Auckland, New Zealand: Rally and March Exposes the CCP’s Persecution of Falun Gong

(Minghui.org) To honor the United Nations International Day in Support of Victims of Torture, practitioners in Auckland gathered at the Commercial Bay plaza on June 27, 2026, for a large event to introduce Falun Dafa and expose the 27-year-long persecution by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).

From the group exercises in the morning to the rally and march in the afternoon, these activities attracted many spectators who took photos and videos of the event. Speakers during the rally included human rights lawyers, medical professionals, human rights advocates, and others. They called for an end to the CCP’s ongoing suppression of Falun Gong which began in 1999.

Practitioners did the exercises at Commercial Bay plaza on June 27 in Auckland.

A rally took place after the group practice.

A parade was held in the afternoon in Auckland city center.

People asked questions and signed petitions urging a stop to the human rights abuses.

Legal and Medical Experts: Torture and Organ Harvesting Defied Dignity

Human rights lawyer Kerry Gore addressed the event.

Renowned human rights lawyer Kerry Gore spoke at the event. “Torture seeks to destroy a person’s dignity, break their spirit, and deny their fundamental humanity,” he said.

As a refugee lawyer, Gore knows that the CCP uses persecution as a tool against political and religious groups, including pro-democracy advocates, Chinese human rights lawyers, human rights defenders, House Church Christians, Falun Gong practitioners, Muslim Uyghurs, Tibetan Buddhists, and many others.

Citing words from United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres, Gore said, “Torturers must never be allowed to get away with their crimes, and systems that enable torture should be dismantled or transformed.” He believes there is no prospect of meaningful reform from within the CCP itself.

Lasting change is therefore most likely to come through democratic reform in China. “Please be a voice for those who cannot speak for themselves,” he concluded. “By doing so, you can make a meaningful contribution to the defense of human dignity, autonomy, and the protection of fundamental human rights.”

Cardiologist Arthur Coverdale spoke at the event.

In his speech, cardiologist Arthur Coverdale strongly condemned the persecution from the perspective of medical ethics. He emphasized that legitimate organ donation must be based on voluntary consent, non-remuneration, and a confirmed diagnosis of brain death. “When there is no consent, it is called forced organ harvesting, which is a planned operation, and it usually results in the death of the donor,” he explained.

Coverdale stated that such acts are not only premeditated, but frequently result in the death of the donor. Therefore, this severely violates medical ethics and international human rights standards.

Extensive investigations have revealed the CCP’s systematic use of prisoners of conscience as organ donors. “However, trafficking people for the purpose of organ removal and sale to international patients is one category that is universally condemned,” Coverdale continued.

“Following the independent China Tribunal Judgment report in 2020, chaired by Sir Geoffrey Nice, as well as the work of other researchers, some leading western medical journals have vetoed publication of articles on tissue and organ transplantation from the PRC, owing to unethical and unreliable content,” he added.

Coverdale further called on the international community to maintain its scrutiny and ensure that these human rights violations are not allowed to remain hidden in the dark.

Witness Testimony: Arrested Six Times and Tortured

Ms. Cheng from China shared her tragic experience. She began practicing Falun Dafa in 1994. After the CCP launched the persecution in 1999, she was arrested six times for upholding her faith, and was detained for two and a half years.

After going to Beijing and appealing for Falun Dafa, Ms. Cheng was tortured in numerous ways, including being strangled, shocked, beaten, and paraded outside in the freezing cold with her hands cuffed. She was hung from a basketball hoop until she lost all feeling in her hands.

While being kept in the Yixian Detention Center in Jinzhou, Liaoning Province, Ms. Cheng suffered organ failure and was in critical condition due to a hunger strike and repeated, brutal force-feeding. Jinzhou is one of the key locations in international investigations where organ harvesting from Falun Gong practitioners is carried out. Because of her faith, authorities tortured her until her weight was less than 40 kilograms (88 pounds) before she was released.

“The CCP has long used violence to suppress freedom of belief,” Ms. Cheng said. “We believe that the truth will ultimately prevail over lies, and the perpetrators will eventually be judged by history.”

Questioning the System Led to a Lifelong Disability

New Zealand pro-democracy activist Li Ting

Chinese activist Li Ting denounced the CCP’s tyranny. He recalled an incident when he was only eight years old. His teacher brutally beat him after he asked why he had to join the Young Pioneers. This resulted in permanent deafness in his left ear.

“Just for asking a question, I was left with a lifelong disability. This made me deeply realize how much one has to pay for expressing different opinions in a society that does not allow questioning,” Li explained. He emphasized that his speaking out today was not out of hatred, but because he hopes that one day China will have freedom of speech, religion, and democracy, as well as the rule of law so that future generations can grow up in an environment without fear.

Li called on the international community to pay attention to those who are still being tortured and persecuted. He hopes more people can step forward and safeguard human rights and freedom, since this will help stop torture and respect people's basic rights.

“We Should All Stand Firmly on the Side of Justice and Never Bow Down to Evil”

Leah Stoelwinder

Leah Stoelwinder, a retired medical worker who recently returned from China, stopped to watch as practitioners did the exercises. When she heard how the CCP persecutes practitioners, including the forced organ harvesting, she was shocked. Tears welled in her eyes as she said, “I got goosebumps all over. I simply can’t believe that something like this is happening.”

Stoelwinder said it is unfortunate that Falun Gong practitioners are brutally tortured for their faith and for following Truthfulness, Compassion, and Forbearance. She signed a petition to help stop the persecution, and said she would tell her relatives and friends. “When more people stand up and speak out, changes will happen,” she said. “We should all stand firmly on the side of justice and never bow down to evil.”

Ms. Cha watched the event at Commercial Bay plaza.

Ms. Cha, who works in data analysis, thanked the practitioners for their efforts, and praised Falun Dafa.

She said she believes that kindness is most needed in modern society. “In today’s world filled with negativity and darkness, upholding and practicing these values is especially important,” Ms. Cha explained. She hopes that more people will hear about the persecution and work together to stop this human rights disaster.