History of
The Maltese Association of Wellington

by Anthony Micallef

LEST WE FORGET: It was in 1988 that a first group tried to organise itself ill Wellington. We met in Brooklyn and started what we considered as a small social group presided by Mrs. Carmen Niven nee Dalli. We had sporadic socials organised over die next few years consisting mainly of Bring a Plate of finger foods at each other's houses. The number of Maltese in this group was then about 14 and stayed at this until early in 1997 when Mrs Dalli handed over the presidency as she could not carry on.
 
At this time if there was nobody willing to take over our small association would have become defunct but fortunately the then secretary from inception accepted the role of president. Thus Mr Anthony Micallef took over in May and started a new era for the Maltese Association.
 
When Mr Anthony Micallef was appointed officially by the then Maltese High Commissioner Mr George Busuttil he started plans for the association to become an incorporated society.
 
A few weeks later we received as a guest our Honorary Consul Mrs Patricia Thake from Auckland and plans were then started on the distribution of KINNIE here in Wellington, the starting of a regular newsletter The Maltese Wellingtonian which is send out every 6 to 8 weeks to all the members of The Maltese Association and also to the members of The Friends of Malta Society New Zealand an umbrella group for the association made mainly of X Servicemen from The Second World War.
 
A special meeting was held in St Francis Xavier School in Tawa on 21 St September 1997, a committee formed a constitution presented and application for the association to become an incorporated society presented to the authorities, hi December we then became known as The Maltese Association of Wellington Incorporated.
 
Since then our membership has continually kept increasing. Funds were always obtained through kind donations from members and grants from various organizations as we have a free membership. The new group has always made it an effort to organise quarterly reunions for its members coinciding with Maltese Public Holidays and An Annual General Meeting every September an audited account is passed of our expenses mainly related to the production of our newsletter which is our vehicle of information to all our members.
 

Part 2
 
Most of The Maltese in Wellington were invited for a reception with the Maltese President and his Official Delegation in 1993.His Excellency Dr.Vincent Tabone and his wife visited New Zealand and appropriate receptions were held which most of those invited attended.
 
At the beginning of 1997 we sadly lost one of our foundation members a great loss to us, his family and all the Maltese in New Zealand gentleman Sammy Zammit passed away and left an emptiness which is still felt to this day. Many of us all over New Zealand have fond memories of Sammy and this was evident in his well attended funeral. An article about Sammy is on our website.
 
The beginning of the year 2000 saw the Migrants Commission in Malta and The Ministry of Foreign Affairs organise the Millennium Convention for Volunteer Community Leaders Living Abroad. Sadly the Maltese Association of Wellington Inc. was not represented at the same and a golden opportunity for issues pertaining to the Maltese in New Zealand was lost.
 
Late in 2000 Mr Paul Vella the PRO of The Reskeon Society of Melbourne came and visited us in Wellington. For his radio program Paul Vella recorded an interview with Mr & Mrs Micallef which was aired on the allmalta.com airwaves in the week ending 26th November 2001 which raised the profile of the Maltese in New Zealand and the issue of The long awaited Bilateral Agreement between the 2 countries.
 
Since becoming an incorporated society the association's committee meets every 2 or 3 months. We also publish The Maltese Wellingtonian every 6 to 8 weeks which is posted to all our members and friends in New Zealand, Australia and our representatives in Malta. These include The Maltese High Commissioner in Canberra Australia, The Maltese Prime Minister and The Leader of The Opposition amongst others.
 
Thanks to our friend in Scotland Mr John J Cassar we are now on the internet on the allmalta.com website. This is updated regularly by Mr Cassar and all information can be read on this website.
 

Part 3
 
Early in 2002 the Association had the opportunity to host the Then High Commissioner from Malta to New Zealand Mr Ives Debarro and his wife at St Gerard's Monastery in Wellington. At this meeting we were informed of the appointment of Dr Carmen Dalli as Honorary Consul for Malta in New Zealand for Wellington.
 
In August 2002 the Maltese Association was again called to participate in and organise functions for a Delegation from Malta which included The Right Honourable Prime Minister Dr Edward Fenech Adami and his wife ,The Right Honourable Dr Laurence Gonzi The Deputy Prime Minister and his wife and Mr Debarro and his wife.
 
It was during an official state luncheon at Parliament in Wellington that Dr Edward Fenech Adami expressed his wish To The Right honourable Prime Minister of New Zealand Miss Helen Clark to open up and ease migration from Malta to New Zealand in the near future and Miss Clark replied that New Zealand policy on this subject is open to professionals who choose to pursue their career in this country.
 
From these meetings in New Zealand promises of signing the long awaited agreement between Malta and New Zealand were also made by both dignitaries of both countries especially in the Portability Scheme in Pensions.
 
In early 2003 we received The new High Commissioner for Malta in New Zealand Dr Ivan Fsadni and his family at the residence of The Honorary Consul for Wellington Dr Carmen Dalli. Again the members present were promised all the assistance required in the future .
 
This help included procuring the 50th Anniversary medal of Malta earning the George Cross medal to Mr Jesse Freeman Steel who missed receiving it in 1992.Eventually the handing of the medal ceremony was carried out at Pukerua Bay in July by The Honorary Consul of Wellington.
 
In September the Maltese association managed to arrange a function at Parliament with the Assistance of The Minister of Ethnic Affairs Mr Chris Carter a Handing in Ceremony of a ribbon of hand made Gozo lace for The Ethnic Rock in Parliament an unforgettable occasion attended by many of its members from all over New Zealand. This ribbon was kindly made for us by Mrs Pauline Attard of Gozo a returned Australian migrant herself.
 
For further information please contact Mr Anthony Micallef at malta_assn@hotmail.com
 

Part 4
 
The perseverance of our association with the assistance of the x-president of the Auckland Malta Society, Mr. Charles Cini and also thanks to the support and help of the Honourable Prime Minister of New Zealand Ms. Helen Clarke. We finally achieved the long awaited Bilateral Agreement between Malta and New Zealand signed at Valletta on July 2004.
 
Now we can boast of being equal to our Maltese Australian immigrant neighbours across the Tasman. The agreement has different facets to it but the most important parts are the Portability of Pension Schemes, the Working Holiday opportunities and exchange of Educational Scholarships.
 
To celebrate this we already have had our first Scholarship winner Joany Grima, working within the Maltese Foreign Affairs Ministry helping out with the Commonwealth Head of Government Meeting (CHOGM) that was held in Malta in November 2005.
 
Another achievement for the Maltese Association was being able to put our Newsletter (our vehicle of information) on line and thanks to Mr. J J. Cassar who resides in Scotland one can read all of the Wellingtonian on www.allmalta.com/wellington/newsletter.html. This will be updated bi monthly.
 
For the past year or so The Maltese Association of Wellington Inc., has proudly represented Malta on Europe Day held annually at Wellington in May and also The Upper Hutt International Festival held annually in November. Our members have also been taking part in the Carol Singing Extravaganza held by the different Ethnic Communities annually at the Botanic Gardens in Wellington.