New Zealand News - NOVEMBER 2015

NEW ZEALANDERS OF SEATTLE CLUBSEATTLE-CHRISTCHURCH SISTER CITY ORGANIZATION

An occasional newsletter for transplanted Kiwis

****Save the dates 2015-2016****

Whiri Tu Aka – Coming up soon!!

Friday November 20th

Seattle Town Hall 8 pm

1119 8th Ave Seattle 98101

https://townhallseattle.org/arts-culture/global-rhythms/

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Annual Christmas Party 6 pm

Saturday December 5th

At the home of Sandy and Mark Maclean

8131 NE 175th Street

Kenmore WA 98028

(see attached flyer)

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Wellington International Ukelele Orchestra Tour opens in YAKIMA on

January 19, 2016.

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Waitangi Day

Saturday February 6th

Kangaroo and Kiwi Pub 3 pm

2026 NW Market Street

Seattle WA 98107

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Visit to Christchurch

February 21 – 24, 2016

To celebrate the 35th anniversary of the

Seattle Christchurch Sister City Association

Plan your visit to NZ to include this

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Annual Hangi

Saturday July 23rd (tentative)

Hole-in-the-Sky

20032 SR 9 Maltby WA 98296

HONORARY CONSUL REPORT NOVEMBER 2015

The Governor-General, Sir Jerry Mateparae, with Rachel Jacobsen, MNZM for services to New Zealand-United States relations. The investiture was on September 8th at Government House in Wellington.

Many things have happened since the last newsletter in June.

In August I met with the acting New Zealand Ambassador to the United States, Carl Worker, who was in Seattle to talk about trade. He will be returning to Seattle for a November 9th roundtable talk about trade sponsored by the Washington Council on International Trade.

In July, I was interviewed by Radio New Zealand as part of their Expat program and was asked about being the Honorary Consul for Washington State amongst other things.

You can “hear” it “here”:

http://www.radionz.co.nz/national/programmes/afternoons/audio/201763565/the-expats-rachel-jacobsen

And in September I went to Wellington for my investiture at Government House. I am now a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit. It was a lovely event.

I also recently had the great privilege of swearing someone in as a New Zealand citizen. I am happy to report that Corderro Keil is now living in Seattle and was excited to formally become a New Zealand citizen. Congratulations Corderro!

Finally, as a reminder, if you have lived in NZ for at least one year at sometime in your life and have visited in the past three years you are eligible to vote in the upcoming ballot for the New Zealand flag referendum. Go to http://www.elections.org.nz/events/referendums-new-zealand-flag-0/voting-overseas-flag-referendums.

As always, to contact me please email me at nzconsulseattle@gmail.com

Rachel Jacobsen,

Honorary Consul

Passports – NEW INFORMATION!

10 YEAR PASSPORTS: New Zealand passports will revert to 10 year passports from five year ones for New Zealand adults after Nov 30. The cost of a new passport will be $NZ180. Children’s passports will still need to be renewed every five years.

New Zealand passports can be renewed entirely online. You can even scan photos. Go to www.passports.govt.nz for the forms.

Also if you have not registered as a New Zealander abroad please visit: www.safetravel.govt.nz.

To contact me via email, please use: nzconsulseattle@gmail.com

SEATTLE CHRISTCHURCH SISTER CITY ASSOCIATION

Over 100 people gathered at the Seattle Yacht Club on the evening of Friday October 23rd for the 34th Annual General Meeting and Dinner of the Seattle Christchurch Sister City Association. Guests were welcomed by the Sister City President Rachel Jacobsen.

Dignitaries were introduced and people dined on delicious New Zealand lamb or a mixed seafood plate followed by a scrumptious crème brulee. Dinner was followed by the election of next year’s Board members. David Baxter, Greg Leeming, Anne Nadreau, and Katharine Holdsworth were unanimously elected for three year terms joining eleven other Board members.

A brief update of the past year was given and updates were given to us on the keas at the zoo, the New Zealand Forest at the Arboretum, and from the Burke Museum at the University of Washington.

The keynote speaker for the evening was New Zealand track legend Sir Peter Snell. Sir Peter’s speech was preceded with some video of him winning the gold medal for the 800 meters at the Rome Olympics in 1960 and of him winning the gold medal again at the Tokyo Olympics for the 800 meters and the 1,500 meters. Sir Peter gave a great talk and inspired us all. The next morning the Association took Sir Peter and his wife Miki on a tour of the New Zealand Forest at the Arboretum where around

20 people from our group joined about 40 Arboretum volunteers for a work party on the Forest. This was followed by meat pies and beer! A great morning!

Following the Ambassador’s talk we had the raffle draw which included many bottles of wine, New Zealand lollies and biscuits, New Zealand books and plants and other items.

The night concluded with the drawing of the raffle ticket announcing the winner of the donation of a round trip for two from Seattle to Auckland on Hawaiian Airlines. Leimomi Hall from Hawaiian Airlines had to leave early so Sir Peter Snell drew the winning ticket for the Hawaiian Airlines round trip for two from Seattle to Auckland. This was accompanied by a three day land package in Auckland donated by Down Under Answers donation. The winner was Juli Hills.

People stayed around and chatted, feeling good after another successful and fun evening.

…and now, it’s on to our…….

!!!!!!!!!!! 35thANNIVERSARY !!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Yes, next year is the 35th anniversary of the Seattle Christchurch Sister City Association. A delegation of us will be in Christchurch from February 21 – 24 to celebrate and to commemorate the 5th anniversary of the Christchurch earthquake. If you are planning a trip to New Zealand next February/March you might want to try and include these dates to be in Christchurch. For more information or to let us know that you might be in Christchurch at this time please email me at nzersofseattle@outlook.com

One more note, our student exchange programs are working very well. In July, two girls from Annie Wright Academy went to Christchurch to stay with girls from Rangi Ruru School who had visited Annie Wright earlier this year. The macroeconomics and science virtual exchanges will be starting up again in January with University Prep here and Rangi Ruru and Burnside High Schools in New Zealand.

Rachel Jacobsen

Perry Cope, Peter Snell, Rachel Jacobsen, and Lin Cope at the annual sister city dinner.

ARBORETUM WORK PARTY

The third annual Kiwi work party in our New Zealand Forest took place on Sat. Oct. 24, and it was a great success! 34 volunteers came to help weed and mulch around Totara, Flax, and Hebes, just several of the more than 10,000 New Zealand native-sourced plants displayed in the garden.

At the conclusion of the work party we were rewarded by the visible difference our efforts had made AND by the celebratory pies and pints. 314 Pie did not disappoint—their pies are the real deal. Paige Miller, Arboretum Foundation Executive Director, also invited and introduced special guests Aidan Lang, General Director of Seattle Opera; Jonathan Dean, Director of Public Programs and Media at Seattle Opera; and Jonathan Lemalu, the New Zealand born Samoan opera singer, currently performing the role of Nourabad in The Pearl Fishers. Several volunteers took advantage of the generous offer to meet Jonathan Lemalu backstage after this Wednesday’s performance…an unexpected perk of volunteering!

Everyone enjoyed hands-on time in the world's largest collection of native New Zealand plants outside Aotearoa growing right here in Seattle. A big thank you to donors and volunteers, including active and past members of the Seattle Christchurch Sister City Association.  

Reported by Clint Staaf and Megan Meyer

Lunch time after the New Zealand Forest work party

Getting down and dirty

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HANGI 2015

On Saturday, July 18th the New Zealanders of Seattle got together for our annual hangi at Hole in The Sky. It was a beautiful day with the temperature reaching 92 degrees! There were approximately 120 people in attendance.

For the first time in our history, we were unable to light a fire at the park, due to unprecedented warm weather and the high wild fire danger. We instead had a lamb and sausage BBQ.

As in previous years, we gathered at the flag pole to listen to the Maroi blessing given by Rob and sang the national anthem in both Maroi and English. Next, it was onto the buffet tables. Two long tables were weighed down with lamb, sausages, salads and enticing desserts.

Once we had given our meal time to digest, it was off to the games! Thank you to Saul Clifase for playing host to the three-legged race and the egg and spoon race. Next was the celebrated lolly scramble. Last but not least, was the tug-of-war. In the Children’s Division: The girls defeated the boys. In the Adult Division: Auckland defeated the rest of New Zealand!

This hangi would not be the big success it is without the help of so many of you in the club. A big thank you to Mark McClean for mowing the lawn at Hole in the Sky, to Rachel Jacobson and Diana Staaf for purchasing the food and to Chef Chris, Rob, Medoc, John, Ken and Clint, who helped me with the barbecuing this year. Also, thank you to all who attended the Hole in the Sky work party in May.

We hope to see you all next July at Hangi 2016!

Steve Dickson

CEWNZ NEWS

This year Central and Eastern Washington New Zealanders (CEWNZ) combined our annual celebration with Independence Day and partied on the weekend of July 3 -5, 2014 at the Moses Lake waterfront home of Jodi and Christian O’Shea and their children. Once again, with their setting on a beachfront of Moses Lake, it was particularly wonderful with temperatures over 100°F. Many of us camped on the lakefront and spent the days in or on the water enjoying swimming, kayaks, canoes, fishing and sorting out from afar the problems of the world and particularly New Zealand. We ate wonderful lamb barbecued by John Pearson and enjoyed all the other goodies brought by our group. Christian gave speed boat tours of Moses Lake and ran us through the lake’s “power wash” fountain again this year for traditional good luck. We also enjoyed the fireworks show put on by the city of Moses Lake.

Many thanks to everyone who attended—more than 30— and made it fun for all. Special thanks to Kim Clements who brought her much-loved sausage rolls yet again, to Ruby Beck who came from Seattle with her dad, Ken, and sister, Meg, and shared her ever improving skills at poi. Thanks again to Jodi, Christian, Baylie, Brin, Jack, Sam and Liam for so warmly opening and sharing their home. It was another good New Zealand time.

Jodi and Christian are happy to have us in Moses Lake next summer for most probably a late June weekend—please plan to come. We loved meeting new New Zealanders this year who have joined us in Central Washington and we are also very pleased to have west side New Zealanders join us too. We love showing what Central Washington has to offer.

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On another topic but definitely CEWNZ related—

The Wellington International Ukelele Orchestra opens its 2016 USA Tour in YAKIMA on January 19, 2016.

They arrive in Yakima late on Sunday, January 17 and we'd like to create a little Central Washington hospitality for them. Please let Helen Marieskind know if you have an interest: 509.678.0422 or helenmarieskind@gmail.com.

Helen Marieskind

A Tribe of Kiwis Enjoying Moses Lake

Enjoying the show

FACEBOOK PAGE

Please give many thanks to Gareth Waugh for faithfully maintaining and updating our Facebook page. Please "like" this page and let others in Washington State know about it.

If you know of people connected to other Seattle Kiwi related Facebook pages please let them know about ours so they can come to our events.

Notices of events will be posted there and you can submit messages or post questions.

https://www.facebook.com/NZdersofSeattle

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SAVE THE DATES

Friday November 20th at 8 pm brings the New Zealand Maori Group Whiri Tu Aka to Seattle Town Hall. Some of you will remember the group WAI that performed here a few years ago. This group was formed by members of WAI. Here is the link for tickets and information:https://townhallseattle.org/event/whiri-tu-aka/

Saturday December 5th is the Annual Christmas Party to be held once again at the home of Sandy and Mark Maclean.

So far about a dozen people plan on being in Christchurch between February 21st and 24th 2016 for the 35th anniversary of the Seattle Christchurch Sister City Association. If you think you will be in Christchurch then, please email me at nzersofseattle@outlook.com

Rachel Jacobsen

CONSULAR SERVICES

NZ Consul-General LA, Leon GriceNew Zealand Consulate-General2425 Olympic Blvd. Suite 600 ESanta Monica CA 90404Phone: (310) 566-6555Fax: (310) 566-6556Email: contact@nzcgla.orgwww.nzemb.org

NZ Ambassador, Mike Moore NZ Embassy37 Observatory Circle NWWashington, D.C. 20008Phone: (202) 328-4848Fax: (202) 667-5227info@nzemb.org

NZ Honorary Consul, SeattleRachel Jacobsen PO Box 51059Seattle WA 98115Phone: (206) 527-1896 nzconsulseattle@gmail.com

NEW ZEALANDERS OF

SEATTLE & SEATTLE-CHRISTCHURCH SISTER CITY ASSOCIATION MEMBERSHIP

Dues for the Seattle Christchurch Sister City Association are $15 for an individual and $25 for a family membership. 

Please send form to: SCSCA PO Box 51059 Seattle, WA 98115 

Annual dues for the New Zealanders of Seattle are $15. Please send the form to: Diana Staaf, 11049 Bartlett Ave NE Seattle WA 98125

SEND NEW ZEALAND NEWS ITEMS

AND EMAIL ADDRESSES TO EDITOR

If you hear anything interesting, then let me know. Also, if you can provide me with email updates I can help the world cut down on paper waste.

Please send email addresses (or other changes) to: nzersofseattle@yahoo.com.

However, please send membership renewals or applications to the addresses listed in the prior item.

OTHER NEW ZEALAND LINKS

www.govt.nz is the NZ government web portal

www.passports.govt.nz  is for renewing NZ passports

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www.usnzcouncil.org is the United States - New Zealand Council which was founded in 1986 to strengthen United States New Zealand relations. It is headquartered in Washington DC.

www.hillarysport.org.nz is for NZ sports

www.culture.co.nz or www.Maori.org.nz is for Maori culture

www.safetravel.govt.nz  is a place for New Zealanders to register before traveling. It also contains a lot of useful information.

www.akiko.com is a great resource for travel in NZ

www.kiwiexpat.org.nz is the home site for the Kiwi Expat Association (KEA)

www.nzherald.co.nz is the NZ Herald new site

www.publicaddress.net contains commentaries on the NZ political and cultural scene

www.nz.com has Brian Hamer’s news summaries

New Zealand NewsNOVEMBER 2015

P. O. BOX 51059SEATTLE, WA 98115

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