Dannevirke: Hitch-hikers' guide to change

Niki (left) and Laila Harre passed through the Tararua on Sunday promoting their message to "rethink the system".

Two sisters, hitch-hiking just south of Dannevirke on Sunday, seemed a little unusual. Upon stopping to give them a ride, it was discovered the women were Laila and Niki Harre.

On their website "rethinkthesystem.org", they say:

"After the 2014 election result, Laila wanted to go bush and Niki wanted to go on a pilgrimage to inspire social change. So we made a pact to spend February on the road in a quest to explore new ways of living well together. We want to discuss all possibilities. Even (especially) those that seem impossible given our current political establishment, the media, and the narrow field of public debate."

They have been on the road since February 1, visiting towns from Thames through the Bay of Plenty to Gisborne, Wairoa to Napier.

They had public events arranged in many of these places and were heading to Featherston on Sunday, February 8.

They say:

"We are not carrying any money. We are doing this to ensure that our tour stays outside the current system of economic exchange, a small gesture towards the radical rethinking we hope to discover. We are not after a freebie though. We have donated $4000 to grassroots social change and community groups to reflect the nominal cost of the hospitality we will depend on."

So far, the hospitality has been great, they have made real friends on the way and have "got in touch with the rural hinterland". Laila Harre said it was a "sort of redemption" after last year's election in which she led the Internet Party.

Most of their formal events were 1.5 to 2 hours long and involved a 15-minute talk from each; Niki Harre saying her research as a lecturer in psychology at Auckland University has shown most New Zealanders have the same core values and Laila Harre explaining the "politics of politics", which they feel are taking society away from those core values.

They want all New Zealand to prosper, especially the rural towns, and dread the prospect of an Auckland with 2 million people. They want to bring about social change by encouraging the acceptance of ideas.

"Democracy is vital in giving everyone a say," says Niki Harre, "but it is very hard work."

Their speeches have been followed by interactive workshops that encourage people to imagine a new world and ways to create it. They are keeping notes of suggestions and blogging during their journey.

And although a kind host put them up for the night in Dannevirke, they did not get to speak publicly. Read more on rethinkthesystem.org.