Wellington District Police will join some of the region’s Special Olympics athletes on Saturday 3 December from 9.30am in Lower Hutt to carry the Special Olympics Flame of Hope.

They will ‘walk’ the flame from Lower Hutt to Wellington, via the Lady Liz Police Launch across the harbour on board the vessel.

Timetable for Lower Hutt Leg with torch

• 9.30am - Hutt Valley-based athletes, family and supporters assemble 
outside Lower Hutt police station on Kings Crescent. Hutt-based media can 
join here.
• 9.50am - Parade makes its way to Lower Hutt Town Hall.
• 10.30am – Presentation to athletes by Lower Hutt Mayor and Police.
• 10.50am – A selection of athletes travel to the Seaview Marina where 
they will board the Police Launch Lady Liz.
• 11am – Lady Liz departs the Seaview Marina and makes its way to the 
Maritime Police Unit base at Wellington Wharf.

Timetable for Wellington Leg with torch

• 11.30am – Hutt Valley athletes pass the torch of hope to 
representatives from the Wellington and Mana Special Olympics Clubs and 
Wellington Mayor at the Wellington Wharf. Wellington-based media can join 
here.
• 11.45am – The parade makes its way to Parliament.
• 12.30pm - Law Enforcement Torch Run concludes.

The Wellington leg of the LETR also coincides with the International Day of Persons with Disabilities which promotes the rights and well-being of persons with disabilities in our communities.

The Law Enforcement Torch Run (LETR) has seen torches relayed from each end of New Zealand to Hamilton – the venue for the 2022 Special Olympics National Summer Games which takes place next week on Thursday 8 December.

“The support of the New Zealand Police and other service personnel is hugely valued and we have enjoyed taking to the streets with them as we’ve moved throughout the country,” Special Olympics chief executive Carolyn Young says.

“The LETR is one of the highlights of major Special Olympics events, and this year we are excited that the torches will travel to regions and clubs taking part in the National Summer Games.”

Inspector Mark Harrison, of Palmerston North Police, is Director of LETR NZ. “Once again we are delighted to be able to support the build-up to the National Summer Games. Law enforcement staff have been proud to run alongside the athletes through our communities as the Flame of Hope makes its way to the Games in Hamilton.” The Flame represents so much of what policing is about – it stands for hope, courage, opportunity, inspiration and equality,” Harrison added.

The Wellington leg of the LETR is the second to last of several torch run events which have taken place throughout New Zealand in the lead-up to the Special Olympics National Summer Games in Hamilton.

More than 1,300 athletes from 42 Special Olympics Clubs will take part in this year’s Games, which will take place from 8 to 12 December. Held every four years, the Special Olympics New Zealand National Summer Games is the largest event for athletes with intellectual disabilities in New Zealand.

Similar in style to the Olympic torch relay, the LETR is a series of runs and fundraising events that raise awareness and money for the Special Olympics movement. Globally more than 90,000 police professionals and supporters across 46 countries participate in Law Enforcement Torch Runs.

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