Despite wintery conditions over 100 members and supporters walked to Cathedral Square to the NZAVS beat of a drum. Many carried banners and placards appropriately worded. Miss Taylor who led the march spoke of the Mobilization for Animals stressing the subject of abolition against compromise. Mr Stanley Wade, NZAVS member, briefly took the platform making a short appeal for all those present to support Miss Taylor in her work for NZAVS. Radio, tv and local papers gave full coverage.

"My message to you on WDLA. Jesus started on his own, he had literally then the whole known world living in contradiction of his beliefs, among it the mighty Roman Empire, and even his own fellow Jews, yet this one man, with 12 others, changed the course of society, merely on the strength of his beliefs. He had no television coverage, he had no money, but what he had was that which is the greatest sword of all, and that is truth. The New Zealand Anti-Vivisection Society Inc. has that sword, and therefore nothing but good can come of its use.

The animals of the world are indeed our brothers and our sisters. The fact that we slaughter them, eat them, and carry out abominable experiments on them is proof of the great degradation of human society. Until people see the light as Jesus said when the strong have devoured each other the meek will inherit the Earth. We are trying, we and all of the likes of us are trying to get the strong to devour each other, let us hope we win. Love, light and peace, Spike Milligan."
- Message to Bette Overell from Spike Milligan, 22 April 1983

"I have followed with vivid interest the activities of your Society during the last year and congratulate you wholeheartedly on your dynamic approach. Once again, I am delighted to attach a brief message of encouragement which may be read out in conjunction with the commemoration of World Day for Laboratory Animals. Allow me to close, however, by extending less formally my sincere best wishes to your members and supporters for continued success in the crucial work they are undertaking: Vivisection is an issue on which no compromise is possible without at the same time compromising the highest principles of mankind. May the members and supporters of the New Zealand Anti-Vivisection Society remain steadfast in their pledge to stand 'without fear... for the rights of animals' until the cruel procedures that render it necessary to commemorate a World Day for Laboratory Animals have finally been eradicated. I am confident that when that happy day arrives we shall be inhabiting a far healthier world - not only in the literal sense, but also in the moral sense."
- Message to NZAVS from Prince Sadruddin Aga Khan, World Day for Laboratory Animals 22 April 1983.

"To NZAVS we wish you every success in your part of the global fight to end the evil of the vivisection laboratory. Live animal experiments area scandalous blight on the moral standards of human kind."
- Message to NZAVS from Scottish Anti-Vivisection Society, 22 April 1983