Peace Activism & Alternatives to Violence
We pursue practical, nonviolent paths to peace in Aotearoa and around the world, grounded in the core Quaker value that every person matters.
You do not have to be a Quaker to take part in peace activities. Anyone interested in learning more about nonviolence, or in working with others for a more peaceful world, is welcome.
Here Friends read aloud a seminal Quaker document, the 1660 Quaker declaration of our commitment to peace. We call it the Peace Testimony. Learn more about the Peace Testimony below.
Building Peace in Aotearoa — Together
For over 360 years, Quakers (the Religious Society of Friends) have worked for peace. We believe there is something of value in every person — and that violence, whether personal or political, diminishes us all.
Today in Aotearoa New Zealand, Friends continue this commitment through practical peace-building, education, advocacy, and community action.
Whether you are exploring faith, concerned about conflict in the world, or looking for practical tools to reduce violence in your community — you are welcome here.
Curious to learn more about Quaker views on peace, justice and non-violence? Visit a Quaker Meeting.
Why Peace Work Matters Now
Conflict and violence affect our communities in many forms:
War and militarisation
Family and community harm
Social division and injustice
Structural inequality
Peace is not passive. It is active, courageous work — building relationships, strengthening justice, and creating alternatives to harm.
What We Do
1. Speak Out for Peace
Quakers have a long history of public witness against war and militarism.
In Aotearoa, Friends:
Support conscientious objection
Advocate for nuclear disarmament and non-violence
Participate in peace vigils and public demonstrations
Collaborate with national networks such as Peace Movement Aotearoa
We believe faith communities have a responsibility to contribute to public conversations about justice and peace.
👉 Want to know more about peace actions and statements?
Connect with a local Quaker meeting to find out about their peace actions.
2. Alternatives to Violence Project (AVP)
Alternatives to Violence Project (AVP) offers practical, experiential workshops that help people:
Develop non-violent communication skills
Transform conflict
Build trust and cooperation
Strengthen self-confidence and emotional awareness
AVP workshops are run in communities, schools, and prisons across the world — including Aotearoa.
Participants often describe AVP as life-changing because it focuses on practical tools and personal transformation, not just theory.
3. Peace in Action — Local & National 
Quaker peace work includes:
Commemoration events (e.g., Hiroshima & Nagasaki commemorations)
Supporting restorative justice approaches
Interfaith peace collaboration
Community conversations on non-violence
Friends in Aotearoa also support international Quaker peace efforts through international bodies such as the Quaker United Nations Office.
Peace is both local and global.
Our Peace Testimony — In Simple Terms
Quakers believe that:
Every person has inherent worth.
Violence ultimately fails to create lasting justice.
Peace requires courage, creativity, and persistence.
Means must reflect the ends we seek.
This commitment is known as the “Peace Testimony.” It guides our worship, our community life, and our public action.
You do not have to be a Quaker to share these values or work alongside us.
Learn about the Peace Testimony Read more about the 1660 Declaration Read the full Peace Statements of Quakers Aotearoa
How You Can Get Involved
Whether you are spiritually curious, politically active, or simply concerned about the world your children will inherit — there is a place for you.
If you'd like to get involved you can:
✔ Attend a local Quaker meeting
✔ Join a peace vigil or campaign (you don't have to be a Quaker to join our peace vigils)
✔ Join or form a local peace group
✔ Take part in an AVP workshop
✔ Volunteer with a partner organisation
✔ Donate to sustain peace programmes
✔ Start a conversation in your own community
✔ Subscribe to updates and stay connected
👉 Take the first step today and connect with your local Quaker Meeting:
Find a local Quaker meeting
Learn, participate, donate.
National partners and campaigns we support
Peace Movement Aotearoa: advocacy against militarism, excessive military spending, killer robots, and cluster m bombs; advocacy for international nuclear disarmament
The National Centre for Peace and Conflict Studies at Otago University: annual donation to support peace education and research
Peace Begins With Us
We believe lasting peace is not created by states alone — but by ordinary people choosing non-violence in daily life.
If you are looking for hope grounded in action, you are warmly invited to connect.
Together, we can build alternatives to violence.
About us and how to connect
We are a community of Friends committed to peace, justice, and nonviolence.
Email: contact us
Find a local meeting: Find a Meeting
Connect with a Quaker with your questions
Join up for our visitors' letter (an occasional newsletter with reflections, stories, news & events)
Learn about ways Quakers are putting their faith into action
Want to get involved in our work and activity?
Learn more about what Quakers believe.
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Quaker Pacifism
Here is the text of the 1660 declaration of our commitment to peace:
The Quaker Peace Testimony
"We utterly deny all outward wars and strife and fightings with outward weapons, for any end, or under any pretence whatsoever; and this is our testimony to the whole world. The spirit of Christ, by which we are guided, is not changeable, so as once to command us from a thing as evil and again to move unto it; and we do certainly know, and so testify to the world, that the spirit of Christ, which leads us into all Truth, will never move us to fight and war against any man with outward weapons, neither for the kingdom of Christ, nor for the kingdoms of this world."
Declaration of Friends to Charles II, 1660
A timeline of Quaker Peace activism:
Our Peace Witness in Aotearoa — A Living Tradition
For more than 360 years, Quakers have chosen non-violence — even in times of war and political pressure. In Aotearoa New Zealand, that commitment has taken many forms.
1660 – A Public Commitment to Peace
Early Friends in England declare they “utterly deny all outward wars and strife,” establishing what becomes known as the Peace Testimony.
World Wars (1914–1945) – Supporting Conscientious Objectors
Friends support those who refuse military service on grounds of conscience and provide humanitarian relief in times of global conflict.
1947 – International Recognition
The American Friends Service Committee receives the Nobel Peace Prize on behalf of Quakers worldwide for peace and relief work.
1980s – Nuclear-Free Aotearoa
Quakers support grassroots advocacy contributing to New Zealand’s nuclear-free identity and legislation.
Today – Active Peace Partnerships
Quakers collaborate with organisations such as Peace Movement Aotearoa, participate in commemorations, and speak publicly on issues of militarisation, justice, and non-violence.
This Story Is Still Being Written
Peace work is not just history — it is an ongoing commitment.
The same spirit that led Friends to refuse war in 1660 continues today in:
Conflict transformation workshops
Advocacy for disarmament
Interfaith collaboration
Community-based non-violence initiatives
You are warmly invited to be part of the next chapter.
👉 Attend a meeting
👉 Join a peace action
From QuakerSpeak, videos of two Quakers' views on pacifism and activism: