Gaza Ceasefire Pilgrimage Wellington

Start: Thursday, March 28, 2024• 6:00 AM

End: Thursday, March 28, 2024• 7:00 PM

Together we will walk, cycle or roll the length of Gaza - 41km - mirroring the journey Gazans are being forced to take to flee bombardment. Join some or all of the route with us.

The journey will be divided into sections for people to join us in smaller lengths. Some parts will be more accessible, some better suited for kids, etc - more details to follow. We will be stopping for breaks, holding a variety of reflective and prayerful actions along the way, as well as praying with our Jewish and Muslim whānau. Anyone is welcome, so long as they reflect the core convictions listed on the Gaza Ceasefire Pilgrimage website.

This is a pilgrimage of solidarity and hope; we journey as witnesses and in love. Our walk is part of the global Gaza Ceasefire Pilgrimages happening in 85 cities across 12 countries during Lent, and will be calling for;

1. Enduring and Sustained Ceasefire.

2. Immediate flow of life saving food, water, aid, fuel and humanitarian assistance.

3. Release of all hostages – both the Israeli hostages held by Hamas – and the Palestinian hostages held in the Israeli prison system.

4. End of occupation so a just-peace can begin.

Check out the other Aotearoa pilgrimages happening here.

We are also raising money for CWS's partner on the ground in Gaza, the Department of Service to Palestinian Refugees. Invite your friends to donate to support that here.

Route details:

We will be walking just over 41km, start to finish, beginning at Taitā rock in Lower Hutt (on the Hutt River Trail), a focus in the middle of the day on political activism at Parliament and ending at Kilbirnie Mosque, where we will break fast with our Muslim brothers and sisters at the end of the day during Ramadan with them.

Click here for a map of our hīkoi route.

There are six main sections/focuses for the day and churches and community groups that will be providing hospitality and kai and water along the journey.

5:30am briefing at Taitā rock.
Section 1: 6am-7:25am - Taita rock to opposite Avalon park (3.9km).  Good for those joining this section before their working day, Hutt Valley locals.
Section 2: 7:25am- 10am. Avalon Park to end of Petone beach (9.5km). Good for families with little kids, retirees.

Section 3:  10am-12:30pm. Petone to Parliament, via American Embassy (11.2km). Good for activists, students.

Section 4: 12:30-3:10pm - lunchtime picnic at Parliament lawn and supporting the handover of a petition to MPs by a Palestinian Christian (12:30-2pm), and walking to Freyberg Beach via Israeli embassy (2.9km). Good for office workers in the city, students, activists.

Section 5: 3:10-5:00pm - Freyberg beach to Mirimar central (6.8km) . Good for teenagers after school retirees. Note one hour from Freyberg beach to Hataitai beach will be walked in silence.
Section 6: 5:00pm-6:30pm - Mirimar central to Kilbirnie mosque (6.9km), followed by an Iftar meal with Muslim brothers and sisters at 7:23pm . Good for people at the end of their work day, families, retirees, activists, students.

There will be elements of the pilgrimage that will be accessible, and elements that will not (see above). Please contact alex@commongrace.nz if you have would like to get further details to plan your attendance.