(Minghui.org) Falun Dafa (Falun Gong) practitioners celebrated the arrival of the new year by holding activities in Auckland’s city center, Commercial Bay, on December 27, 2025. They demonstrated the Falun Dafa exercises, and taught them. They also held a rally to inform people about the 26-year persecution in China. Human rights lawyer Kerry Gore addressed the rally, commended the practitioners’ perseverance, and called on people from all walks of life in New Zealand to help practitioners stop the Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP) persecution.
Practitioners do the exercises during an event on December 27, 2025.
The dragon dance team performs.
Practitioners demonstrate the exercises
A passer-by learns the Falun Dafa exercises.
People learn about Falun Dafa.
Human Rights Lawyer: Practitioners' Courage Deserves Respect
Human rights lawyer Kerry Gore addresses the rally.
Lawyer Kerry Gore said in his speech that Falun Dafa’s principles of Truthfulness, Compassion, and Forbearance are not merely moral ideals, they are sources of extraordinary resilience, enabling practitioners to maintain dignity and inner strength under one of the harshest system of repression today. “Surely, those principles must also have something to offer us who have the good fortune to live in a democracy, if those very same principles enable Falun Gong practitioners to cultivate themselves in an environment with a threat of persecution.”
He pointed out that facing the CCP’s 26-year persecution and state-sanctioned forced organ harvesting, Falun Gong practitioners in China keep raising awareness of the brutality and help more people learn about the reality and the nature of the regime.“Their bravery in the face of intimidation, violence, and even the threat of death deserves a profound respect,” he said.
He called on the international community to pay more attention, saying, “The question is no longer whether we should act, it is how we act.” He encouraged the public to contact their parliamentary members to express their concern and urge the government to pass legislation and policies to help stop the human rights abuse.
Falun Gong's Peaceful Energy Draws Interest
Shakaila and her husband Luke from Australia stopped and watched the exercise demonstration. Shakaila said that she felt energy as she watched practitioners meditate. She said such events help people feel calm, deliver a concept of health, and promote public awareness. She said that in our fast paced lives people need to pause a while, calm down and return to one’s own thoughts.
Shakaila said when she saw practitioners dressed in yellow she thought it was a protest or performance, but when she came closer she realized they were meditating, “I felt it was extraordinary.” She said the peaceful scene of group practice can help people connect with their inner minds and higher spiritual realms.
Luke works in mining in Australia and life is fast paced—so he knew the importance of calming down and meditating. The couple said seeing practitioners’ group practice encouraged them to learn more about Falun Dafa and try this peaceful practice.
Anne-Marie wishes to learn Falun Gong.
Anne-Marie from Pukekohe in south Auckland said this the first time she’s seen Falun Gong exercises. “I never heard of it, but after seeing their group practice, I wish to learn about it.”
When she heard that one can learn Falun Gong at home and download books and exercise-teaching videos free online, she was interested. She said the group practice made her feel calm, “Very serene. I wish to try this practice.”
She said the principles of Truthfulness, Compassion, and Forbearance were important, “Encountering dishonest people in life is unpleasant, and honesty is very important to me.” She said emotions, stress, and pressure can affect one’s health, but a body and mind practice that improves ones character is helpful.
She said she would download the books, “I truly wish to learn. I want to start practicing.”
Tourists Appreciate Falun Gong's Positive Values
Sigrid and her husband Roland
Sigrid and husband Roland from Germany noticed the peaceful group practice and wished to learn more about Falun Dafa. Sigrid said that she believed that mind and body were tightly connected. If one keeps a clear mind, positive attitude, and healthy thoughts, they are less likely to have illnesses. She said that mental health played an important role in one’s overall health.
Roland said that Truthfulness, Compassion, and Forbearance are important. People need to be sincere, kind, and tolerant. Such values are essential for today’s society.
The couple said they knew about the CCP’s persecution, and compared the CCP regime to dictators in history. They said that totalitarian systems are terrified when people think for themselves and embrace spiritual practices.
Australian Tourist Condemns the CCP’s Forced Organ Harvesting
Gilbert Bozza condemned the CCP’s forced organ harvesting.
Gilbert Bozza from Australia listened to Kerry Gore’s speech and condemned the CCP’s forced organ harvesting, calling it “disgusting and inhumane.”
Gilbert said that any reason cannot be an excuse for killing innocent lives, especially organ harvesting for profit, which violates basic human morality. “Life is priceless,” he said. “Such things will make God furious.”
He said he learned that the organs of a victim—including heart, lungs, kidneys, corneas, and spleen—can be sold for tens of thousands to millions of dollars. “This is the reason they [CCP] does this, for money and exorbitant profits,” he said indignantly.
Gilbert said the CCP’s systemic violence tramples human rights, “Under such a regime, there are no human rights. If you say a wrong sentence, you’ll be imprisoned or even subjected to forced organ harvesting. We cannot know how many they have done, but we have known enough.”
He called on more people to learn about the issue and urged governments to act. “When more people know what’s happening, governments cannot keep silent,” he said. “The brutal CCP regime and its accomplice must be stopped.”
Gilbert commended practitioners’ efforts to raise awareness and said he would continue to pay attention to, and help stop the persecution.
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