On Saturday 14 December 2024, more than 50 people gathered at the Peace Embassy in Parnell for UPF New Zealand's End of Year Celebration — a potluck dinner and evening of community reflection running from 4:00 pm to 7:00 pm.
The gathering brought together Ambassadors for Peace, family members, and friends to mark the close of a remarkable year and look ahead to 2025 with renewed commitment.
Reflections on 2024
Kenji Watanabe (Chairman) and Geoffrey Fyers (Secretary General) offered thanksgiving messages, reflecting on a year marked by growing community engagement and meaningful events including:
- The second Youth and Family Peace Day at Due Drop Events Centre (November), which welcomed over 300 people
- UN International Day of Peace commemoration at Te Tuhi Centre, Pakuranga (September)
- UN International Day of Families at Te Tuhi Art Centre (May)
- The 2024 World Sport Fishing Tournament co-organised in Auckland (March)
- Continued momentum for the National Family Day Petition
New Ambassador for Peace
A highlight of the evening was the formal recognition of Ms. Reeta Arora as a newly appointed Ambassador for Peace. Ms. Arora joins a growing network of individuals across Aotearoa who have committed to living the ideal of living for the sake of others — promoting universal values, strong family life, and interreligious cooperation in their communities.
Looking Ahead to 2025
As 2024 drew to a close, UPF New Zealand looked to 2025 with a clear sense of direction — continuing work across six areas: interfaith peacebuilding, peace and security, UN relations, marriage and family, education and human development, and humanitarian and youth programmes.
The year ahead will include major milestones: the World Summit 2025 in Seoul, the UN International Day of Families in May, and the third annual Youth and Family Peace Day in November. The National Family Day Petition campaign will also be relaunched with new energy and community outreach.
We are grateful to everyone who has supported UPF New Zealand's work this year. Together, we are building — family by family, community by community — a more peaceful Aotearoa.