"Dialogue with Nature" in New Zealand - Jan 27-Feb 19

For the 70 local SGI-New Zealand members, the task of organizing and promoting an exhibition in Wellington by a photographer whom very few New Zealanders have heard of seemed daunting. But members from all over New Zealand gathered to help host SGI President Ikeda's photographic exhibition "Dialogue with Nature" from January 27 to February 19.

Cosponsored by UNICEF and SGI, the exhibition was held in the Michael Fowler Centre. The opening ceremony, which began with a traditional Maori welcome, was attended by 200 guests, including politicians, judges, artists, peace activists, educators and journalists. It was opened by Fran Wilde, former mayor of Wellington and president of UNICEF New Zealand, together with Sonja Davies, a noted politician, activist and author.

Over 23,000 people viewed the exhibition, and the response from local residents was positive, with many expressing appreciation for the sense of harmony and spirituality displayed in the photographs.