Parihaka in South Taranaki is the country's most potent symbol of peace and reconciliation.

An initiative to help the region walk away from its racist reputation begins in New Plymouth on Wednesday. While it is unknown what place the Peace Walk to Parihaka will ultimately play in history, its organisers believe it has the potential to change the entire community for the better. Deena Coster reports.

Few issues stir the pot and create debate more than the state of the country's race relations.

supplied A painting of Parihaka from 1881 prior to its invasion by members of the armed constabulary.

Normally known for a 'she'll be right' attitude, New Zealand communities can turn quickly when tackling topics like Maori rights.

A case in point is the vitriol levelled at New Plymouth mayor Andrew Judd from the mouths of some in the community who slated him for his support of a Maori ward. The social commentary which followed last month labelled the district as racist, red-necked and narrow-minded.

Such words were a personal affront to many in the city, who felt it was unfair to be tarred by the actions of a bigoted few.

Mark Dwyer The raukura has been a symbol of peace at Parihaka for more than a century.

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The debate also shone the spotlight on Maori and Pakeha relationships, including shared stories of racist treatment.

While hard to hear, some believe it is this type of korero that communities up and down the country should be encouraged to have.

The Maori land march participants as they approach Wellington in October 1975.

In Taranaki, an initiative to do just that begins in New Plymouth on Wednesday.

Inspired by Judd's own idea, a three-day hikoi dubbed the Peace Walk will start in the city and participants will cover 44 kilometres before reaching their the final destination of Parihaka on Friday.

Hikoi organiser Glen Bennett says it is an opportunity to create new ways to talk about tough issues which confront us all.

Sam Scannell/Fairfax NZ New Plymouth man Vivian Hutchinson will help facilitate the community conversations, which are part of the peace walk.

Bennett says the action of coming together as a group, both while walking and then during the community forums in Oakura and Okato, is part of moving the conversation beyond the issue of race, focusing instead on reconciliation.

While Bennett has been quick to say it is not a protest, it is most certainly a form of community activism.

New Plymouth's Vivian Hutchinson, who will help facilitate the forums, said the influence of Parihaka and the legacy left by its prophets Te Whiti o Rongomai and Tohu Kakahi is threaded through the intentions of the walk.

Robert Charles Race relations commissioner Dame Susan Devoy will join the walk on Thursday and Friday.

The two men are synonymous with the peaceful attempts to protest against wide scale land confiscation at the settlement, which resulted in their unlawful imprisonment.

Often referred to as passive resistance, the pair did not just sit back and let things happen to their people. They developed a strategy, based on their religious teachings, to come up with ways to try and stop what was happening, without resorting to violence.

Hutchinson says this philosophy also influenced Dame Whina Cooper, who led the 1000km land march to Wellington in 1975 to try and stop the sale of Maori land.

ANDY JACKSON/FAIRFAX NZ Anglican Archbishop Philip Richardson says the peace walk is one way we can show our commitment to the Treaty of Waitangi.

The march, which began in Te Hapua, brought people together under the banner of 'not one more acre' and was a peaceful demonstration.

While 50 people began the march, by the time the group reached Wellington, 5,000 people had joined and another 60,000 had signed a petition in support.

In the same year, the Waitangi Tribunal was set up, leading to the beginning of settlements for iwi related to injustices the groups suffered since 1840, which included the loss of land and culture.

Hutchinson, who played a key role in organising the land march alongside Cooper, fully supports Judd's desire to find better ways to deal with issues like Maori representation on council, free of abuse and conflict.

Banners and placards are not allowed on the Taranaki walk but Hutchinson says the people who turn up and take part will be enough to send a message.

While its likely many who choose to attend the walk will already support Judd and the peace kaupapa, Bennett says it is open to everyone, including people with opposing views.

Just how many people will turn up is still a bit of guess work. Bus loads are expected to arrive from outside of the region and others will pick and choose how long they walk for over the course of the hikoi.

Due to a clash with a day-long meeting about the draft Waitara leasehold legislation on Wednesday and other work commitments, New Plymouth councillors will not be among the crowd. The region's other mayors, Ross Dunlop and Neil Volzke, are also unable to attend.

While numbers was one measure, Hutchinson says how history remembers the peace walk and the role it might play in developing new ways to communicate gave him with hope.

"It's going to create the space for different conversations. That itself, does things," says Hutchinson.

One high-powered guest keen to be part of the discussion is race relations commissioner Dame Susan Devoy, who joins the walk on Thursday.

She applauds the peace initiative and says it is the latest in the line of positive action taken by people throughout New Zealand history to stand up for what they believe in. This includes honouring the experiences of Maori and recognising the historical injustices iwi faced.

"More of us need to open our eyes and our minds to the full history of our country. We need to be brave and we need to be honest, we need to have these conversations," Devoy says.

Honouring the Treaty of Waitangi is something close to Anglican Archbishop Philip Richardson's heart too.

He will be part of group setting off from outside the New Plymouth District Council on Wednesday and will also re-join the group as it makes it way to Parihaka on Friday.

He says the invitation to create better ways for Pakeha and Maori to relate to one another is a worthy goal to strive towards.

"That's a really important kaupapa. It's a really important commitment," he says.

Richardson says the country's founding document provides the platform for a partnership between Pakeha and Maori and within communities.

"This peace walk symbolises that," he says.

He believes the treaty is a "living" agreement and through events like the peace walk, people can do their bit to breathe life into it.

"It's a covenant, it's a document which invites an ongoing relationship into every generation and into the future."

Heading along? This is what you need to know:

* Bring your own food and drink

* Arrange your own transport and accommodation if required

* No banners, signs or flags are allowed

* For safety reasons, children are only allowed to participate during the walk through New Plymouth, at the town stops along the way and when the group arrives at Parihaka.

* Using social media? Use #peacewalk in your posts.

June 15

9.30am - meet outside the New Plymouth District Council building for a briefing

10am - walk begins

11.30am - brief stop at Spotswood College

11.45am - walk re-starts

1.45pm - arrive in Oakura

3pm-5pm - community forum held at Oakura Hall

June 16

9.30am - meet outside Oakura Hall

10am - walk begins

1.45pm - arrive in Okato

3pm-5pm - community forum held at Hempton Hall

June 17

8am - meet outside Okato's Hempton Hall for briefing

8.30am - walk begins

12pm - brief stop at Pungarehu

12.15pm - walk leaves for Mid Parihaka Rd

12.30pm - arrive at the corner of Mid Parihaka Rd and State Highway 45

1.50pm - briefing prior to powhiri at Parihaka

2pm - Powhiri begins