A ‘caravan’ or motor hikoi, where vehicles flying Palestinian flags travel in single file the length of the motu, is being planned to arrive in Wellington to join the national protest march to parliament.
The caravan/motorcade will work like a relay, running between cities and towns on route. As it passes through different areas people can join the caravan in their area for the day, for part of the day, or may decide to continue on to Wellington. There will be events/rallies held at some locations on the way – details still to come.
The expectation is that the caravan would build momentum as it travelled the country, and would gather people along the way.
There will be both a North Island and a South Island Caravan. These will converge in Wellington for the National Action on Thursday 27th June which starts outside Te Papa at 11am.
Groups who are not on the main route could form their own caravan to join the main one at an appropriate location. One way to visualise this is as tributaries joining a river which becomes bigger as it heads towards Wellington.
Details and timings are likely to change or will be updated. We have created a facebook page where all updated information will be shared. There will also be further information in next week’s PSNA newsletter.
The facebook page is called Aotearoa Caravan for a Free Palestinehttps://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61560822632649
Please like this page to follow it and feel free to message us there if needed.
North Island Caravan
The North Island caravan will start at Te Rerenga Wairua (Cape Reinga) on Friday 21stwith a dawn ceremony around 6 am and a departure at around 9am. Some people from the Far North will travel the whole way to Wellington.
The main route will be straight down through the North Island passing Kaitaia Kerikeri, Whangārei, Auckland, Hamilton, Taupō, Taihape, Palmerston North and on to Wellington. There will be events on route but details are yet to be fully finalised.
Somewhere near Palmerston North would seem to be the logical place for the North Island caravan to come together for the final leg into Wellington.
Provisional timetable for North Island Caravan below (will be subject to change).
Email contact for Northern Caravan is gailaiken20@gmail.com but messages for either caravan can be sent via the facebook group. DateStartFinishPlanFriday 21stJuneTe Rerenga Wairua (Cape Reinga)WhangāreiDawn ceremony and karakia around 6 30 am
9am leave Cape
11am Gather in Kaitatia Town Square
1pm leave Kaitaia to drive south
Saturday 22ndWhangāreiSomewhere near / on North ShoreRally at Whangārei Town Basin 10am
Then drive southSunday 23rdSomewhere near / on Auckland’s North ShoreHamiltonMeet at North Harbour Stadium car park and then convoy into centre
Time to be confirmed
Attend Auckland rally at 2pm
Then convoy to HamiltonMonday 24thHamiltonTaupōDetails to be arrangedTuesday 25thTaupōSomewhere near Palmerston NorthDetails to be arranged
Wednesday 26thSomewhere near Palmerston NorthWellingtonMeeting place on SH1 to be arranged for drive down to Wellington
Thursday 27thWellington Rally from Te Papa at 11am South Island Caravan
More details next week but in the meantime Ōtautahi/Christchurch supporters will be travelling up in a vehicle convoy to Wellington on Wednesday 26th July. If you’d like to be part of this please contact Ben Vorderegger at ben.vorderegger@gmail.com or message him on 028 429 2302. Ben is co-ordinating transport and accommodation for people from Canterbury who want to come!
Don’t forget, updates will be posted on the Aotearoa Caravan for a Free Palestine page so please follow that page. We hope that lots of you can connect with one of the caravans in some way!
PSNA.
Kia Ora Gaza 