NZ Freemason magazine Issue 1 March 2021 by Freemasons New Zealand

Freemason NEW ZEALAND

Issue 1 (Vol. 49), March 2021

Powering Potential www.freemasonsnz.org

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In this issue THE FREEMASONS CHARITY

From the Editor 2

Getting Paid for Parking 32

Hot Off the Press 3 Grand Master’s Visits 3

The Comfort of Communication 32

From the Grand Master 4 News clips 6

Determination for Defibrillators 33

From the Executive Director 8 Roadshows a roaring success 10

FREEMASONS IN ACTION

REPORT

Freemasons support Whanganui Hospital with much needed Nebulisers 14 Freemasons assist Birthright 14 Camp Quality 15

Insurance questions answered 35 Masonic Villages Trust 36

Sistema Aotearoa music-making a classic Powering Potential 38 performance

Invercargill Open Day 16

Thank you letter from Casting for Recovery 17 Vision regained 17

Camp Purple again supported by Freemasons 18 Freemasons in Hawke’s Bay support Pipe Bands 18

Freemasons Foundation Report 40

ANZAC Day 2021 19

Royal Arch 44

Ara Lodge No.1 Celebrates 110 Years of Masonic Service 20

50 Year Badge at 101 years! 46

Freemasons help family 20

Entered Apprentices aplenty 46

King Solomon’s Cup – season 4 21

Welcome to our newest Freemasons 47

COVID-19 alert levels – Lodge operating guide 23–26

Reading – Riting – Rithmetic 47 The Last Word! 48 Service Awards 49

Rose Croix doubles its support for Alzheimers NZ 28 Mall in Auckland any

Walk through Otara Town afternoon and you’ll see smiling children of Dirty hands all in a day’s ll ages, carrying violins, flutes and trumpets or balancing cellos on their backs! These eager (charitable) work! 30 earners are heading to Otara Music Arts Centre the home of one of New Zealand’s most unique and effective music and social development programmes – Sistema Aotearoa

Sistema Aotearoa works with tamariki and rangatahi throughout nating in South America the El Sistema concept was used by Ōtara, including students at eight partner primary schools and uckland Philharmonia Orchestra’s Outreach programme to nine ECE centres. 96% of our tamariki are Māori and Pasifika. classical music in the community and the South Auckland The programme is entirely free for whānau, including provision b of Otara was chosen as the target for it’s cultural diversity COVER Powering Potential programme in conjunction with Royalof Society of New Zealand. string instruments, high quality tuition, and unforgettable trong Maori and2020 Pasifika population. performance opportunities. ma Aotearoa works to bring about personal growth for www.freemasonsnz.org 1 to a As we mark our 10th Birthday in 2021, we look forward ren from vulnerable communities. Children with the fewest

From the Editor

FREEMASONS NEW ZEALAND

National Office Unit 2, 22 Tacy Street Kilbirnie, Wellington 6022 PO Box 6439, Marion Square Wellington 6141 New Zealand Ph: +64 4 385 6622 Fax +64 4 385 5749 Email: membership@freemasonsnz.org communications@freemasonsnz.org www.freemasonsnz.org

What needs to be different, to allow Freemasonry in New Zealand, to build its future?

The New Zealand Freemason is the official journal of the Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons of New Zealand. Unless otherwise indicated, the opinions expressed and the advertising content are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the policy of Grand Lodge. Articles appearing in this journal may be reproduced without permission provided acknowledgement of the source is made and a copy of the publication is forwarded to the Grand Secretary (secretary@freemasonsnz.org). Queries or comments regarding subscription or distribution should be addressed to membership@freemasonsnz.org or the Executive Director, PO Box 6439, Marion Square, Wellington 6141. Queries and comments regarding content and advertising should be addressed to the Editor. Contributions to the magazine, preferably in electronic form (e.g. MS Word documents) are greatly appreciated and should be of interest to a wide audience. Photographs should be high quality, preferably in jpg or tif format. Contributions may be edited in order to fit space available and to achieve overall balance. Letters to the Editor should not exceed 300 words. A guidance sheet for preparation of publishable material is available on request from the Editor. Contributions should be forwarded to communications@freemasonsnz.org Freemasons NZ contributions to Duane Williams, Editor communications@freemasonsnz.org Royal Arch contributions to Duane Williams, Editor gsn@royalarch.org.nz Magazines are distributed in March, June, September and December. The deadlines for contributions are the first day of February, May, August and November Layout by Bartlett Projects, Wellington Printed by Fisher Print Ltd, Palmerston North Copyright © 2021 Freemasons NZ

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Expectations from newer members include being given the Freemasonry they were promised at the start of their journey and a more inclusive and supportive culture. The biggest losses in membership are not from lack of new members (men of all ages are still extremely interested in joining Freemasonry) or those departing from us for the final time. It is from those members who leave after a period of time (I will kindly say ‘resigned clear’) because they are not satisfied with their experience or are not being given what they were promised at the start of their journey, or not being made to feel a part of the lodge team with some sort of responsibility. We need to make sure our lodge culture is encouraging and supportive and call out non-masonic behaviour. Freemasons will only continue attending and remaining members if they feel they are valued and are contributing to the good of the lodge and themselves. There is no reason why every member of a lodge whether a regular attender or not – cannot play a constructive part in the life of the Lodge. Every member needs a ‘masonic dad’ throughout their journey as a mentor, good example, and a trusted advisor. Every member needs to be involved in the lodge either in membership (new members attract more members), charges (encouraged and shared), officers (including Assistants), communications (electronic and otherwise), education (making that daily advancement in masonic knowledge), social or charitable activities (many have a flair for this), drawing in irregular attenders to come to meetings by finding tasks for them to do to help themselves and the lodge. The current District Roadshows will point you and your lodge in the right direction and the Divisional Conferences will build on that but in the end; it is you and I at the local level along with the team we gather around us that will make the difference. This issue contains the usual features which showcase freemasonry to the public and reminds us as Freemasons as to why we belong to the wonderful and timeless organisation. Enjoy the read and make sure you share it with as many people as possible. VWBro Duane Williams MBE, JP, KCLJ, GSec

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We will turn at some time or have already turned 65, and remember age is but a number but probably not your lodge number!

Hot Off the Press Postponed District Roadshows in Southern Division

New Board member

Warwick Bell Past District Grand Master was appointed late last year by the Grand Postponed Roadshows (due to COVID-19 Alert level reMaster on the recommendation of the strictions) have been rescheduled. Nelson-MarlboroughPresident of the Board, after an exhaustive West Coast District Roadshow now in Nelson on Sunday interview process, as the new Central 21 March 2021 at 1.30pm and the MidlandDivision Appointee on the Board of Canterbury Districts Roadshow now in General Purposes. Warwick brings Christchurch Sunday 11 April 2021 with him a wealth of governance and at 2pm. other skills to this important role. He This means that the Southern had previously been involved in some Division Conference has national committees in the areas of membership and develbeen rescheduled to Saturday opment. He attended his first Board Meeting in February 22 May 2021 from 10 April 2021. 2021 by Zoom initially and then physically.

Northern Divisional Conference

Central Divisional Conference

Southern Divisional Conference

17 April 2021 Events on Khyber, Auckland

1 May 2021 Conference Centre, Palmerston North

22 May 2021 Freemasons Centre Timaru

GRAND MASTER’S VISITS 20 Mar Dedication of new Invercargill Freemasons Centre, 50 Elles Road, Invercargill 27 Mar The Sir Walter Scott Lodge No 15, 150th Anniversary, Thames 17 Apr Northern Division Conference, Events on Khyber, Auckland 21 Apr The Lodge of the Liberal Arts No 500, 25th Anniversary Celebration, Auckland

27 Apr Lodge Koranga No 197, Address at ANZAC Service, Timaru 4 May Installation and two 60 Year Bars at Lodge Tawera No 188 at Freemasons Centre, in Oxford, Canterbury (previously postponed due to Covid-19 Alert Levels)

28 May Installation and 75th Anniversary Celebrations The Research Lodge of the Taranaki District, Freemasons Centre, New Plymouth 4 June Installation Lower Hutt Lodge No 299, Petone Freemasons Centre, Petone, Lower Hutt

12 May Installation and 50 Year Service Badge and 60 Year Bar for Father and Son at The Ara Lodge No 1 at Ellerslie Freemasons Centre, Auckland

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From the Grand Master

Starting our new journey As I write this item, we have almost completed our national Roadshows with only one remaining. We had to make a couple of changes to the scheduled dates as the impact of change in the COVID-19 Alert Levels meant the postponement or limitations to attendance numbers at some venues. Notwithstanding these ‘blips’, I have been impressed with the attendance numbers at each presentation and the engagement of our Brethren. This gives me the strong mandate that we all want to see a change in our culture and engagement. This will start a new journey for us, and it will be a challenge – but it is achievable. Our values will not change, but we will all engage much better.

The commitment of working as One Team is powerful and will be critical in achieving our Vision and Goal. Clearly, we all see this as an important feature of our future, and it will secure our drive to develop thriving lodges with engaged Brethren and with a growing membership. It has been amazing to hear everyone enthusiastically joining us on this refreshing path of change. Key for me was hearing the messages that our newer Brethren are giving us. Whilst new into Freemasonry, our younger members (not necessarily by age) want to be engaged and want to learn. These opportunities must not be overlooked, and we must ensure that we make this happen. As you start to make your Lodge plans, I ask that you look through the lens of our Entered Apprentices, Fellowcrafts and new Master Masons. Make sure that the Lodge has a plan to mentor each Brother and provide the opportunity for them to learn and engage. For those that have attended these Roadshows, please ensure that you complete the feedback surveys as this will be essential as we start to pull together pathways that we need to address. This will also enable us to determine our priorities and the impact on budgets and resources. This is a journey, and it will take us a few years to see the results, but change is an evolving process, so now that we have taken the first step, the next

steps will be easier. Our reward will be the security of our future. Please do not pressure Brethren into learning Charges or taking office within the Lodge until they are ready and ensure that you fully support them through their early years. It is so important that we ensure that they can do their best without unfavourable or negative influence.

Out and about My heart goes out to our Auckland Brethren who have suffered more lockdowns compared to the rest of New Zealand over the last few months. I hope that you do not have to go through this again, and that life returns to some level of normality. For those in business, I wish you all well for a speedy recovery. After a few false starts, I have now managed to get some official visits back on track and I would like to thank those that have had to cancel or postpone meetings for various reasons. I have attended the Installation of Bro Tony Ford as the new District Grand Master for the District Grand Lodge North Island New Zealand, Grand Lodge of Scotland, and the Installation of Most Excellent Companion Ron Lane as the First Grand Principal of the Supreme Grand Royal Arch Chapter of New Zealand. Both Installations were exceptional, and I was pleased to attend along with several of our New Zealand Brethren. I

VISION GOAL TEAM BUILDING OUR FUTURE 4

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was also very pleased to take part in the Summer Lecture at a Royal Arch Chapter along with the First Grand Principal. This was a most enjoyable evening. Many Brethren will have seen the short video clip on Seven Sharp covering Freemasonry. Although filming was at short notice and spanned over two hours, much was left on the cutting room floor, but we did get four minutes of quality material that has been well received by Freemasons and non-Freemasons. Although this was a magazine style presentation rather than an in-depth look at the Craft, it did us a lot of good and has invoke several good membership enquiries. Planning for this item was about two years in the making and came from the journalist and was not at our request. Talking openly about Freemasonry is something that we should all be doing as we have nothing to hide. We need to be proud of our Lodges and not close them off from our communities. The Dedication of the new Masonic Centre in Invercargill will take place on Saturday 20 March, and we will publish some photographs in the next issue of

the magazine. I have previously stated that I was impressed with the new Lodge room which will be a great meeting place for our Lodges. Our southern Brethren have done well, and I am sure that this new home will last them for many years. There are also some Lodges celebrating anniversaries over the next few months and I am looking forward to joining with these Lodges as they acknowledge their past and set the course for the future. We will also have our Annual Freemasons University Scholarship at Parliament Buildings on 6 May 2021 which will be refreshing being back to normal. Last year these were not presented in the usual manner due to COVID-19, so I am looking forward to meeting our new recipients for these prestigious awards.

Divisional Conferences Shortly we will be embarking on the 2021 Divisional Conferences with the dates and venue for each having been published. Attendance at these conferences is important as they represent the opportunity for Brethren to engage

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in matters that relate to the local environment. If we can match the numbers that have attended the Roadshows, then we will be in for a bumper opportunity to further move towards engagement and growth. I will be attending all three conferences and look forward to hearing about Lodge and District plans for our future. It is also an important part of our engagement and our drive to step up and show up. Take the opportunity to bring along some of our newer Brethren a well. Let us try to demonstrate that it’s not just the same faces all the time but bring some new fresh faces along for the experience and let us give them the opportunity to contribute. After all, Divisional Conference are your platform for your Lodge. There will be the opportunity to discuss our future with fellow Brethren where we can all learn and develop. As a fraternity these sessions facilitate a lot of goodwill and positive outcomes.

To conclude I am convinced that this year will be one of positive change and enjoyment. As Freemasons, we often talk about our meetings being one of profit and pleasure. As we start our process of engagement, may this become our primary objective in the Lodge room. Work hard to re-engage with former Brethren, look favourably towards those who have not attended a Lodge meeting for some time, and talk with our older Brethren who cannot get out at night. Get the telephone tree working and connect with your members and make sure that your meetings are full on energy and reward for all. MWBro Graham Wrigley Grand Master

News clips Seven Sharp segment on Freemasonry Thanks to Julian Lee, a Seven Sharp Freemasons Centre. It also reporter ,an excellent segment appeared featured historical TVNZ on the Seven Sharp programme recently footage of previous masonic coverage including a Grand Installation at the Michael Fowler centre. It was interesting to note that Julian Lee's interest was piqued in talking with Freemasons at their stand at the Canterbury Show a couple of years previously and that he and the cameraman showed a keen interest in finding out and was a great window on Freemasonry more about Freemasonry in the national media. during the filming of the It featured our Grand Master Graham session. Wrigley with Freemasons Matt Dyer, Here is a link Callum Fraser and Moray Bevan along if you missed it: with a background of Freemasons from bit.ly/seven-sharp Lodges that meet at the Wellington

Freemasons New Zealand publications A number of publications and resources are available from Freemasons New Zealand – just email membership@freemasonsnz.org Most are free but some have a cost.

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New Year Honours

Freemason reaches 105!

Congratulations to Brother John McIntosh MNZM who was honoured by, Her Majesty The Queen, in her New Zealand New Year Honours list with a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit (MNZM) for services to

people with disabilities. John is currently a member of Lodge Waikato No 475 and has been a Freemason since 1999. John received a separate congratulations letter from our Grand Master Graham Wrigley.

Reece Rogers and Heather (wife of Mike Hattie Divisional Grand Master – Northern) on Reece’s 105th birthday that was celebrated with his family at Acacia Cove Retirement Village in Manurewa, Auckland. Reece is very alert and has a remarkable memory recognising many of the Freemasons that attended this special occasion. Staff Christmas Lunch Reece is a current member of Lodge Tuakau No 278 and Lodge Kaimanawa National Office with its small, friendly Wellington waterfront. Some light relief No 426 and a Past Grand Sword Bearer. and helpful team shown here at their in an otherwise hard year for everyone Reece’s son, Graham, is a member of Christmas Lunch at Dockside on the that was 2020. The Forest Lodge No 116 and gave an overview of Reece and his exploits since 1916 when he was born. Our Grand Master Graham Wrigley sent him a message of congratulations on this birthday milestone.

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FROM LEFT Barbara Pickering – Membership Officer, Mark Cassidy – Executive Director (many were able to meet him at the District Roadshows), Shelley Newson – The Freemasons Charity Administrator, Debbie VeerBeek – Finance Officer and Duane Williams – Grand Secretary and Operations Manager. Missing Henry Boyle, who provides technical support to national office from anywhere in New Zealand but enjoying a break with relatives in Wanaka.

Crossword solution

D N E P U 14 S T A Y T M U A 17 R O S S D N T 18 E A R 5

L U E P O R A K I 15 T U R A 7

M R 3 4 M O O N U F 8 9 T H R H A U R O K O I T P V O 10 11 12 G L A C I E R S T E A N A U 13 Z L H O A I B E L C A I N U U U C A T T X 16 L T Y L E R H A E N D E N C Y D 19 M I N I U M A A 20 L Y R E S 1

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Freemasons New Zealand Crossword No 17

FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

A new era for Freemasonry in New Zealand It might sound a little dramatic, but, in my opinion, the roadshows we have just completed around New Zealand mark the beginning of a new era for Freemasons NZ. It’s an era of listening, consultation, collaboration and co-operation. In my view it’s an era of transformation. It’s the start of something really powerful that has the potential to reinvigorate Freemasonry, and position it as the preeminent membership organisation in New Zealand that good men aspire to join. And I make these grand claims based on what I saw at, and learned from, the roadshows. We planned 10 roadshows north, south, east and west, covering all the three Divisions (we had to postpone Christchurch because of a change in alert level status, but we are running it now – probably as you read this). And those events were well attended. Over 700 Brethren in all attended and we know we also have good numbers booked for Christchurch. We had Brethren from all walks of life, of all ages and of all stages of the Craft. It was really very impressive to see such a great turn-out and, for me, it said that so many of you want to keep Freemasonry alive, you want to see change and you have an open mind as to how that change is achieved. And that is what the Grand Master, the Divisional Grand Masters and the District Grand Masters hoped for. For

an audience keen to actively support Freemasonry and do what’s necessary to make the Craft strong again in New Zealand. So, what did we all learn? I’ll list some of the key take-outs for me so far: Roadshow attendees realise we have some problems in our Lodges and seemed really concerned to address them and make change happen. That was very heartening to see and hear

– we can’t fix problems if we ignore or deny them, so to have so many Brethren give honest feedback about what’s happening in our Lodges is a fantastic start. Attendees got the point that this was the start of a genuine process of listening, sharing and collaborating, as I said earlier. That all parties – the Grand Master, the Divisional and District Grand Masters, National Office and Lodges – we all want to work together. We can all feed off each other and work as one team towards our shared goal. I got that feeling loud and clear. We have some absolutely fantastic talent within our ranks. Some really powerful ideas and insights came through the Q&A sessions and from the survey (BTW, if you haven’t yet completed the survey, I urge you to do so) and the feedback from the roadshows has been overwhelmingly positive and extremely useful. We need to listen to that feedback and listen very hard! We can’t afford to ignore what we’ve learned and we have acted promptly to make sure all that great input is captured. There was an understanding from Roadshow attendees that while this is a genuine process designed to deliver tangible changes, it will be a long haul. It won’t happen overnight, as Rachel Hunter famously said, but it will happen! So, it was reassuring to me, anyway, that Brethren realised this was the start of a process and not a one-off, and that they were committed to staying the course. I think it’s important to stress that point. The roadshows were merely the start and the Grand Master intends for us all to engage regularly and frequently – through more roadshows and other face-to-face events – as a matter of course, not just as a one-off. So, we are planning a schedule of regular roadshows and other engagements over the next few years.

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The next opportunity to come together as one team are the upcoming Divisional conferences. The Divisional Grand Masters want to use those events as another platform for us to share ideas, build relationships and maintain the momentum that we generated via the roadshows. And the conferences are an opportunity for those of you who couldn’t attend a roadshow to hear first-hand the views of your colleagues from other Lodges. The more we continue to talk to each other and collaborate with each other, the stronger and more progressive we will become as an organisation. And I think that word ‘progressive’ is important. Yes, we have a rich history. Yes, we have wonderful traditions. And yes, we have a fascinating heritage. But, as the Grand Master has repeatedly said, in order to remain relevant in the 21st century we have to offer a compelling value proposition. And that value proposition has to reflect the fact that we

are in a competitive environment, seeking to attract busy, time-poor men in a society that is increasingly inclusive and progressive. So, while we don’t want to change the fundamentals of what we do and who we are, we must do what we can to reflect the progressive nature of today’s society.

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And, to me, Brethren seemed to take that message on board at the roadshows so I’m very confident that we are off to a damn good start! Now, all we need to do is keep going, working as one team, with one goal and one vision. See you all at the conferences!

Roadshows a roaring success

ight of the Roadshows have now taken place with two delayed by COVID-19 Alert Levels with Nelson-MarlboroughWest Coast District Roadshow in Nelson on21st March 2021 and Canterbury and Midland Districts in Christchurch on

11th April 2021. It is looking like well over 800 Freemasons will have attended and for those who missed them a video and PowerPoint presentation will be made available. Roadshows included presentations by our Grand Master

MWBro Graham Wrigley, Executive Director Mark Cassidy, supported by Divisional and District Grand Masters and some facilitators assisting with the Q & A sessions.

Waikato and Bay of Plenty Districts Roadshow, in Tauranga.

Auckland and Counties– Hauraki Districts Roadshow, in Auckland, under COVID-19 Level 2.

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Northland District Roadshow, in Whangerei.

Southland District Roadshow, in Invercargill.

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Roadshows a roaring success

Otago District Roadshow, in Alexandra.

Eastland–Ruahine District Roadshow, in Napier.

VISION GOAL TEAM BUILDING OUR FUTURE 12

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Taranaki and Ruapehu Districts Roadshow, in Whanganui.

Kapiti–Wellington and Hutt–Wairarapa Districts Roadshow, in Petone.

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Freemasons in action Freemasons support Whanganui Hospital with much needed Nebulisers Last month, in a small ceremony in the foyer of the medical ward at Whanganui Hospital, four new nebulisers were handed over to hospital staff by local Freemasons. Due to the generosity of five Masonic Lodges and three personal donations, Freemasons from the Ruapehu District were able to purchase four Medix Econoneb Nebulisers for use on the medical ward. WBro Neil Elgar, PGIG, opened the proceedings, saying how if it was not for Laurie Hunt, prominent Marton citizen and past district grand master, this would not have happened. “He was a patient in the hospital a year or so ago and found an absolute dependency on the nebuliser but they weren’t in great supply... he found there was a real need. So he started it off.” Neil then read a letter from Laurie, who now lives with family in Ashburton. “My best wishes to the nurses of the Whanganui DHB. The nebuliser project has been a year in the making, but with the help of the Masonic Lodges in the Whanganui Hospital district, we’ve been able to raise enough money to purchase four nebulisers for the medical ward, to

relieve the shortage on that ward. With my medical complaint I was able to notice first hand the acute shortage of these machines. The nurses were always trying to keep track of the one and only machine that was working. I hope these nebulisers will make a difference and take the stress off the nursing staff and patients that get relief that the nebulisers will provide.” Neil introduced Freemasons from the local lodges that assisted with the funds. Contributing lodges were United Wanganui, Tongariro Lodge EC, St Andrew Kilwinning, Otaihape and Rangitikei. Ash Williamson, Ruapehu

Masonic District grand master, who attended with his wife Jo, unveiled the nebulisers on behalf of their friend, Laurie Hunt. A nebuliser converts a solution of a drug into a fine spray which is inhaled. Nebulisers use oxygen, compressed air, or ultrasonic power to break up the liquid drug to deliver the dose and are invaluable on the medical ward. “We have a high number of respiratory patients,” says Cynda Baker, clinical nurse manager. “So they will be utilised, believe me.” With thanks to the Whanganui Chronicle for this story

Freemasons assist Birthright Kapiti/Horowhenua Lodges and other Lodges in the Kapiti- Wellington District raised $26,000 for our local Birthright branches. District Grand Master Mick

Turner and our local fundraising organ- computers and a Children’s Camp. See iser, Grant Johnson of Lodge Waikanae, www.birthright.org.nz presenting the funds to the Kapiti Branch of Birthright. The assistance covers

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Camp Quality – Part One Camp Quality is special camp for young people with cancer and are held in different parts of the country. On 12 January a small but energetic band of Freemasons attended the 2021 Camp Quality residential camp which was held at Auckland’s Wesley College. The team was charged with preparing the lunch dishes as well as the ‘Black Tie’ dinner dishes for the 200 campers, their companions and the Camp Quality staff. With the assistance of the Freemasons lodges of Auckland, the Auckland Masonic Centre lodges and The Freemasons Charity we were able to present the camp with a cheque for

twenty-five thousand dollars, which was gratefully received and will be used to help the camp continue its support of both children and families affected by cancer.

Camp Quality has been supported by Freemasons New Zealand for many years and incredibly humbling and rewarding day for us all. The team cannot wait to get back to the camp in 2022.

Camp Quality Part Two Camp Quality is for young people with cancer and holds a number of regional camps throughout New Zealand which are supported by the Freemasons with manpower and funding. Another camp was held at “The Narrows” at Tamahere, in the Waikato from 9–15 January 2021. Lodges from Waikato District bucked in and assisted with kitchen and cleaning duties etc – well done them. On Thursday 14th January at lunchtime – on behalf of the combined

Getting the support for this years Camp has been a difficult one, what with the COVID-19 virus and not knowing whether the camp would be able to be held at all. However all strength to the Camp Quality people, they always looked Waikato and positively and with great determinaBay of Plenty Lodges, a cheque for tion to proceed – thus the camp went $23,000.00 was presented to the Camp ahead as usual, much to the enjoyment Quality from donations received from of those young people and the wonderful The Freemasons Charity, the Bay Of caregivers. Plenty Lodges and Freemasons.

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Freemasons in action Invercargill Open Day A good spread in the local media for their new Freemasons Centre and Freemasonry in Invercargill in association with their neighbours.

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Thank you letter from Casting for Recovery Dear Freemasons

The reason to write this is to indicate that this weekend is beneficial on so many levels and for everyone who was there the last weekend it was the first time that anyone had done absolutely everything for them (including me). To not have to think about anything but oneself for 2 days was bliss! Your generosity takes a weekend in a lodge to another level where we are pampered, fed extremely well and get to learn a new skill. We went away knowing that if our physical ailments limit us in the future, there is a good chance that we can still stand on a riverbank with a rod in our hand and connect with the peace and tranquillity of nature. Thank you very much for the sponsorship. The experience was a life changer for me. Kind regards, Jan

I would personally like to express my gratitude for your sponsorship of the Casting for Recovery (CFR) weekend on 12- 14th March 2021. I went through my breast cancer journey 7 years ago and am technically “cured”. I was somewhat uncertain about attending CFR as I thought there would be lots of women more in need than me. However, having experienced a weekend of being cared for, the bonding and learning a new skill, I realised just how much I needed that weekend. I am a doctor and went through my treatment without taking a breath, got on with life and put it behind me as if it were a mere pimple. Last weekend gave me the opportunity to process my journey, make new friends and return home replenished

Vision regained I had a vision when I was young to join the Freemasons was the thing to be done, so I said to my brother, on my bended knees, “I want to join the Freemasons please”. He said “I don’t know, I’ll see what I can do.” So he spoke to the Master who said, “Oh no! Not another one of you!” But the boys said, “Yes of course you can join and we don’t need to toss a coin.” So I got me an apron and a little black bag, and rushed off home to tell my dad, “I’m in the Masons now as you see.” He clapped his hands and shouted with glee, “Do some good in the world young man, and live your life the best way that you can.”

So when I reached the Master’s chair, The whole world was around me, everything was there. The ritual I found hard at first, but the message it contained gave me a thirst for more and more of that advancing thrust of the spirit of comradeship, brotherhood and trust. My dearest wife, who now rests in peace, was the pillar of support and joined with ease in all the many activities. So time marches on with family and friends, their constant support simply never ends. So come on you young men who are not in the Craft, join us now before you go daft. You will find it’s a pleasure, and waiting in store, is a lot of knowledge that you never knew before. You will rejoice, that day that you do, and we will gladly welcome you too. Jack Dryden PGD, Te Awahou Lodge, on receiving a 50-year badge from the Grand Master

HAVE YOUR SAY Write a letter to the Editor – preferably 300 words maximum. Submit an Opinion piece – 800 words plus a 100-word author biography, and a photo. www.freemasonsnz.org

Freemasons in action Camp Purple again supported by Freemasons Camp Purple was held in West Auckland in early January 2021 supports young people with Crohn’s and Colitis. Our Grand Master Graham Wrigley and Deputy Grand Master and Chair of The Freemasons Charity were in attendance, along with representatives of the Potter Masonic Trust whose aim is to support young people in particular. The camp provides an opportunity for those suffering from the same challenges to share them and be in the company of those who have it. It is supported by a great team of professionals for this fun camp. All the young people and the judging of the Banner Competition.

Freemasons in Hawke’s Bay support Pipe Bands Lodges and Individuals with the sup- Competitions in Napier (which will be sponsoring $3500 for the worldwide live port of The Freemasons Charity are the only live competition being held streaming of the Juvenile Competition. supporting the New Zealand Pipe Band anywhere in the world) and so we a

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ANZAC Day 2021 T

support each other. Last year’s donation from The Freemason’s Charity that supported the Poppy Day Appeal which never happened due to COVID-19 and the Freemasons Virtual ANZAC Day Ceremony on 25th April 2020 via Zoom and Facebook Live. The ‘Widow’s Sons’ (masonic motorcycle group) support the RNZRSA through their ‘Rides of Respect’ and provide substantial donations to support welfare efforts for those who have served or are serving their country. How can Freemasons and Lodges help and be connected to their communities through this national day of remembrance? Assist as a Poppy Day Collector, give a Poppy to every member of your lodge and your widows, provide logistical support for local commemorations; like letting the Lodge Facilities out free of charge, helping with breakfast or morning tea, or even providing the same and take part

in ceremonies in regalia with the Grand Masters dispensation (do this through your Divisional and District Grand Masters – Dress is Lounge Suit). Think outside the square and make a lasting local connection with your community. Our Grand Master MWBro Graham Wrigley is scheduled to give an ANZAC Address at Lodge Koranga No 197 in Timaru on 27 April 2021.

David Clode on Unsplash

his year it looks like normal ANZAC Day activity will resume throughout New Zealand. It is commemorated on 25 April which has a strong significance to the original Australia and New Zealand Army Corp and its first engagement at Gallipoli, by both New Zealand and Australia. Lodges have been good in commemorating this event by having an ANZAC Meeting in or near the date within their Lodge rooms, doing a more public event in or near the date like United Forces at Wigram Airforce Museum in Christchurch or Kaimanawa in Taupo at a local public venue or taking part in the civic ANZAC Day parades and ceremonies. Freemasons New Zealand and Royal New Zealand Returned and Services Association (RNZRSA) have a Memorandum of Understanding and both organisations look for ways to

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Freemasons in action The Ara Lodge No.1 Celebrates 110 Years of Masonic Service On Wednesday 9 December, the Ara Lodge No.1 celebrated one hundred and ten years of Masonic service for two of its long serving members, WBro Ian Skeen and WBro Willie Shultz. The evening saw numerous guests including family members, friends and Masonic visitors, hear of the service both these brethren have given to the

craft, and RWBro Eddie Eeles, PDGM presented WBro Ian Skeen a 60th bar and WBro Willie Shultz a 50th badge. WBro Ian Skeen began his Masonic career in Scotland and served as Master of the Ara Lodge in 1979/80. He currently resides in Mt Maunganui with his wife Heather. WBro Willie Shultz was initiated into Freemasonry in Waipu where he served

as Master before moving to Auckland in 1988 with his family. Willie is a renowned bagpipe tutor to this day and has been made a life member of The City of Auckland PB in 2013 and of the Northland Piping and Dancing Society. In 2011 he was awarded a meritorious Services award which is a national award for Solo piping and Highland dancing. The Ara Lodge No. 1 has several brethren who have given more than 50 years of service to Freemasonry and in 2021 the lodge will be holding an extra special event celebrating the service of one the Lodge’s ‘father and son’ duos, where VWBro Ray Laurance PGAlm, and his son WBro Brian Laurance, PGBB will be awarded their 60th and 50th awards respectively. Long may the years of Masonic service in The Ara Lodge No. 1 continue.

Katie says she is very grateful for the support of the Freemasons and is very excited to get the iPad and app operating, and to start working with Alex. Hopefully this will lead to him starting to learn to communicate and to eventually, possibly, to start speaking.

The presentation of the iPad and accessories, plus some grocery vouchers, was made at the Dunedin Masonic Centre on 17 December attended by representatives of the three Lodges.

Freemasons help family An approach for the Freemasons to help a Mum with a disabled son has come to fruition. Alex has a condition which causes very bad seizures, which at times necessitates him to have lengthy spells in hospital. As well he has severe Autism. This means that he cannot talk and has trouble communicating in general. One possible way to help Alex to start communicating involves using a iPad which has a specific communication app downloaded. The app, Proloqup2go, is proven to help in many cases and is possibly the best tool available to help Alex at present. The outcome is that the three Dunedin Lodges, The Hiram Lodge No 46, The United Lodge of Otago No 448, and Lodge Waverley No 226, combined in a joint Lodge Project, assisted by The Freemasons Charity, to fund the purchase of a Mini iPad, case, keyboard, and the app.

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On Wednesday 5th March members of Lodge Te Puni presented two bladder scanners to the CEO of the Hutt Valley District Health Board. This was the result of a fundraising effort by the combined Lodges of the Hutt Valley.

King Solomon’s Cup – season 4 King Solomon’s cup is a basketball tournament for Filipino around Southland district and run by Southland Filipino Freemason and wives. The tournament has been very successful for the last three years and it is now in the fourth year.

W. Bro TR McKenzie, Master of Lodge Te Puni, with W. Bro Ray Keenan presenting Graham Dyer, Hutt Valley DHB CEO with one of the two portable bladder scanners, looking on is Pete Chandler Hutt Valley DHB COO. BELOW A bladder scanner.

couple of Lodge members’ immediate family, who work for the DHB, had indicated that staff were fund raising for equipment that was in short supply for their Patients. The nurses of Mapu Unit and the Community Health Services had started selling cakes and undertaking other fundraising efforts to purchase a bladder scanner. The members then brought the Units’ plight to the Lodges and a number of Brethren also indicated that they had been hospitalised recently and had to wait for the only scanner to become available for their treatment. Lodge Te Puni decided to hold a Variety Show to raise funds to complete the purchase of at least one bladder scanner. WBro Ray Keenan approached many talented artists both within the

Craft and outside, including his very own successful singing son and his Group, ‘The Auzzie Boys.’ A plethora of acts was assembled, from juggling, dancing (ballroom, rock-n-roll, traditional Polish), musical acts and even the piping in of a Haggis with the traditional address. Audience participation was encouraged and, during intermission, food and drink was available for purchase. Along with some very sought after prizes for raffles, the support for the show was outstanding. The money raised on the night was, with the help of The Freemasons Charity, able to purchase two bladder scanners valued at over $13,000.00 each.

As always it was a tight knit team, encompassing members of the Lodges from the Hutt partners, ThereValley, are 16wives teamsand competing and theevery nurses fromfrom the DHB thatpm made Friday 6:50–9 at this occasion the success it was. Thanks Stadium Southland. The tournaare duement for thewill support local22businesses, run of from January individuals and the performers along to 27 May. After the Tournament with The Freemasons Charity for we have awarding night to help be in providing held onsuch June.necessary equipment for the health and wellbeing the wider GuillermoofTolentino community. WBro Mac McKenzie

Seize good photo opportunities, concentrate on ‘action’ not ‘satisfaction’, get names for captions, make notes. If media comes ensure that they are looked after and opportunities set up.

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Act quickly to spread the word, send press release and captioned high resolution photo, focussing on a newsworthy aspect to local media, district and divisional newsletter and NZ Freemason.

AFTER

Ensure someone is responsible for publicity, arrange for a photographer, plan photographs, involve recipients and find a hook that would interest local media.

DURING

BEFORE

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Scan QR codes and turn on Bluetooth tracing Contact tracing reduces the spread of COVID-19 to keep our whānau and communities safe Find out more at Covid19.govt.nz

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COVID-19 alert levels RISK

Operating Guidelines for Lodge Meetings at various Alert Levels www.covid19.govt.nz GOVERNMENT REQUIREMENTS COVID-19

Effective from: 26/8/2020 www.freemasonsnz.org/covid-19 FREEMASONS NEW ZEALAND •

Follow any Limitations or restrictions announced by the Government.

•

Lodges open and no restrictions on meetings nor activities.

•

Risk Mitigation Plan approved by the District Grand Master.

•

Maintain a Contact Tracing Register and hold for 14 days and to be completed by everyone attending meetings. Buildings to have the Government approved QR code displayed at all entrances. It can be found here https:covid19.govt.nz/business-work-

• Wash and dry hands, cough into elbow and do not touch your face.

•

• No restrictions on domestic transport – avoid public transport or travel if sick.

Brethren to download the Government Tracing App on a mobile device.

•

Brethren who are unwell must stay home and not attend Lodge meetings.

•

Ensure good hygiene in bathrooms and kitchen facilities.

•

Ensure that hand sanitiser is freely available for use by all Brethren in the Lodge room and other areas.

•

Follow any directives or restrictions advised by the Grand Master.

• People instructed to stay home in their bubble other than for essential personal movement – including to shop, go to work or school if they have to, local recreation, or to seek medical care.

•

All Lodge meetings and Masonic activities are suspended under the authority of the Grand Master.

• Physical distancing of two metres outside home or one metre in controlled environments like schools and workplaces.

•

Implement welfare arrangements for Brethren and widows.

• Wearing a face covering is strongly encouraged when outside of the home for people 7 years of age and older.

•

• People must stay within their immediate household bubble but can expand this to connect with close family / whānau, or bring in caregivers, or support isolated people. This extended bubble must remain exclusive.

Use Video conferencing for social connection with Brethren to create Masonic Gatherings.

•

Follow any further directives advised by the Grand Master.

• Border entry measures to minimise risk of importing COVID-19 cases.

COVID-19 is uncontrolled overseas. Sporadic imported cases. Isolated local transmission could be occurring in New Zealand. Multiple cases of community transmission occurring. Multiple active clusters in multiple regions.

LEVEL33 – - RESTRICT LEVEL RESTRICT

LEVEL 1 - PREPARE LEVEL 1 – PREPARE

• Intensive testing for COVID-19. • Rapid contact tracing of any positive case. • Self-isolation and quarantine required. • Schools and workplaces open and must operate safely. • No restrictions on personal movement but people are encouraged to maintain a record of where they have been. • No restrictions on gatherings but organisers encouraged to maintain records to enable contact tracing. • Stay home if you are sick, report flu-like symptoms.

and-money/business/get-your-qr-code-poster/

• No restrictions on workplace

• Early learning centres and schools are open for children whose parents have to go to work and have no care giver arrangements, particularly essential workers. • People must work from home unless that is not possible. • Businesses can open premises but cannot physically interact with customers. • Workers should be kept at least 1 metre apart where possible, and face coverings are strongly recommended. • All businesses must display a government issued QR code for use with the NZ COVID Tracer App by 19 August 2020. • Low risk local recreation activities are allowed. • Public venues are closed (e.g. libraries, museums, cinemas, food courts, gyms, pools, playgrounds, markets). • Gatherings of up to 10 people are allowed but only for wedding services, funerals and tangihanga. Physical distancing and public health measures must be maintained. • Inter-regional travel is highly limited (e.g. for essential workers, people returning to their primary residence, with limited exemptions for others). • People at high risk of severe illness (older people and those with existing medical conditions) are encouraged to stay at home where possible, and seek medical advice.

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Lodge operating guide RISK

Operating Guidelines for Lodge Meetings at various Alert Levels www.covid19.govt.nz GOVERNMENT REQUIREMENTS COVID-19

•

Follow 1 requirements and any variations. Follow Level any Limitations or restrictions announced by

• Keep physical distancing of two metres from people you do not know when out in • Rapid contact anyone positive public or in retailtracing stores. of Keep metre case. physical distancing in controlled environments like workplaces, where practicable.

•

the Government. Follow government advice on health and best practice.

••

Lodges openbut and restrictions on meetings norany Lodge open, nono more than 100 people attending activities. meeting.

•

IfRisk gathering numbers lowered,byfollow that criteria. If Mitigation Planare approved the District Grand limited Master.to only 10 people, then subject to the approval of the District Grand Master, business sessions only Maintain a Contact Tracing Register and hold for 14 with no ceremonies.

Limited community transmission COVID-19 could be is uncontrolled occurring. Active overseas. clusters Sporadic in more imported than one cases. region. Isolated local transmission could be occurring in New Zealand.

• People 7 years old and older may consider wearing a face covering when physical • Schools and workplaces open and must operate safely. distancing cannot be maintained.

restrictions personal movement but weddings, people are encouraged to and •• No No more than 100on people at gatherings, including birthdays, and funerals maintain tangihanga.a record of where they have been. restrictions ontogatherings organisers to including maintainphysical records • No Businesses can open the public ifbut following publicencouraged health guidance distancing recordtracing. keeping. Alternative ways of working encouraged where possible. to enableand contact

• •

•• Stay Hospitality groups of customers separated, seated, and served by homebusinesses if you aremust sick,keep report flu-like symptoms. a single person. Maximum of 100 people at a time.

days and to be completed by everyone attending

Ifmeetings. a members residence place work is situated in a Buildings to or have theofGovernment District where the permitted gathering numbers is approved QR code displayed at all entrances. It can limited to 10, then that member should not attend a be found here https:covid19.govt.nz/business-workLodge meeting in a District where the number and-money/business/get-your-qr-code-poster/ permitted is limited to 100.

• Wash and dry hands, cough into elbow and do not touch your face.

• All businesses must display a government issued QR code for use with the NZ COVID Tracer App by 19 August 2020. transport – avoid public transport or travel if • No restrictions on domestic

•

• sick. Face coverings are encouraged if you are in close contact with others you do not know.

•

Maintain social distancing from people whom you don’t App onKeep a mobile device. know. 1 metre distancing in the Lodge room where practical. Brethren who are unwell must stay home and not

•• No on activities workplace Sportrestrictions and recreation are allowed, subject to conditions on gatherings, record

•

attend Lodge meetings. Vulnerable or at-risk Brethren should stay at home.

•

EnsureRisk good hygienePlan in bathrooms and kitchen Lodge Mitigation should determine maximum numbers facilities. in each room.

•

Face masks be worn if preferred if in contact Ensure thatcan hand sanitiser is freelyand available for use with whom not room know. and other areas. by allpeople Brethren in you the do Lodge

••

Degree and Installation may continue with by good Follow work any directives or restrictions advised the hygiene practices in place. Extensively use hand Grand Master. sanitisers and or nitrate gloves if preferred.

•

Inform Candidates that touching is involved in the ceremony and ensure that they are comfortable with this.

•

Refectory should be limited where practical with good hygiene to be practised in kitchens.

•

Follow any directives or restrictions advised by the Grand Master.

•

All Lodge meetings and Masonic activities are suspended under the authority of the Grand Master.

•

Implement welfare arrangements for Brethren and widows.

•

Use Video conferencing for social connection with Brethren to create Masonic Gatherings. Follow any further directives advised by the Grand Master.

keeping, and – where practical – physical distancing. • Public venues such as museums, libraries and pools can open if they comply with public health measures and ensure 1 metre physical distancing and record keeping. • Event facilities, including cinemas, stadiums, concert venues and casinos can have more than 100 people at a time, if there are no more than 100 in a defined space, and the groups do not mix. • It is safe to send your children to schools, early learning services and tertiary education. There will be appropriate measures in place.

• People at higher-risk of severe illness from COVID-19 (e.g. those with underlying medical conditions, especially if not well-controlled, and seniors) are encouraged to take additional precautions when leaving home. They may work, if they agree with their employer, that they can do so safely.

• People instructed to stay at home in their bubble other than for essential personal movement.

•

• Safe recreational activity is allowed in local area. • Travel is severely limited. • All gatherings cancelled and all public venues closed. • Businesses closed except for essential services (e.g. supermarkets, pharmacies, clinics, petrol stations) and lifeline utilities.

•

• Educational facilities closed. • Rationing of supplies and requisitioning of facilities possible. • Reprioritisation of healthcare services.

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Brethren to download the Government Tracing

LEVEL 4 – LOCKDOWN

Sustained and intensive community transmission is occurring. Widespread outbreaks.

• Self-isolation and quarantine required.

LEVEL 2 – REDUCE

LEVEL 2LEVEL - REDUCE 1 - PREPARE

www.freemasonsnz.org/covid-19 FREEMASONS NEW ZEALAND

• Border People can connect with friends and family, andofsocialise in groups of up tocases. 100, go entry measures to minimise risk importing COVID-19 shopping, or travel domestically, if following public health guidance.

• Intensive testing for COVID-19.

LEVEL 4 - LOCKDOWN

Effective from: 26/8/2020

Wear a face covering on public transport and planes Place it on safely Wash or sanitise your hands then put mask or face covering over nose, mouth and chin - ensure it is comfortable and secure. Remember to clean hands again after removing.

Wear throughout entire journey Avoid touching your face, the front of face covering, or removing face covering while on board.

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Regularly wash or dispose of carefully Dispose of single use masks in a waste bin, or wash and dry your reusable face covering often.

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BIT.LY/FMNZFUELCARD OR CONTACT THE TEAM ON

0800 43 83 83

reasons to sign up • Kiwi fuelcards have no limit - most other fuelcards limit the quantity to 50 litres - making it a great choice for trucks and passenger vehicles too with guaranteed savings off every litre of fuel. • Kiwi fuelcards discount applies to diesel purchases too! • No strings attached no contracts and no need to collect points or grocery receipts. • Cards are available to friends and family also! Provided they sign up with the Freemasons New Zealand form. • A percentage of each purchase made goes to Freemasons New Zealand to assist lodges and districts further. • Signing up is super easy, with help if you need it. www.freemasonsnz.org

Rose Croix doubles its support for Alzheimers NZ W

e would like to say a big thank you to The Ancient and Accepted Rite for New Zealand (Rose Croix) for their second kind and generous donation of $20,000. We were delighted to welcome Brett Delahunt at the end of last year to present us with the cheque. Dementia is not a challenge that Alzheimers NZ can tackle alone, so this support is very important to us. These funds will help us make a big difference to people with dementia and their families. Dementia is an issue that is likely to affect almost every New Zealander in some way. Our research shows that four our of five of us know or have known someone living with dementia, and, as our population ages, it is estimated that around 170,000 Kiwis will be living with dementia by 2050. Many of our lives will already have been touched by dementia. Our friends, relatives and colleagues may be among the 70,000 plus New Zealanders currently living with dementia, or the many more who are supporting them as care partners.

What is dementia?

Dementia is an umbrella term used to describe a group of symptoms that affect how our brains work. Anyone can get dementia, but the likelihood increases as we get older. There are about 100 different diseases that can cause dementia, with Alzheimer’s disease being the most common.

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The most common symptoms include changes in memory, thinking, behaviour, personality and emotion. Dementia affects people in different ways, and the signs can subtle and hard to recognise. Dementia is progressive, which means that for most people the changes gradually spread through the brain and lead to the symptoms getting worse.

There is currently no cure for dementia. Some treatments can reduce symptoms and improve quality of life in some people, but they do not stop the progress of the disease. Action on dementia

The evidence is clear that with the right help and support, it is possible to live well with dementia. So, its’ shocking to know that New Zealand has had no plan to support with the increasing numbers of people living with the condition. Last year, we decided to take action. We worked alongside our colleagues in the sector to develop the NZ Dementia Action Plan – a blueprint for managing the rapidly growing challenge of dementia. Since then, we have urged government to act on Labour’s pre-election promise to implement that plan. Now, more than ever, we need it funded and in place.

Reducing the risk of dementia

As yet, no single factor has been identified as the cause of dementia, and there is no cure. When it comes to reducing the risk of developing dementia – and living well if you have a diagnosis of dementia – the general rule of thumb is that what is good for the heart is good for the brain. Keeping an active mind and body is crucial to helping us continue to get the best out of life. Staying connected socially is also beneficial to brain health because it stimulates our brain reserves. You can even combine your social activities with physical and mental exercise through sport or other hobbies. Building a dementia-friendly New Zealand

Contrary to popular belief, the majority of people with dementia live at home for most of the time with the condition, so its’ really important our communities start becoming more dementia friendly.

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FIND OUT MORE Go to www.alzheimers.org.nz for help and support with dementia, or to find out more about our dementia friendly programmes and initiatives.

This should include everything from accessible transport options, to help and support in shops, libraries, and pharmacies. Its’ about making our environments accessible and inclusive for people living with dementia. That starts with all of us. Taking a moment out of your day to become a Dementia Friend online, learning more about dementia and small ways you can help, is a great place to begin. Businesses and organisations can achieve dementia friendly status from us through our Dementia Friendly Recognition Programme, a growing network from banks to residential care providers, hair-dressers and museums. Catherine Hall Chief Executive, Alzheimers NZ

Dirty hands all in a day’s (charitable) work! J

ust before Christmas, a group of charitably-minded Freemasons gathered at Tamaki Primary School to get their hands dirty for a good cause. The Brethren from Auckland Lodges were there to support Trees for Survival, a charitable trust which is actively supported by the Freemasons Foundation.

And their support was very practical … and tangible. They rolled up their sleeves to help some of the young school students pot native seedlings that, when more mature, will be planted to help preserve erosion-prone land. Trees for Survival is a schools-based environmental education programme that involves young people growing and planting native trees to restore natural habitats and help control soil erosion. While the schools involved in the programme are primarily in the central and upper North Island, there are some in the South Island (Christchurch, Dunedin and the greater Queenstown area). Foundation Chair man Mark Winger calls it an extremely valuable hands-on programme helping today’s young people develop an

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understanding and appreciation of the environment. “They get actively involved, they get outside the classroom and into their community and they do something extremely practical and productive that benefits their communities. That’s a mindset that’s very much in keeping with our own.” Financial support from Freemasons’ Lodges is always welcome, but Mark also urges Lodges to take a more hands-on approach.

“It would be great if Lodges could adopt a local school and work hands-on with the children involved in the Trees for Survival programme, to help them care for and grow their seedlings and then plant them.” The Foundation would like to see the Trees for Survival programme become a truly national initiative. For more information about how your Lodge could get involved, contact 09 520 6414, or email info@ freemasonsfoundation.org.nz.

Sistema A music-maki perfor

Walk through Otara Town Mall in Auckland an all ages, carrying violins, flutes and trumpets learners are heading to Otara Music Arts Cent unique and effective music and social develop Originating in South America the El Sistema concept was used by the Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra’s Outreach programme to foster classical music in the community and the South Auckland suburb of Otara was chosen as the target for it’s cultural diversity and strong Maori and Pasifika population. Sistema Aotearoa works to bring about personal growth for children from vulnerable communities. Children with the fewest resources and greatest need are its focus and the programme fosters confidence, teamwork, pride and aspiration in the children and their wider community through orchestral music making. The huge success of the programme - over 3000 children have been impacted so far - has attracted universal support, and governance is now totally independent of, but still closely allied with the APO. The Foundation has been an enthusiastic supporter for many years and continues its involvement into this 10th anniversary year. Rod Skipp, (MMus, Performance Cello (Distinction), LRSM), Sistema Aotearoa Programme Director continues the story: Douglas Bagg / Unsplash

We are a child and youth development programme that uses orchestral music making to foster confidence, leadership, educational excellence, and aspiration in tamariki, their whānau and the vibrant South Auckland community. www.freemasonsnz.org

The efforts of Lodges nationwide do not cease in the realm of charity, likewise for the Freemasons Charity itself. Spanning these two pages, you will see an array of community works worthy of recognition.

Getting Paid for Parking Marlborough hosts much: exquisite wine, sublime waterways, and some of the best walking tracks in the world. Yet, it also hosts an important event in the canine calendar, this being the National Dog Show. Such an event draws paws from all around New Zealand, and for every dog in attendance there is the human element behind. This is where our story begins. The Marlborough Freemasons, namely Lodge Eckford, leveraged their enthusiasm to contribute to the community and assisted with the herding of cars on the morning of the event. Such an

act, purely for the outcome, means there was no expectation of remuneration. So, when the New Zealand Kennel Club offered $2000 for the services rendered, a game of fiscal hot potato was had. Yet, before the proverbial potato could be passed on, $2000 turned into $4000. This is through the Freemasons Charity. Because the intention was set to donate the $2000 to a worthy cause, The Freemasons Charity matched it 1:1. The solution for the unexpected payment that then doubled in size? A barbeque trailer for the Marlborough Youth Trust. “We thought Marlborough Youth Trust could have the most benefit, and we came up with the idea of offering a mobile barbecue trailer that they can use for

their fundraising and other events,” says Lodge member, Chris Williams. “A number of other organisations in Marlborough donated components for the trailer like wheels, axles ... we also received a barbecue unit given by Bunnings and chilly bins from the Warehouse,” said Williams. For the Marlborough Youth Trust (MYT), the donation is received with gratitude. Now with other community contributions at hand MYT is able to further itself as a thriving hub for the betterment of local youth. For those at Marlborough Youth Trust (MYT), the trailer is a welcome addition to its events kit. “Our youth events are pretty chill to get into so it is good for young kids. It gives them something to do, it gives more socialisation and something to look forward to,” says Shay Martin, an MYT advisory group member.

Youth worker Maxine Anderson-Sweeney, left, and Marlborough Youth Trust advisory group member Shay Martin look forward to using the new BBQ trailer for their events.

The Comfort of Communication The Coast Guard is an essential service almost anywhere in New Zealand. After all, we are a small and remote island nation. With this in mind, it is important to reflect Coast Guard New Zealand is

in fact a charity organisation. Over the years numerous drives have been made by an array of Lodges to contribute to their local Coast Guard outposts. Recent efforts from The Forest Lodge suggests nothing has changed on this front. The specific recipient assisted this time? The Nelson Coastguard Rescue Vessel. The nature of the assistance? Funding for the purchase of two marine VHF radios. VHF (very high frequency) radios are essential out at sea, this is due to an unrivalled level of radio reception, versatility, and clarity. To be more specific, these radios will enable the Coast Guard to maintain two distinct radio conversations throughout rescue

operations. The result of this is much higher operational precision in the event of a rescue scenario. Charity Officer Tam Hazan reflected on why the donation is of a high merit. “The saving of even one person’s life is worthwhile. Communication and situational on-scene command is vital aspect of any rescue organisation – especially when time may mean the difference between life or death in drowning or hypothermia cases.” And the Nelson Coast Guard treasurer Peter Herrick was grateful for the assistance. “Our sincere thanks to your members for their very kind donation”

Paul Nisbett (Forest Lodge Secretary) presenting the VHF Radios to members of the Nelson Coast Guard.

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Determination for Defibrillators Resuscitation is a critical skill. Deployed the right time, it is the difference between life and death. Constable Nick Preston is as aware of this as anyone. He himself has been resuscitated twice in his life, and has also resuscitated someone himself with a defibrillator. CPR is, of course, a critical element in resuscitation. However, there is also another important piece of technology that can make all the difference when someone’s life is on the line, a defibrillator. For a refresh, a defibrillator delivers a dose of electric current to the heart. Through this process, someone experiencing life threatening cardiac issues can have their immediate issues resolved. As mentioned, Constable Nick Preston knows first-hand the value of a defibrillator. When he found himself working out of the Auckland region, and in a rural setting, he recognised an accessibility issue. “I am convinced that defibrillators are a life changer and especially in some of our small communities where we know that medical response times can be slower.” To further compile the issue, prior to Nick’s initiative, there was no defibrillator

accessible outside of an ambulance after 5pm. “I wanted to have a defibrillator in the local Whitianga Police vehicle to give the community the best chance at survival when attending serious road accidents in such remote rural areas.” From this, he reached out to local Freemasons and pitched the merit of donating defibrillators to mitigate his concerns, and more importantly, potentially save lives in the community. “You don’t get a lot of time – a few minutes until someone’s blood stops flowing and it affects your brain.” “When Nick called and said there wasn’t one available 24 hours in Te Aroha, we jumped to the occasion,”

says Whitianga Freemason Richard Shelford-Woodcock. Te Aroha Lodge member Marc Dresser said this was an opportunity to provide the device to police who are often the first responders in rural areas, to protect the community and make sure Te Aroha has the best available technology to help people. “It’s the perfect opportunity to come together and show our support for NZ Police.” Since the initial donation of one defibrillator unit, two more have since been made. Now Whitianga Police have three units at their disposal, solving Nick’s initial concerns, and no doubt making a life changing outcome for those in need down the line.

Master of Lodge Whitianga John Smart, and Constable Nick Preston with a defibrillator unit.

FREEMASONS UNIVERSITY SCHOLARSHIPS This year's national presentation will be in the Legislative Chamber, Grand Hall of Parliament, hosted by Greg O'Connor MP. Dr Lance O'Sullivan is the Guest Speaker.

Students, Partners, Family, Friends and Freemasons will be in attendance. 31 Scholars will be getting either a Freemasons University Scholarships (University or Post Graduate) or a Lawson Smith Scholarships.

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The value of the scholarships total $230,000 and have been going for 43 Years. The Freemasons University Scholarship is the largest privately funded Scholarship in the country.

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Insurance questions answered D

uring our (almost) ten years in business, we are asked several common questions and heard some common misconceptions when it comes to Life and Health Insurance. By sharing some of these I hope it may build on your understanding of what can be a rather polarising subject. But first, a different view on Insurance. Life and Health Insurance is a funny thing. In fact, where else do you put your money, hoping you will never see it again? Any other investments like this would be deemed ludicrous. However, for the unfortunate among us that face a significant health event, or worse, then they are extremely thankful that they have Insurance in place to support them financially. So, do not think of Insurance as an investment, think of it as an opportunity to socialise risk. Figuratively, we are all putting our money (in the form of premiums) into a large pot. These premiums should be relatively small depending on our risk levels. Then those that need the financial support can draw considerable amounts from this pot. This will provide them with the financial landing pad needed to ensure they can focus on the health challenges ahead of them, without the added stress of their finances. The key question is ‘How do I know how much Insurance I need?’ Or ‘What type of Insurance do I need?’. And the answer, as always, is ‘It depends’ It depends on many variables. Every person is different. Every situation is different. So every insurance plan needs to be different. Therefore it is crucial that you discuss your needs with an expert that can advise on the perfect plan for you. And, just as importantly, one that will be there to support you through the lifetime of this policy and crucially, at claim time. ‘But Insurance Companies will find a way to decline my claim’ Everyone knows a story of a person declined seemingly unfairly by an insurance company. These news stories travel quickly. The news that does not travel as quickly is that good Insurance companies will pay the claim if it is valid.

The key to a successful claim application goes all the way back to the commencement of the policies. Most notably the disclosure and underwriting process. It is crucial to be fully upfront in this process. Those that are then know exactly what they are covered for, and then there should be no surprises at claim time. Never rush this process, have the support of a dedicated experienced adviser business that can help ensure you cover will perform as you intend it to. Then when you need to claim, it will greatly help the process being a favourable one. ‘But ACC will pay my income if I can’t work’

This is correct if you suffer an accident. ACC is an incredible state-based support network providing income and rehabilitation support to those injured from an accident. Statistics will show you, however, that you are considerably more likely to be unable to work from an illness than an accident. State-based illness support or sickness benefit, is no where near what even the average earner makes or needs per month, let alone those with large mortgages or young families. If you earn an income, think about how you would manage if that income were taken away from you. How would you support your family, cover your mortgage etc. If there is some exposure, then you should look into protecting it. ‘Premiums get too expensive as I get older’

They actually can! This is because our risk of suffering from a serious illness or passing away increases as we get older, hence why our premiums go up every year. Inflation also plays a part. A good adviser can give you ways to mitigate these increases through regular reviews and even premiums that do not increase with age. A major key to keeping your premiums in check is to ensure your insurance plan is only there to cover risk. When the kids are young and debt is high, there is more risk than once debt is paid off and kids are making their own way in the world. www.freemasonsnz.org

‘How do I know my insurance benefits will go where I want them to?’

Ownership of your insurance policies is crucial. I often see situations where poor advice on how policy owner is structured can leave loved ones with no ability to access insurance benefits (Life Insurance typically) that was set up to protect them in the situation they now find themselves. What are Freemason members saying about PARKA?

“Running a business with 2 other directors in different parts of the country was tricky enough, when one of my co-directors passed away suddenly from a heart attack, it became very challenging. Fortunately Lance had provided excellent shareholder protection meaning we did not have to make the business suffer to buy out his estate, the Insurance did this for us. This ensured his partner received the financial recognition she deserved and we received the shares of the business in return. Lance and his team handled the claims process and payments, while we were able to focus on the loved ones left behind and the business. If you run a business with other shareholders, I would recommend a chat with Lance to ensure your business and partners are protected like we were.” “I knew that, getting a bit older, I should have some Insurance but I needed to have confidence and trust in the company I chose to provide it. Lance sat with my wife and I and chatted about what was important to us. I believe that the Insurance plan we now have will perform for us when we need it and I know Lance and his team with always look after our needs. If you haven’t reviewed your Insurance plan for a while, then you should definitely chat with Lance.”

Lance will be making himself available at each of the Divisional Conferences to provide insurance advice to members and looks forward to catching up with you personally.

Woburn Masonic Care closes after 53 years It was a sad day in December last year when Masonic Villages Trust Chief Executive Warick Dunn closed and locked the door of the 53-year old Woburn Masonic Care facility for the last time. Woburn Masonic Care in Lower Hutt was operated by Masonic Care Ltd, part of The Masonic Villages Trust. It closed in December and is to be rebuilt over the next two years. The care facility has an interesting history. It began life as a Freemasons’ concept when Brethren in the Wellington District decided they should expand their charitable giving to a wider field than that catered for by the Fund of Benevolence. Subsequent approaches to the then Department of Health ascertained there was a need for an old people’s home in Wellington, and on May 1, 1960, a Mrs Ella Carter mooted the possibility of a $100,000 donation which meant the Association could get the ball rolling on an old people’s home. Mrs Ella Carter made the donation on the proviso that “all residents coming to the home would reside within 60 miles of the Wellington Post Office”. As luck would have it, at about the same time former Woburn farmland was being developed by descendants of Daniel and Harriet Riddiford.

Cutting a longish story slightly short, plans were then drawn up in 1962 for the Woburn Home in readiness to present to the Health Department. However, the Department threw a spanner in the works, which the Wellington District Masonic Charity Association turned into another charitable opportunity. They wanted pensioner flats included in plans on the perimeter of the Woburn property. By 1965 plans to proceed with building seven blocks, each containing four pensioner flats, were agreed to – leaving space for the subsequent erection of an old people’s home – and the development would hence be known as the Woburn Masonic Village. February 18, 1967 was described as “another red-letter day in the life of the Association” when MW Bro J Redwood, Grand Master, travelled from Auckland to declare the Woburn Masonic Village officially opened. After the ceremony, a sundial was unveiled at the entrance as a token of appreciation for Mrs Carter and her generous assistance. But all good things must come to an end and Warick Dunn says the aging Woburn facility no longer provides the kind of modern amenities that are needed.

The Masonic Villages Trust Chief Executive Warick Dunn does the rounds one last time.

“The facility can no longer support the full continuum of care that our residents need,” he said. At the time of its closure there were 50 residents at Woburn requiring various levels of aged care. Many of those residents, and almost half the staff, have now relocated to another Lower Hutt facility the Trust has leased to provide care and accommodation during Woburn’s redevelopment. “We do very much regret the impact on staff and our residents and their families, but we do need to be in a position to provide the best environment for care and, unfortunately, we can’t continue to do that at our Woburn care facility. We have to look to the future,” Warick said. But, the tradition of Masonic Care will live on. The new-look Woburn Masonic Village should be ready to re-open early in 2023.

An artist’s impression of how the re-developed Woburn village may look.

60 years of Masonic Care The Masonic Villages Trust celebrated its 60th anniversary in 2020. In the last issue of the NZ Freemason we featured an excerpt from the publication we produced late last year to mark 60 years of The Masonic Villages Trust. In that issue we focused on the 1960s. In this issue we have a snapshot of the 1970s, a time when Brethren were heavily involved in many working bees on behalf of the Trust, further developing the Woburn village and building others.

An Early View of the Site, Horowhenua Masonic Village

The Board of Woburn Masonic Village noted at the time that it was “extremely grateful to all those Brethren who have helped so very much over the years of the formation of the Wellington Masonic Association and all who have worked for the District.” During this decade, too, the Horowhenua Masonic Village was developed – again with the voluntary labour supplied by willing Freemasons – and opened on March 4, 1978.

The Horowhenua Masonic Home Under Construction, 1976

The Masonic Villages Trust l Head office: Level 6, 15 Daly Street l Lower Hutt 5010 New Zealand l Tel +64 4 569 8512 l www.masonicvillages.co.nz warick.dunn@masonicvillages.co.nz

Powering Potential … A

n excellent programme for high school science students ‘Powering Potential’ is run in conjunction with the Royal Society New Zealand and is in its sixth year of sponsorship from Freemasons New Zealand thanks to The Freemasons Charity. An intensive few days awaits students, from throughout New Zealand, who are excelling at science at their high school and planning their university studies in

the same area, which involves coming up with solutions to major scientific challenges facing New Zealand and the World in small teams. The have the support of a significant scientific peer who comes from the world of science – be it a government department, commercial science organisation or academia. Freemasons New Zealand and the Royal Society have been intimately involved for a number of years in a

variety of programmes for this age group, many will remember the ‘Big Science Adventures’, etc and of course Freemasons and the Royal Society have a long historical connection especially in the United Kingdom where many members belonged to both organisations bringing the liberal arts and sciences to light and life.

POWERING POTENTIAL PARTICIPANTS Aaron Li Alexandra Crampton Andrew Sutcliffe Angus Henderson Annaliese Marie Zapata Ashlen Kaur Caitlin Karen Eulalie Grosvenor Chante de Villiers Yingxin Zhang E Wen Wong Yia Han Ellen Tsai Emma Kenny Erin McKevitt

Eugene Aaron Ben Bonot Finn Cruickshank Frederick Coleman Halle Findlay Hannah Matehaere James Zingel Kaliyana Haering Kevan Lew Laura Isobel Morgan Lexi Trotter Libby Haywood Lydia Maria Palaiologou Maia Gasson Maia Robertson

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Maxwell Busby Maya Janette Wells Meg Molly June MacGregor-Dunn Nathan Jiaming Chen Olivia Charles Oscar Moriarity Pearl Bir Samantha Dryden Tegan Gould Tilak Patel Triyash Chetty Veisinia Havili Whetu Meihana

… higher science potential for high schools

From Powering Potential in late December 2020 at the Royal Society NZ headquarters in Wellington.

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REPORT Sistema Aotearoa music-making a classic performance

Walk through Otara Town Mall in Auckland any afternoon and you’ll see smiling children of all ages, carrying violins, flutes and trumpets or balancing cellos on their backs! These eager learners are heading to Otara Music Arts Centre the home of one of New Zealand’s most unique and effective music and social development programmes – Sistema Aotearoa Originating in South America the El Sistema concept was used by the Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra’s Outreach programme to foster classical music in the community and the South Auckland suburb of Otara was chosen as the target for it’s cultural diversity and strong Maori and Pasifika population. Sistema Aotearoa works to bring about personal growth for children from vulnerable communities. Children with the fewest resources and greatest need are its focus and the programme fosters confidence, teamwork, pride and aspiration in the children and their wider community through orchestral music making. The huge success of the programme - over 3000 children have been impacted so far - has attracted universal support, and governance is now totally independent of, but still closely allied with the APO. The Foundation has been an enthusiastic supporter for many years and continues its involvement into this 10th anniversary year. Rod Skipp, (MMus, Performance Cello (Distinction), LRSM), Sistema Aotearoa Programme Director continues the story: We are a child and youth development programme that uses orchestral music making to foster confidence, leadership, educational excellence, and aspiration in tamariki, their whānau and the vibrant South Auckland community. 40

Sistema Aotearoa works with tamariki and rangatahi throughout Ōtara, including students at eight partner primary schools and nine ECE centres. 96% of our tamariki are Māori and Pasifika. The programme is entirely free for whānau, including provision of string instruments, high quality tuition, and unforgettable performance opportunities. As we mark our 10th Birthday in 2021, we look forward to a year of celebration, kicking off with our debut professional performance on the Kiri Te Kanawa stage, Aotea Centre as part of the Auckland Arts Festival. Tekau! Celebrating Ten Years of Sistema Aotearoa will feature 250 young musicians across a 100-piece string orchestra and choir of 150, in a repertoire full of Sistema Aotearoa favourites from throughout the 10 years.

Sistema Aotearoa’s vision is to unleash the potential of tamariki, whānau and communities through orchestral music. Further opportunities for Sistema Aotearoa tamariki in 2021 feature collaborative projects including a side-by-side workshop and performance alongside the APO at Pese! Fasi! Puoro! and our Hui Taurima end of year finale at Vodafone Events Centre.

Proud to support the Community MEDICAL RESEARCH | COMMUNIT Y HEALTH | HOSPICE | ARTS & CULTURE

| HIGHER EDUCATION

Parent help by free hotline service Parent Help, a Wellington charity whose name describes exactly what it does, has been offering services to families since 1989. But demand from the Auckland area had grown so much in recent times that an Auckland-based operation was needed. Freemasons Foundation stepped up and over the last three years has helped to establish Parent Help in Auckland. Further explaining the services and their benefits Parent Help said: ‘Great whānau and family relationships are fundamental to supporting our young people to thrive and to protecting their mental health. And with mental health problems on the rise in Aotearoa, we are grateful to the Freemasons Foundation for supporting our work on the frontlines in Auckland. At Parent Help we run a free helpline, parenting courses and affordable counselling for individuals, families, children and young people. Funding from Freemasons helps us to have staff working in the Auckland region, bringing a real difference to local families. Our highly trained telephone support workers provide parents with immediate advice and support With a wealth of local knowledge, they are able to connect parents with additional services in the area.

Supporting Mums and Dads navigate the ebbs and flows of parenting, our counselling services helps them raise a generation of happy and resilient tamariki and rangatahi. With an Auckland base, we can engage with GP practices and community services, reaching whānau who need us the most, through their local community. For parents needing advice on the go, our website parenthelp. org.nz is a treasure trove of parenting knowledge, advice, and ready-to-implement strategies. Those with more time on their hands can engage with our Facebook content, educational posts addressing concerns we hear most often on the helpline. Our Auckland mahi would not be possible without the support we receive from the Foundation and for this support we are truly grateful’.

Our helpline is available 7 days a week – from 9am to 9pm. We provide parents with customized support, specific to each unique family situation. We are there for parents of children of all ages and stages of development, no matter how big or small the struggle is.

As we celebrate our first 10 years, we also look to the future, and thanks to the support of the Freemasons Foundation, our programme continues to expand and grow

and 17-year-old Young Leaders, with a clear direction in their lives and a desire to support the next generation. One thing is clear, with these rangatahi as leaders, the future is bright.

As our parents and whānau recognise, “Sistema Aotearoa is not merely a violin lesson for our children, but a pathway to the world and what it has to offer.” Our tamariki and rangatahi face significant barriers to accessing the arts and music education, and the wide range of benefits participation brings. We support the young people of Ōtara to create the best version of themselves, through working together as part of a musical team where everybody is striving to achieve the same outcome. The first 10 years of Sistema Aotearoa have been a definitive success. The 6- and 7-year-olds who started in 2011 are now 16-

See more at www.sistemaaotearoa.org.nz

The Foundation can be contacted at: PO Box 28242, Remuera, Auckland 1541. Telephone: (09) 520 6414 Email: info@freemasonsfoundation.org.nz www.freemasonsfoundation.org.nz Or by visiting 373 Remuera Road, Remuera, Auckland. Charity Registration No CC27639

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FIRST GRAND PRINCIPAL MEComp RON LANE GZ

Speech at Grand Convocation and Installation, Masterton 2021 Companions, in less than one year, COVID-19 has changed our world and completely transformed the way we live, work and spend our leisure time. The former stability of our work-life balance has a new face – one where people are increasingly working remotely from home, and telecommuting has emerged as one of the most prevalent consequences of this pandemic. Words such as: COVID-19, lock-down, and community transmission – practically unheard of when this Grand Chapter met in Nelson twelve months ago, are now familiar additions to our everyday vocabulary. I am conscious that everyone at this Convocation carefully weighed up the risks before choosing to attend. Thank you for doing so. We extend a very warm welcome to all our Companions, the Grand Master, Heads of Orders, partners and friends. We deeply appreciate that you have braved the odds to share this occasion and show your support. Freemasonry is the oldest and most prominent of all the world’s charitable institutions – but a distinguished history offers no protection or immunity against evolving societal values, new and diverse offerings for younger people, work demand pressures, or recognition that a significant number of our members form part of the increasing sector of our aging society; who suddenly find themselves particularly vulnerable through the unwelcome encroachment of Corona virus into their lives. We cannot avoid the reality that many within this group may now opt for the comfort and security of home in preference to venturing out and possibly inviting health risks into their personal and private lives. While the progressive roll-out of vaccines this year will afford some degree of protection for our susceptible brethren, it is reasonable to assume it may be some time yet before they can consider themselves safe. Freemasonry has faced many challenges in the past and always found 44

strategies to address these, but the potential fallout from this COVID-19 epidemic has compelled Grand Lodge to revisit, reappraise and revise former plans to render them fit for purpose under these vastly changed circumstances. Doom and gloom? Not at all! Freemasons have a positive philosophy on life; honed by more than three hundred years of experience, and this translates into our belief that as something draws to a close, we are offered an opportunity to embrace change, effect improvement and achieve modern-day relevance. And this opportunity is being openly embraced. The Grand Master has launched a series of well-attended Road shows that are currently touring the country and which focus primarily upon one key objective – to re-energize and rebuild New Zealand Freemasonry, driven by the catchphrase “One Vision, One Goal, One Team”. And that one team is our New Zealand Fraternity; brethren who adhere to a proven system based upon values such as Charity, principles such as Equality and ideals such as Compassion, Empathy and Kindness – all human fundamentals which will never become obsolete because they form the framework of a civilized society. And this legacy; passed down through the years and now entrusted to our care; has never been more vital than in today’s COVID-driven society, where our future will be defined by our ability to keep pace with daily change. Socrates decreed, “The secret of change is to focus all of your energy, not on fighting the old, but on building the new.” www.royalarch.org.nz

The Grand Master’s message is similar: “To re-energize and rebuild: One vision, one goal, one team.” It can be done. Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern shepherded five million Kiwis into one team unified by a common purpose. Within that team, there were innumerable and fine examples of people’s generosity in helping others, who

through age and circumstance were less able to cope. Simultaneously; Freemasonry, which had traditionally worked quietly and diligently in the background, suddenly came to the fore. Lodge Almoners rang and kept in contact with their ‘charges’, looking to assist where they could, while communication between members spiraled – personal emails, funnies, quizzes, and memes all contributing towards brethren keeping and staying in touch. The emergence of Zoom meetings began, and masons took to this medium as ducks do to water – to such extent that Zoom has now been adopted as an alternative means of conducting some of our Masonic business. It also generated renewed interest in educational opportunities and interactive feedback – a forum in which our own Grand Lecturers excelled. Our elderly brethren and companions living alone at home suddenly had company, support and entertainment. It was Freemasonry working at its best. We have always been a brotherhood – an organization of men united by a common fraternal and communal purpose. But COVID-19 brought us even closer together and reminded us; that whatever other Order we may also cherish; it is membership of the Craft which is the prerequisite for all.

And here in New Zealand, no Order has a closer relationship with the Craft than our Order of the Holy Royal Arch. Over recent years especially, the Craft and Royal Arch have increasingly worked harmoniously together to progressively strengthen this relationship for the mutual benefit of both. While we function as completely separate entities, we remain inextricably tied together through the Royal Arch’s authority to confer the final three of six degrees recognized as Antient, Free and Accepted Masonry within our New Zealand Freemasons’ Constitution. And as First Grand Principal, I can think of no task more important for Royal Arch Companions, and indeed all Freemasons at this time, than to support the Grand Master and embrace his campaign; because Craft Freemasonry is the foundation stone upon which all other Masonic activity is reliant. And the first priority for us all must be to reset and consolidate the position of this stone to ensure our benevolent culture continues to be a force for good well into the future. I encourage all Royal Arch Companions to support the Grand Master’s drive, by becoming an active part of it. We are Freemasons first and foremost, but your additional knowledge and experience make you an invaluable www.royalarch.org.nz

asset within your Lodges. If you are an active Lodge member, please continue with vigour. If your attendance at Lodge has become a little sporadic of late, please make a special effort to involve yourself once more. COVID-19 will undoubtedly exact a toll upon our membership, so the first task before us must be to minimize this loss, and then secure the future of the Craft through the co-operation of all Freemasons. We are now living in a different world and it is important that we catch this wave of change. Companions – your support is crucial to this success and I urge you all to become an integral part of the rebuild and consolidation. We then place ourselves in a position where we feel confident that we too are building a legacy to pass on to our successors, just as we ourselves were beneficiaries of that legacy bequeathed to us when we first stood at the portal of our Mother Lodge. To envision a better future is surely sufficient motivation for us to take the steps necessary to secure that outcome. Companions, we have much work to attend to in our own Order, but for the present, while we place the interests of the Craft to the fore, we are best serving the future of Royal Arch Masonry. Thank you, Companions.

50 Year Badge at 101 years! A fantastic end to the Masonic Year for Lodge Tuakau No. 278 on Wednesday night, when 101 year old Bro Josh De Jongh was presented with his 50 Year Badge and Certificate by MWBro Ian Ross Past Grand Master. MWBro Ross gave a very humorous narrative on Josh’ journey through life,

including his Masonic history, with Josh adding some lovely anecdotes of his own during the presentation. Josh is still very independent, living on his own, and still driving his car, he even had a game of bowls in the morning. An inspiration and a fine example of all that we would wish for ourselves

in old age … well done Josh, it was an honour to witness the presentation. The night concluded in the refectory where the “ladies” had put on a lovely “pot luck” supper.

Entered Apprentices aplenty Lodge Nelson No 288 recently initiated December 2019 and initiated in March its 4th Entered Apprentice Freemason. 2020, just prior to COVID-19 lock-down. Recognizable from the 2019 Grand This was also impacted by the fire Installation as an invited Guest from the at the Nelson Masonic Rooms, where Heartland Bank. Bro Jim Ward (2nd from left) was initiated on the 15th February 2021. Here pictured with the Worshipful Master, VWBro Derek Nees PDistGM, and two other EAF’s. Bro Jim was encouraged by his wife to get further interested in this group of men after attending the Grand Installation, “there must be something in it”. This brings Lodge Nelson up to four Entered Apprentice Freemasons, with another initiate waiting for his first degree as well. Bro Nick Watts was balloted for in

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alternate premises were sought and took a while to arrange for the Freemasons format of meetings. Two of the EAF’s have visited a “real” Lodge room to see how it “should” be done. But all is not lost on them and all are waiting to take that next regular step to become Craftsmen. All have been very patient and attending all other meetings of the Lodge. Goes to show that a fire and a global pandemic does not get in the way of growing our membership in Nelson. FROM LEFT Bro Chris Wratt, Bro Jim Ward, VWBro Derek Nees (WM and PDistGM), Bro Nick Watts. Absent on the night of Bro Jim’s first degree was Bro Marco Helm.

Welcome to our newest Freemasons November 2020 – January 2021

Eric Dutch New Zealand Pacific No. 2 Darryl Hemedez United Lodge of Masterton No. 19

Scott McMeikan Lodge Te Puke No. 261

Joel Stirling Lodge Arawhaiti No. 267

John Noonan The Ponsonby Lodge No. 54

Aman Narayan Lodge Arawhaiti No. 267

John Knight The Ponsonby Lodge No. 54

Melvin Dacyon Lodge Tuakau No. 278

Ross Jackson The Fortitude Lodge No. 64

Marco Helm Lodge Nelson No. 288

Jarden Crafar The Herbert Teagle-Taia Lodge No. 300

Michael Ellse Lodge Howick No. 314

Jose Camarillo Lodge Oamaru Kilwinning No. 82 Banjo Balila Lake Lodge of Ophir No. 85

Jacobus Pieterse The Mount Ida Lodge No. 97

Alastair Watt The Mount Ida Lodge No. 97

Sebastian Niethammer-Peni Lodge Te Papa No. 316

Alex Lopez Jr Lodge Te Papa No. 316

Ian Kake Lodge Whangarei No. 102

Jake Biray Lodge Te Papa No. 316

Levi Lucas Lodge Whangarei No. 102

Eugene Banotan Lodge Te Papa No. 316

Renato Oficial Lodge Te Papa No. 316

Scott Mills Lodge Te Papa No. 316

John Sendall Lodge Pa-Ka-Ma No. 319

Samuel Nicodemo The Waitohi Lodge No. 111 Warren Anderson The Tauranga Lodge No. 125 Kerry Bell Rongotea Lodge No. 146

Rodolfo Ocampo Jr Onehunga Maungawhao Lodge No. 168

Paul Fifield Lodge Rangitane No. 369

Evan Welsh Lodge Waitakerei No. 170

Lynton Bridger Lodge Orewa No. 370

Peter Ragay Lodge Waitakerei No. 170

Nikalaus Hannada Lodge Takahe No. 397

Donnel Victorio Lodge North Harbour No. 182

Peter David Lodge Takahe No. 397

Cyril Baldelovar Lodge Clinton No. 183

Felipe Secoya Lodge Clinton No. 183

Roderick Montederamos Lodge Clinton No. 183

Roco Avinante Lodge Clinton No. 183

Mark Bautista Lodge Waihopai No. 189

Geralde Guinto Lodge Waikato No. 475

Allan Morales Lodge Waihopai No. 189

Daniel Lockett Lodge Matariki No. 476

Jasper Lim Lodge Kaimanawa No. 426 Jade Bryers Lodge Hatea No. 431 Ernelle Omayan Lodge Aquarius No. 466 Matthew Elgar The United Lodge of Wanganui No. 468

Reading – Riting – Rithmetic As the three R’s are commonly known. In Lodge Rotorua No 153 they will now be referred to collectively as the Worshipful Master and his two sons. Roel (Dad), Roy and Rex Austria. It was a memorable occasion for the family to have both brothers initiated into Freemasonry and father WM Roel as the incumbent Master. A large number of brethren Lodges from the Bay of Plenty and representation from The Waikato District and the Eden Lodge of Auckland, UGLE, enjoyed a wonderful and late evening. A number of years have passed since a double degree was held for brothers initiated into Lodge Rotorua. WBro Brian Reid as the Master, obligated his

two Grandsons as they were each initiated as a Lewis. The beginning of the ceremonial saw Roy, the first of the two sons to enter the lodge room being conducted by the

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Senior and Junior Deacons through the ceremony until the obligation which was presented by WBro Coppard IPM. He was then sat down and had the privilege of observing that part of the ceremony he had just been through as his brother Rex was brought into the Lodge room with due ceremony, and was also obligated by WBro Coppard. The rest of the degree was completed with the Roy and Rex being escorted together. Their father, Roel delivered the final charge which proved to be very humbling to observe. A Father admonishing his sons to fully appreciate and fulfil their roles in life and in Freemasonry. This now brings to four the number of EAF’s who have been initiated into the Lodge ensuring the Lodge will be having a busy year. 47

The Last Word! Freemasons New Zealand Crossword No 17

Freemasons New Zealand Crossword

3 5

13 14

Solution page 7

ACROSS 3 ACROSS Which planetary body effects the tides on earth?

FOUR WAYS TO TIE A TIE

6 3Which pole is planetary associated withbody a compass bearings? Which effects the

tides on earth? 8 6Deepest lake in New Zealand? Which pole is associated with a compass bearings? 10 8Fiords are produced by what? Deepest lake in New Zealand? 12 10 Second largestare lake produced in New Zealand? words) Fiords by(Two what? 15 12 TheSecond first artificerlargest in metals?lake in New Zealand? (Two words) The ﬁrst artiﬁcer 16 15 Outer Guard of the Lodge? in metals? 16 Outer Guard the Lodge? 17 New Zealand Antarctic of Territory? (Two words) 17 New Zealand Antarctic Territory? (Two words) 18 What does Tiwai Point smelter produce? What Point smelter produce? 20 18 Jewel of the does OrganistTiwai in a Lodge? 20 Jewel of the Organist in a Lodge? DOWN

1 DOWN What does the third degree tracing board tell us 1about? What does the three degree tracing

board tell us about?

2 Highest mountain in North Island?

4 Strait between South Island and Stewart Island? ww.puzzle-maker.com/crossword_FreePuzzle.cgi 5 Who sits to the right of the Master when looking from the east to the west? (Two words)

Page

7 Maori name for Stewart Island? 9 Masters Column is which Order of Architecture? 11 Which Pole has a land mass beneath it? 13 Newly discovered eighth continent? 14 First planet observed by humans in our solar system? 19 Planet named after the God of War?

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SERVICE AWARDS November 2020 – January 2021

70 YEAR BAR

WBro Richard Lyndhurst Ellingham PM Bro Edward Logie Berney MM

Scinde Lodge No. 5 The United Lodge of Otago No. 448

60 YEAR BAR

WBro Keith Stuart Prentice PM Bro Ian William Ryder MM RWBro Wilson David Mawhinney P Prov GM Bro William Raymond Currey MM WBro Brian Elwyn Wayne Edgar PM Bro Keith Edward John Broady MM WBro Norman Alan Richardson PGBB Bro Kerry George Ansell MM WBro John Maxwell Feist PG Swd B RH WBro Gordon William Grant Gillespie PGD WBro Beresford Charles Mitchell Bro Douglas Robert Gordon Richardson MM

50 YEAR BADGE WBro Alexander John Eason PM WBro John Hartley Hanlen PM Bro Peter Wallace Grenfell MM RWBro Donald Gordon Heslop PGW WBro Kenneth Arnold Bain PM WBro Arthur Norman Berman PGS WBro Eric Stephan Michel Keys PM WBro Barry Graham Severinsen PM WBro Blair Fraser McKenzie PM Bro Donald Bruce Michelsen MM Bro Timothy Laird Edney MM Bro Ian Harding Franks MM WBro Edwin Charles King PM WBro Gordon Russell Gunter PM WBro Geoffrey Owen Coker PGO RWBro Roger Gillatt P Prov GM WBro Stephen Trevor Manson PM MWBro Charles Dodds Hammond PGM Bro Selwyn Anderson Grave MM WBro Rex Leslie Wills PGBB

The Fortitude Lodge No. 64 Lodge Oamaru Kilwinning No. 82 The Mount Ida Lodge No. 97 St Augustine Lodge No. 99 The Havelock Lodge No. 104 The Forest Lodge No. 116 Lodge Otaihape No. 142 Empire Fergusson Lodge No. 225 Lodge Te Puke No. 261 Lodge Kumeu No. 279 Midland District Research Lodge The Hawkes Bay Daytime Lodge No. 453 Lodge of Unanimity Sumner No. 3 Scinde Lodge No. 5 United Lodge of Masterton No. 19 Lodge of Progress No. 22 Hercules Lodge No. 36 The Ponsonby Lodge No. 54 The Ponsonby Lodge No. 54 The Lion Lodge No. 114 The Wallace Lodge No. 129 Hikurangi Lodge No. 140 Hutt Valley Lodge No. 176 Lodge Parahaki No. 269 Lodge Wanaka No. 277 Lodge Katikati No. 295 Westminster Lodge No. 308 Lodge Zetland No. 312 Lodge Te Puni No. 315 The Lodge of Remembrance No. 318 The United Lodge of Otago No. 448 Lodge Matariki No. 476

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