(Minghui.org) Falun Dafa groups in New Zealand participated in six Christmas parades in five cities on November 30 and December 1, 2024. Many parades are held in late November and December, which is an annual tradition in New Zealand to celebrate the arrival of the Christmas season. Spectators said the principles of Truthfulness, Compassion, and Forbearance that practitioners bring to their communities touched people’s lives.

The six Christmas parades were held in Palmerston North, Whitianga, Rotorua, Cambridge, and Manurewa and Devonport districts in Auckland. Palmerston North is the sixth largest city in New Zealand. Whitianga is a coastal town which is popular with water sports enthusiasts. Rotorua is known for its beautiful lakes, forests, and geothermal wonders. The Falun Dafa group won the “Most Colourful” award during the parade in Rotorua.

The Tian Guo Marching Band participated in the Christmas parade in Palmerston North on December 1, 2024.

The Tian Guo Marching Band participated in the Christmas parade in Whitianga on November 30, 2024.

Practitioners’ waist drum team participated in the Christmas parade in Rotorua on November 30, 2024.

The Falun Dafa group was given the Most Colorful award during the parade in Rotorua.

Practitioners’ waist drum team participated in the Christmas parade in Cambridge on December 1, 2024.

Practitioners’ dragon dance team participated in the Christmas parade at the Manurewa district in Auckland on November 30, 2024.

Practitioners’ dragon dance team participated in the Christmas parade at the Devonport district in Auckland on December 1, 2024.

We Need Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance

Noel Hewlett praises the Falun Dafa group and gave them a thumbs up.

Noel Hewlett, a former councilor of the Thames-Coromandel District, praised Falun Dafa enthusiastically, “They are great. It’s incredible! Their costumes are beautiful and their music is beautiful. The concepts of Truthfulness, Compassion and Forbearance are great. This is what we need in the community. If you help others, others will help you too, and only then can you be happy and joyful.”

Bruce Scott thanks practitioners.

Bruce Scott is a volunteer with the community patrol team. He praised the Falun Dafa team’s music and costumes and said they had artistic appeal, “Their performances are wonderful. I have never seen such costumes and music. It is really impressive. Especially when they played without looking at the score, the music was so harmonious and beautiful. It was amazing.”

Scott agreed with the values of Truthfulness, Compassion, and Forbearance. He said with emotion, “We are gradually losing these precious values. This is regrettable. The world is changing, and this change is heartbreaking.”

Talking about the persecution of Falun Dafa practitioners in China, Scott said, “This is really terrible.” He also said, “Falun Gong is persecuted by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), and even their organs are harvested alive. All of this is appalling.”

He told practitioners who participated in the parade, “I can’t believe you actually came all the way from Auckland. It’s great! Thank you for your enthusiasm. I am very grateful that you came and insisted on (playing) in the rain.”

People Like the Tian Guo Marching Band

Faith and her husband Paul support Falun Dafa.

Faith and her husband Paul dressed up as characters from the fairy tale “Alice in Wonderland” and participated in the Christmas parade in Palmerston North. Faith said she liked the music played by the Tian Guo Marching Band. She said she played the trombone in a local band. She praised the Tian Guo Marching Band and said, “The coordination between each part is just right. No one blows too loudly, and no one wants to overshadow others. Each section has its own opportunity to shine, so I like it very much.”

She also said that she knew about the CCP’s persecution and she thought it was wrong. She said that everyone should have the right to be their true self.

Lyal Brenton

Town Crier Lyal Brenton was the leader of the parade in Palmerston North. He said the Falun Dafa practitioners’ costumes are fantastic and lovely.

He said that Truthfulness, Compassion, and Forbearance are indispensable principles for mankind. In his life, he has always followed similar values. As a respected New Zealand Justice of the Peace, he strives to uphold the truth and serves the community on a voluntary basis.

He said that Truthfulness, Compassion, and Forbearance are what everyone should have, but unfortunately, many powerful people in society have lost these ideals, and because of this, the world is falling apart and is facing many difficulties.

Betro and her family

Betro, a spectator watching the parade, was amazed by the Tian Guo Marching Band’s performance. She said she really liked the percussion instruments and the rhythm. Her husband said the drums were loud and clear.

The couple both said they strongly agreed with Falun Dafa’s principles, and that in order to have a healthy body, one must first have a healthy mind.