Golden Bay Quakers. For more information please email.
  • Nelson - peace vigil at 5pm on the Cathedral steps; organised by Nelson Quakers. For more information please email.
  • Christchurch - silent peace vigil from 5pm to 6pm at the Bridge of Remembrance on Cashel Street, Container Shop side; if you bring a sign please make it a positive and peaceful one. Organised by Christchurch Quakers, for more information please email.
  • Dunedin - silent peace vigil at 5pm at the Peace Pole in the Otago museum reserve; organised by Dunedin Quakers. For more information please email.


Open letter on military deployment to Iraq     |     No military deployment to Iraq index page