Trifter

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Maria Montessori in her book Peace and Education writes, ‘It is upon peace that the very life of a nation depends, perhaps even the progress or decay of our entire civilization.’

In today’s world where terrorism, chemical warfare, biological and nuclear weapons that can wipe out the whole nations, are taking precedence in national defense it has become imperative to for every individual to ponder upon the meaning of peace.

One such place where a person can stop and reflect upon peace is the Peace Flame Garden in the Wellington Botanic Garden. This tranquil spot houses a Japanese lantern containing the preserved fires from the atomic holocaust at Hiroshima and is situated next to the rose garden by the waterfall. The plaque at the entrance reads:

‘The Flame calls attention to the indiscriminate and uncontainable nature of nuclear weapons which kill beyond borders and generations. It implores us to honour the Principles espoused in the United Nations Charter of settling disputes by peaceful means.’

Nuclear Free New Zealand

New Zealand was declared nuclear free in 1984 and is part of its legislation. According to its New Zealand Nuclear Free Zone, Disarmament, and Arms Control Act 1987, territorial sea and land of New Zealand became nuclear-free zones. Unlike other so called nuclear free zones worldwide where nuclear weapons freely move above or around ‘nuclear free’ zones, New Zealand became the first Western-allied nation to legislate towards a nuclear free zone, effectively renouncing the nuclear deterrent.

In recognition of New Zealand’s unilateral steps to halt the spread of atomic weapons through its Anti-Nuclear Act, the Flame was presented in 1990 by the delegation of the Keepers of the Flame. This Flame is from the fires of Hiroshima and Nagasaki which were united at the Toshogu shrine, Ueno, Tokyo. It was in 1994 that the Flame was lit in the Japanese lantern during the redevelopment of the site.

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Wellington’s peace organizations played an important role in the passing of the anti-nuclear legislation in 1987. The same organizations worked with the Japan’s anti-nuclear movement to secure the Hiroshima and Nagasaki Peace Flame ant the Hiroshima Stone for this Peace Garden in 1994. The plaque ‘In the Cause of Peace’ is the commemoration to the work done by these organizations.

Hiroshima Stone

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At one of the entrances to the Peace Flame Garden is installed the Hiroshima Stone. This stone is from the former Hiroshima City Hall and was gifted to the people of Wellington by Mayor Takashi Hiraoka and the citizens of the City of Hiroshima. The plaque below the stone reads:

‘On 6 August 1945, the former City Hall, located 1.2km from the hypocenter was completely burnt in the blast.

This stone conveys the devastating effect of the atomic bomb and the preciousness of peace to future generations. – Mayor Mark Biumsky, 6 August 1998’

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The Peace Flame Garden with the Japanese lantern in the centre of the pond under the waterfall has seats placed around it. Visitors can stop for a time, sit and contemplate on the meaning of Peace. As His Holiness the Dalai Lama has said, ‘Genuine peace between nations will come from mutual respect, not from weapons or force.’ It is for individuals to bring about the change necessary to establish peace among nations. Let us together nurture peace in our own lives so that Hiroshima and Nagasaki will never be repeated in the future.