World Peace Pole (1985)

This 'World Peace Pole' on the Robe Street lawn was unveiled by New Plymouth Mayor, David Lean, 6 November 1985. (Daily News 7 November 1985)

This World Peace Pole was gifted to New Plymouth City by the World Peace Prayer Society (WPPS) through the North Taranaki Peace Group. The WPPS was founded in Japan in 1955. By 1985 50,000 poles had been erected in Japan and 250 around the world. New Plymouth was the first city in New Zealand to accept a pole. There are now over 200,000 peace poles around the world. 

The metal pole is inscribed in four languages - English, Maori, French and Japanese

May Peace Prevail on Earth

Kia Tau te Rangimaire ki Runga ki te Ao Katoa

Puisse la Paix Regner dans le Monde

[Japanese Text]

In this article of the unveiling from the Taranaki Herald (6 November 1985), it was reported that another pole had been erected at the "Dayspring Centre's Westown property".