TESSELLATED TALES

Periodical of the District Grand Lodge of North Island New Zealand

March 2023

Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II 21st

April 1926 - 8th

September 2022

DISTRICT GRAND LODGE of NORTH ISLAND, NEW ZEALAND UNDER THE UNITED GRAND LODGE OF ANTIENT, FREE AND ACCEPTED MASONS OF ENGLAND

A message from our District Grand Master Dear Brethren,

Who would have thought that 2023 would have started with such devastating weather events as Auckland's flooding followed by Cyclone Gabrielle? The effects on New Zealand society, particularly in the North Island, is well known to us all. What makes me so proud is the remarkable response lodges and individuals have made to the District’s appeal to assist the communities most affected by these events. Brethren from all over New Zealand and overseas have contributed to a fund designed to empower lodges in those affected regions to work with their communities in making a difference. This included a substantial donation also from the brethren of the District of the South Island.

Brethren have provided food and bedding to displaced families in Mangere, and stripping out a van to carry much needed clothing and supplies from Opotiki to Gisborne to support the Salvation Army over exceptionally dangerous roads. Homemade cakes baked to thank road workers trying to clear essential roads into Napier. Wives and families of brethren have very much been part of our team working for the common goal of doing something to help our communities.

As the collected funds are forwarded to the lodges to use, discussions are occurring as how best they can assist communities and where that money can make a difference. There is talk of assisting an effected school by one Lodge. Another Lodge sees the value of joining with lodges of all Constitutions in their region to jointly support their Regional Mayoral disaster fund. What is very apparent is that communities are going to need ongoing support for years to come and the nature of that support will change. It is easy to think that because the state of emergency has been lifted that the crisis is over. Unfortunately, that is not the case, it has just evolved.

This was very much brought home when flying over the Napier region and speaking with a number of effected people and at a later date spending time with brethren from Opotiki and Gisborne. Seeing hillsides ripped apart like a leather couch torn up by a trapped possum or fields of crops covered in a deluge of silt with a couple of overturned cars dumped on top, just emphasised the power and scale of the Cyclone’s devastation.

As a District, I see our role is to do everything possible to assist the ‘boots on the ground lodges’ in providing them with the financial and practical tools to enable them to make a difference for our hurting communities. The District must be guided by their eyes as to how best to help.

A story was relayed to me by a brother who together with his ten-year-old son had been assisting at the Mangere Welfare Centre. A team of brethren had arrived making deliveries of dry towels and bedding and then found the centre was out of tinned food for families who had been displaced. A line of people was waiting in the hope of getting food for that evening. Our Brethren went to a local supermarket and purchased quantities of tinned products to get the centre through. The young lad helped his dad put trays of baked beans in one of the trolleys.

That evening he came to his dad and said that when he grew up, he wanted to become a Mason. The brother, a wee bit puzzled where this comment came from said “that’s nice son, but why do you want to be a Mason?”

The reply came back “Because they help people “.

May we always be so judged by our families and communities.

Kind regards

Warren

Periodical of the District Grand Lodge of North Island, New Zealand