A Personal Report from New Zealand - 3 March 2011
Greetings from New Zealand! I am here on a trip that was scheduled several months ago, and I now happen to be in this country during a very difficult time in the nation’s history due to the tragic earthquake in Christchurch. I visited that beautiful city just one week before the first quake in August of last year, and by pure coincidence, I am back in the country just one week after the even more devastating quake in Christchurch last week. Therefore, I want to utilize this opportunity to provide a personal report to Rotarians around the world who are concerned about the current circumstances in New Zealand. Judie and I arrived in Queenstown on Monday, and we have now visited Cromwell, Invercargill, Dunedin, and Auckland. Although there is no physical damage from the earthquakes in these towns, there is great concern about the loss of life and property in Christchurch. Everyone recognizes that the psychological and economic damage will cause a major setback for the entire country.
The physical damage is limited to Christchurch, and the travel facilities are operating normally in the rest of the country. Therefore, people planning to visit New Zealand, other than Christchurch, should proceed with their trips. However, the mood of the country will less ebullient than usual for several months. I am here in Auckland for the first multidistrict PETS in the South Pacific and the meeting will proceed this weekend as scheduled. The registrations for the PETS meeting are very strong, and at this point, only a few club presidents elect from the Christchurch area have indicated their inability to attend. The success of the meeting will be a tribute to the resiliency of the Rotarians in the six districts of the South Pacific.
I have always admired and respected the citizens of New Zealand, and they currently deserve the accolades of the Rotary world as they cope with the aftermath of the earthquakes. They have a pioneer spirit that was first displayed to the world during the battle of Gallipoli, and it is the same competitive spirit that enables the Kiwi teams to successfully compete in many international sports against countries that are infinitely larger in population. Now, more than ever, New Zealand is truly a special place!
