NEW ZEALAND — Trust is a crucial element in building strong communites, the Dalai Lama told a large audience at Auckland's Vector Arena Dec 5.

The Tibetan leader's talk was part of an 11 day tour of Australia and New Zealand.

He was welcomed by the traditional welcome organised by local Maori groups and hongi, the rubbing of noses, also a Maori customary greeting.

Following a number of songs by the famous Tibetan singer, Yunchen Lhamo, the Dalai Lama spoke to the audience on the universal need for trust.

"... that inner peace, peace of mind is something very crucial for the family and for the community and for individuals also,” he said.

This was not just part of his own beliefs, he said, medical practitioners have also observed that trust between a patient and the doctor can lead to a patient's rapid recovery.

“So then trust can come on the basis of love, compassion and affection ...”

It is an important element to achieving healthy families, long lasting marriages and healthy communities.

The Dalai Lama explained that compassion is not found through religion but is biological in nature. It comes through understanding human values through awareness.

He also talked about the need for preserving cultural identities and traditions. Religions have different philosophies but the messages they teach are the same, he told the audience. “Traditions have the same potential ... these inner values.”

New Zealand's Prime Minister, John Key's refusal to meet with the Dalai Lama did not bother the Tibetan leader.

“My main interest is promotion of human values,” he said. More important is the individual effort on the part of everyone to promote values and restore religious harmony.

Green Party Member of Parliament, Sue Kedgley who was in the audience, described the Dalai Lama as "an extraordinary, powerful, joyful, inspiring figure.”

Commenting on instructions given to National Party ministers not to meet with the Tibetan leader, Miss Kedgley said that the decision on whether or not to meet with the Dalai Lama was “a test of the principles and the courage of a political leader.”

The New Zealand Government's principles and integrity had been put aside for fear of getting "offside" with China and putting in jeopardy pragmatic issues such as trade.

Miss Kedgley was concerned that New Zealand's special relationship with China had led to a loss of it's once strong and independent voice on world affairs. She believed that New Zealand had lost it's ability to speak on behalf of the world's oppressed people.

“So basically we are really turning a blind eye to the suffering of millions of people ... because we're too frightened to get offside with China and that is a huge concern. Particularly thinking of the Tibetan situation, how are we ever going to get enough pressure on the Chinese to get them to agree to a negotiated solution,” she said.

The Dalai Lama will be giving his last public talk in New Zealand Dec 6 before returning to Australia.