Police and Special Olympics athletes will carry the Flame of Hope from Lower Hutt to Parliament as part of the Wellington leg of the Law Enforcement Torch Run.

Media and the public are invited to see the torch depart from Lower Hutt Police Station, 19 Kings Crescent, at 9am on Saturday 15 November. The route through Lower Hutt is Kings Crescent – Queens Drive – Bunny Street – Knights Road – Stevens Grove – finishing at Dowse Square, opposite the Lower Hutt Town Hall.

From there, the torch will be taken by police boat Lady Liz from Seaview Marine to the Wellington Police Maritime Base. The Wellington leg resumes at 11am from 25 Lady Elizabeth Lane, Pipitea, heading along Lady Elizabeth Lane – Waterloo Quay – Whitmore Street – Lambton Quay – Molesworth Street – to the steps of Parliament.

Inspector Rupert Friend said police were proud to support the Special Olympics movement through the Torch Run, which raises awareness and funds for athletes. He noted the event’s growing fundraising activity, including Polar Plunges in Wellington and Christchurch this year that raised $26,000, and pointed to the global Law Enforcement Torch Run’s milestone of $1 billion raised to date.

The torch relay began in Northland in early October and will traverse the country to Southland before concluding in Christchurch the week before the Special Olympics Games. The Games are scheduled at Wolfbrook Arena from Wednesday 10 December to Sunday 14 December.

Media can RSVP to media@police.govt.nz and are welcome to film, photograph and interview athletes and police staff along the route. Contacts: Police—Inspector Mark Harrison, 021 1907 805; Special Olympics—Coen Lammers, 021 730 239.