(Minghui.org) May 13, 2023, was the 31st anniversary of Falun Dafa’s public introduction and the 24th annual World Falun Dafa Day. Falun Gong practitioners in Auckland, New Zealand gathered on Elizabeth Square in the city center to thank Master Li Hongzhi, the founder of Falun Dafa, and to celebrate World Falun Dafa Day.

Pastor Stuart Vogel, human rights lawyer Kerry Gore, basketball coach Rocky Zhang, and Beijing Spring editor-in-chief Chen Weijian spoke at the rally. The Tian Guo Marching Band, a waist drum team and a dragon dance team also performed. Many people expressed their appreciation and support for Falun Gong.

Celebration of World Falun Dafa Day in Auckland’s city center on May 13, 2023

Pastor: Thanks to Master Li for Bringing Hope to the World in a Creative Way

Pastor Stuart Vogel speaks during the rally.

At the celebration, Pastor Stuart Vogel of the Aukland Chinese Presbyterian Church thanked Master Li for bringing hope to the world in a creative way. He emphasized that doing things with the principles of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance will help people build and maintain a friendly and peaceful world.

Vogel said that as a Christian, he spoke at this Falun Gong event because he wanted to convey a message that although expressed in different ways, beliefs are common. Groups of different faiths can communicate with each other and share opinions, instead of being hostile to each other.

Pastor Vogel said, “Truthfulness and tolerance are an important part of faith. Both of these are exactly what communism cannot tolerate. This is also the consensus between Christians and Falun Gong on core issues. We all believe that communism will not last long, because it’s built on lies.”

Vogel expressed his admiration for Falun Gong practitioners’ persistence in their beliefs. He pointed out that the truth of history tells us that the persecution of righteous believers has never really succeeded. It will only make Falun Gong practitioners stronger, he said.

Human Rights Lawyer: “There Is Indeed Much to Celebrate Today.”

Human rights lawyer Kerry Gore said in his speech that Falun Gong has played a positive role in both Chinese society and for individual practitioners, and in the early 1990s in China it drew widespread attention.

“In persecuting Falun Dafa practitioners, the CCP actually undermines the very foundations of a just society, which has any prospect of survival,” Gore said. “In doing so the CCP hastens its own demise. For without Truthfulness there can be no trust. Without Compassion there can be no alleviation of human suffering. Without Forbearance there can be no personal sacrifice, no altruism, but only selfishness and egoism.

“Therefore, if the Chinese people are to have any hope for the future they should embrace the principles of Truthfulness, Compassion and Forbearance as taught by Falun Dafa. Those of us who live in the West will also benefit if we take these same principles to heart. Therefore, we should applaud the efforts of Falun Dafa practitioners in their efforts to share their faith with us. And so, there is indeed much to celebrate today.”

Basketball Coach Wishes Master Li a Happy Birthday

Rocky Zhang speaks in the rally.

Rocky Zhang is a New Zealand Chinese and is currently a basketball coach. “First of all, I would like to wish Mr. Li Hongzhi a happy birthday! Mr. Li founded Falun Gong, which teaches the people of the world Truthfulness, Compassion and Forbearance. His realm is very high,” he said.

“I liked history very much when I was young,” Zhang said. “But history has been distorted by [the CCP]. I found that the rulers were full of lies. Everything is covered up by the CCP, including the suppression of Falun Gong. At the beginning, the overwhelming propaganda of the ‘self-immolation’ brainwashed the whole society. At that time, the mother of my elementary school classmate was a Falun Gong practitioner. After she started practicing Falun Gong, she became a better person. But she was arrested by the government. Why should a good person be arrested?”

He said to all Falun Gong practitioners: “Don’t give up, don’t be discouraged. Please persevere and strengthen your beliefs, and continue to spread Falun Gong. The world will be better, and we will see a brighter future.”

Chen Weijian, editor-in-chief of Beijing Spring magazine, also attended the rally. He said in his speech: “Today is Falun Dafa Day, and it is also the 72nd birthday of Mr. Li Hongzhi, the founder of Falun Gong. Mr. Li recently released an article ‘Why Save Sentient Beings,’ explaining the reasons for saving sentient beings. I think people also need to save themselves, such as by staying away from the biggest and most evil devil—the Chinese Communist Party.”

Passersby Commend Falun Dafa 

Wally Lepalo

Wally Lepalo, a factory machine operator, learned the second Falun Gong exercise. He said, “I felt the energy around my arms, it was amazing! My life has been stressful at times lately, but when I raised my arms I felt so relaxed and at peace.”

When he saw a practitioner sitting on the seaside meditating on the cover page of a leaflet, Lepalo said, “This practitioner looks so peaceful. I also want to find a quiet beach or park to practice. Falun Gong’s principles of Truthfulness, Compassion, and Forbearance are far-reaching, and they are very good principles.”

Byana learns the Falun Gong exercises.

Byana is a tourist from Dubai. The scene of Falun Gong practitioners practicing the exercises immediately caught her attention, so she stopped to learn more. “They looked so peaceful, so relaxed. I couldn’t help but want to join them,” she said.

After looking around for a long time, Byana found the Falun Dafa booth, got more information, and started to learn the exercises on the spot. “This is very good and refreshes my body. I feel really good,” she remarked.

From right: Tahnee, Felicity and Therese learn the Falun Gong exercises.

Learning the second exercise.