New Zealand: Rally, March, and Candlelight Vigil Peacefully Protest 27-Year Persecution in China

(Minghui.org) Falun Gong practitioners gathered in the center of New Zealand’s capital city of Wellington on July 21, 2026, to mark 27 years of the Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP) persecution of the spiritual discipline also known as Falun Dafa. They held a rally in front of Parliament House, set up an exhibition exposing the CCP’s torture methods, and marched through the center of Wellington.

Practitioners’ rally in front of Parliament House in Wellington on July 21, 2026 (Minghui.org)

Practitioners reenact some of the CCP’s torture methods. (Minghui.org)

Practitioners reenacted some of the CCP’s torture methods, including forced organ harvesting. Many onlookers were shocked to learn about the ongoing persecution in China.

The parade included the Tian Guo Marching Band, colorful banners, and photographs of practitioners who have died during the persecution. Practitioners shared their peaceful and steadfast demeanor based on the principles of Truthfulness, Compassion, and Forbearance. Residents and tourists stopped to watch and take photos. Several commended their non-violent approach to exposing the persecution.

March in the center of Wellington to raise awareness of the persecution in China (Minghui.org)

People learn about the persecution and sign the petition calling for it to end. (Minghui.org)

MP: Freedom of Belief Should Be Protected

Helen White MP speaks at the rally. (Minghui.org)

At the rally, Helen White, Member of Parliament (MP) for the Labor Party, called on New Zealanders to become informed about the persecution and also the state-sanctioned forced organ harvesting.

Ms. White said she has been concerned about China’s human rights situation for a long time and participated in the work of the Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China (IPAC). Initially she focused on Tibetan human rights but was later shocked to learn about the CCP’s practice of forced organ harvesting.

She talked about the investigations by the China Tribunal in the UK, which revealed extremely short wait times for transplants due to forced organ harvesting from prisoners of conscience. She hopes to bring these findings to the New Zealand Parliament so her colleagues can learn the truth about the CCP’s atrocities.

She also mentioned she is worried about China’s new Ethnic Unity and Progress Law. This law would extend the CCP’s jurisdiction overseas, potentially exposing ethnic Chinese in New Zealand to threats and pressure simply for participating in peaceful assemblies, expressing their views, or promoting their culture. She said that such transnational repression should absolutely not happen.

Ms. White said that some of the practitioners participating in the event and their family members had been persecuted by the CCP, adding that New Zealand should be a safe and free country where everyone can peacefully assemble and freely express their beliefs and views without fear, intimidation, or interference.

In an interview afterwards, Ms. White said, “I think there needs to be a lot more awareness in New Zealand about the risks of organ harvesting. We absolutely need a cross-party response to something so appalling and that nobody thinks should happen. But this is a sophisticated practice now. This has become an industry, not just in China but other areas. So it’s very important that we stand up and think about these things across Parliament.”

Passersby Condemn the Persecution

Ia Morrison-Young (Minghui.org)

Ia Morrison-Young, a Māori student, said that the CCP’s actions are crimes against humanity. “I cannot accept this. I oppose racism, as well as forced organ harvesting and any form of genocide. Regardless of the group being targeted, this is unacceptable.”

He said that, as a Māori, he wanted to express his support for Falun Gong practitioners in the Māori language: “Kia Kaha” (stay strong) and “Ake, Ake” (never stop). “We will not stop,” he said. “We will never stop fighting for justice, freedom, and peace.”

Eva Wang (Minghui.org)

New Zealand Chinese Eva Wang said that, in her opinion, the CCP’s persecution is due to the regime’s paranoia about practitioners’ strong sense of unity. She hoped more people could understand that the CCP is truly evil.

She signed the petition calling for an end to the persecution and said, “Keep doing what you are doing now and do not lose hope.”

Bridget Carmont (Minghui.org)

Bridget Carmont, who works at the Ministry of Social Development, said she was unaware of the persecution and appalled to know it has been going on for 27 years. She signed the petition and said it was important to let more people know about the issue. “If you don’t step forward, no one will know. We all live in our own little worlds, focused only on our own lives.

“We are all human beings. We must not perpetrate persecution for any reason.” She said this was not a political issue but a fundamental human rights issue and that every person’s life deserves respect.

Candlelight Vigil in Front of Auckland’s Chinese Consulate

Practitioners’ candlelight vigil in front of the Chinese Consulate General in Auckland on July 20 (Minghui.org)

In Auckland, practitioners held a candlelight vigil in front of the Chinese Consulate General on the evening of July 20 to remember their fellow practitioners who died during the persecution.