Nearly 900 paper peace cranes have been folded by a group of volunteers at the Marton Library over the past week - with more to come.
Friends Raima Neale and Sharon Gordon said they were chatting over a coffee one day when the idea was mooted to set up a local group and send the special peace offerings to Hiroshima in Japan from the people of Marton.
They have been thrilled at the response to the project.
"Not only have people come in to sit at our large table to learn how to fold the origami cranes, they have also donated piles of brightly patterned and coloured light cardboard squares," Ms Gordon said.
Ms Neale said she has been involved with the peace movement for many years when she was living in Wellington.