The Paper Cranes Project symbolizes a bright future and hope for children

Mazda New Zealand are delighted to be donating $20,000 to Make A Wish Foundation New Zealand to help grant wishes of critically ill Kiwi children.

With the help of New Zealanders and Mazda dealers around the country, over 20,000 origami paper cranes were made to send to Hiroshima where they will be placed on the Children’s Peace Monument in Memorial Park.

According to Japanese tradition, folding 1,000 paper cranes gives you a chance to make one special wish come true. This year Mazda New Zealand set a goal of reaching 20,000 paper cranes with $1,000 being donated for every 1,000 cranes folded.

David Hodge, Mazda New Zealand Managing Director, says this year’s paper cranes project exceeded expectations with New Zealanders around the country getting onboard with their local Mazda dealerships to fold paper cranes.

“To see us hit our goal and donate $20,000 to the Make A Wish Foundation is something every Kiwi can be proud of. We would like to thank everyone who folded a paper crane over the last month, including all the incredible schools who collectively made many thousands of cranes in this time.

With Mazda’s Corporate Headquarters based in Hiroshima, this project holds deep significance to the Mazda Motor Corporation globally, says Hodge.

Pam Elgar, Chief Executive at Make A Wish Foundation New Zealand says: “We are so touched by the immense support we received from Kiwis across the country to make the paper cranes.

“We would like to say a huge thank you to everyone who contributed. With your support and Mazda NZ, we will be able to grant wishes for some critically ill children in New Zealand which is fantastic.”

Hiroshima lost approximately one third of its population, with tens of thousands more injured on that fateful day in August 1945. Toyo Kogyo – as Mazda was then called – immediately began distributing medical supplies, setting up consultation centres around the city to help families reunite.

The paper cranes have been sent to Hiroshima to be hung at the Children’s Peace Monument which was built to remember a young Japanese girl called Sadako Sasaki and the children who died from the effects of the atomic bomb. Sasaki, who initially survived the explosion, was diagnosed with leukaemia from the radiation. While in hospital a fellow patient told her about the legend of the cranes which inspired her to begin folding paper cranes. Sasaki had exceeded her goal of 1,000 cranes when she died.

At the foot of the statue is a plaque that reads, “This is our cry.  This is our prayer. Peace in the world.”

This has now been extended to remember all the child victims of world conflicts.