On a brilliant, sunny day in Palmerston North, members of 11 faith communities — about 75 people — gathered at Edwards Pit Park to plant approximately 350 trees.  Religious Diversity Day was organised by the Palmerston North Interfaith Group in collaboration with the Palmerston North City Council and Welcoming Communities to work with the Pit Park People in their mission to transform the Edwards Pit Park into a thriving habitat for indigenous biodiversity as well as an enjoyable recreational space for everyone in the community.

The event brought together entire families from all over the world — grandparents, parents and grandchildren to pray, work and share food together.  From the Baha’i, Christian (Anglican, Catholic and Presbyterian), Hindu, Jain, Jewish, Muslim, Religious Society of Friends and Sikh — all affirmed our common responsibility to care for the Earth and every aspect of creation.   

Elders acknowledged our responsibility to mitigate further damage to the environment.  Children learned that by the simple act of planting trees, they can participate in the fight against climate change, to paraphrase the late Dr. John Flenley, former member of the Interfaith Group.  We worked hard and also had lots of fun!!!

After planting trees, we shared beautiful food, gifts from the Earth organised by the Interfaith Group in collaboration with Welcoming Communities that provided funding for a vegetarian afternoon tea.  They also supplied the marquee and three tables.  

Religious Diversity Day 2024 renewed the community’s hope that people can put aside differences at this eleventh hour of climate emergency motivated by humanitarian principles and, most especially, our love for our children and grandchildren. 

Since 2014 the Interfaith Group has held an annual picnic and working bee at Pit Park because we share the vision of the Pit Park People to transform what was once a wasteland into a thriving habitat for indigenous biodiversity.  But it was our youth leaders from our second youth korero in 2021 who addressed the Sustainability Committee of Palmerston North City Council and requesting that Religious Diversity Climate Action Day become an annual event.  And so it was born.

A special vote of thanks must be given to the tireless efforts of Jaspreet Singh, chairperson of the Interfaith Group and longtime member of the Pit Park Committee.  Thanks also to Gerry Lew and the Interfaith Group, to Lorna Johnson from the Palmerston North City Council and Somayyeh Ghaffari, from Welcoming Communities.   We also acknowledge Mayor Grant Smith’s on-going support of this initiative and how Lorna Johnson was glad to step in for the Mayor on this occasion. Several City Councillors have expressed interest in the event with city councillor Kaydee Zabelin and her family actively participating in the planting.  

And thanks to everyone, young and not so young, for whom Religious Diversity Day has become an event of thanksgiving, solidarity, camaraderie and especially, action for the environment. 

Dr. Mary Eastham QSM

Member of the Religious Diversity Centre Climate Action Group 

Former chairperson of the Palmerston North Interfaith Group, 2011-2022