Peace run's 22nd year

Australian Prachar Stegemann isn't like most visitors to New Zealand.

He's seeing the country partially on shanks' pony as he spreads a message of friendship, understanding and peace.

The Canberra pianist is part of the World Harmony Run core relay team taking a flaming torch over 3500km of New Zealand roads.

Runners left Cape Reinga on September 8 and are expected to finish in Christchurch on October 5; they stopped in Palmerston North last week for a ceremony in The Square.

Mr Stegemann took part in about half the 111-day, 15,000km Australian leg, running 10-20km a day.

He's been involved in the annual harmony run since it was founded in 1987 by Indian-born New Yorker Sri Chinmoy, who died last year.

This year's run was launched in April by Carl Lewis and Billie Jean King in New York and by year's end will have been to more than 80 counties. Mr Stegemann says he's motivated by the fulfillment he receives from the event, which brings hearts to the fore.

"You get to meet people in their best possible light, that's very rewarding. I'm loving [New Zealand] because it's totally different to Australia, the scenery."

However, one aspect has been the same - the enthusiastic reaction from school children and council representatives meeting the runners.

Aucklander Uddipan Brown, his wife and two daughters did the North Island leg of the harmony run, finishing in Wellington last Monday.

Mr Brown was living in the Cook Islands 15 years ago when the run went through the Pacific. He's since participated in the event in many countries and attended a torch blessing ceremony in New York.

- © Fairfax NZ News