5 June 2003

Dear Mr Micallef,

On behalf of His Excellency, Dr Ivan Fsadni, High Commissioner for Malta resident in Australia, I have much pleasure in informing you of the successful outcome of your request to the High Commissioner that he pursue the matter of Mr Steel's missing George Cross Commemorative Medal.

His Excellency has requested that I inform you that the Secretary to the Cabinet, Mr Fiorini Lowell, has confirmed that Mr Freeman Jesse Steel was indeed awarded the National Commemorative Medal to mark the Fiftieth Anniversary of the award of the George Cross to Malta and that his name was at the time published in the Government Gazette as required by law.

In the circumstances, the Secretary to the Cabinet has agreed that Mr Steel be presented with the National Commemorative Medal in my presence as Honorary Consul for Malta in Wellington. The presentation is to be made upon reconfirmation of Mr Steel's claim in a formal written statement signed in my presence, which I will counter-sign as witness.

I am personally honoured to be asked to perform this task. I know it will have a great deal of significance to Mr Steel. I also wish to warmly congratulate you for your part in achieving this outcome for Mr Steel.

The commemorative medal is being sent to me by registered mail. In the meantime, I will contact you to formulate a draft of the reconfirmation of Mr Steel's claim so that plans can be made for its signing and the formal presentation of the medal.

Please accept my congratulations to you and Mr Steel on the successful outcome of your action.
 
A copy of this letter will be sent to you by post.

Yours sincerely

Dr Carmen Dalli
Honorary Consul for Malta

4th October 2001

Dear Cecilia Attard Pirotta,

Since it has been well over 15 months since we communicated with you about the above agreement proposals between Malta and New Zealand we thought it might be opportune to ask once more where it presently stands with the Maltese Government.

If you need to refresh your memories our letters can be found on our web site at www.allmalta.com/wellington/index.html

Waiting to hear from you at your convenience we thank you.

Yours truly

Anthony Micallef
 

23rd August 2000

Dear Sir,

With reference to the previous exchange of correspondence ending with our letter of 10 July 2000 on the subject in caption, the attached copy of a self-explanatory letter dated 15 August, 2000, from the Department of Health Policy and Planning, is referred to you for your perusal and the necessary action.

Regards,

Arsalan Alshinawi
F/Bilateral Relations Director

11th September 2000

Dear Sir,
 
Health Co-operation with New Zealand.

I have received your correspondence about the above with a request from Dr. A Amato Gauci Consultant for Public Health Medicine requesting expansion on the subject.

I shall try my best in my capacity as a migrant to this country and not as an expert of any source in this matter to reply. Not having any data with similar agreements which Malta might have with other countries makes this even more difficult.

I am of the opinion that all visitors to either country from either country should be covered with such an agreement. This, will be similar to what I think was the case about 20 years ago between Malta and The United Kingdom, where if I remember correctly there was a quota of the first 100 or so visitors annually were covered.

This will of course be covered by other parts of an agreement between the 2 countries and as such not many expenses will be involved. There will be more tourism to either country, more export and trade and closer contact which will put Malta in the mind of many people here in this South Pacific country.

The earlier this happens the better for these two Nuclear Free and Commonwealth countries.

Yours sincerely

Anthony Micallef

9th April 2000

The Prime Minister has asked me to convey his appreciation for your kind thoughts following his recent by pass surgery.

The Prime Minister wishes you every success in your sterling work among the Maltese community in Wellington.

Sincerely

Peter Portelli Communications Co-ordinator

26th April 2000

DEAR JOANNE,

Following our brief encounter on ANZAC DAY, I am taking this opportunity to drop you a few lines as suggested by yourself re the point I raised with you and with Miss. Annette King MP about our country's role in both world wars and why no comment is ever made during speeches about our contribution to the Anzacs.

In the First World War though Malta did not take an active part our country earned for itself the Title Of The Nurse in The Mediterranean as it cared for many soldiers injured at Gallipoli in its hospitals.

During The Second World War Malta as a colony of England and because of its geographical position midway between Europe to the north and Africa to the south our country took a very active part and gained for itself several Titles like the unsinkable aircraft carrier by Winston Churchill and also honoured by KING GEORGE VI with the George Cross for the whole nation which to this day is part of our national flag.

Our efforts continue to this day in a peacekeeping role the same as New Zealand in the troubled spots close by and afar.

On our soils we have buried several hundred ANZACS of both WORLD WARS who we honour annually on this day and also on Armistice Day and we will feel humbly honoured if some merit is also given to our small nation MALTA.

Thanking you in advance we send our fondest regards.

YOUR'S SINCERELY
MR. ANTHONY MICALLEF
 

2nd May 2000

Dear Mr. Micallef

Please refer to your letter of April 9th 2000, addressed to the Prime Minister of New Zealand and copied to the Hon. Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dr. Joe Borg.

While acknowledging your letter, may I take this opportunity to assure you that the Government of Malta is fully committed to strengthening its relations with New Zealand and in taking due consideration and action on initiatives which will be of benefit to the two countries and their peoples.

In this respect, I would welcome clarifications and possible further elaboration on the type of bilateral co-operation referred to in your letter of April 9th with a view to discussing the relevant themes with the pertinent authorities in Valletta for follow-up.

Yours Truly,
  
Cecilia Attard-Pirotta
Director, Bilateral Relations
   

2nd June 2000

Dear Cecilia Attard Pirotta,

I thank you very much for replying to a copy of a letter sent to The Right Honourable Prime Minister of New Zealand Miss Helen Clarke a copy of which was also sent to the Hon. Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dr Joe Borg.

It gives me great pleasure to hear of your assurances that the Government of Malta is fully committed to strengthening its relations with New Zealand , as it does all other Maltese and their descendants residing here. From what I can gather the Government in New Zealand believes the same.

As requested by yourself I am going to try and elaborate and clarify what I think should be taken due consideration and action on initiatives which will be of benefit to the two countries and its people, this without knowing what is in similar agreements which Malta has with other countries.

1: Social Welfare -- Benefit entitlement if citizens are visiting for extended periods of time. A pension Portability Scheme

2: Telecommunications -- An agreement for mainly cheaper telephone calls between the 2 countries open for regular specials cost wise.

3: An Import/Export agreement for less duty to be paid on products from the two countries. Exchange of products and services.

4: Education and Culture : Increased exchange of students between the two countries which is already in place, also a start in the exchange of cultural groups from the two countries which will benefit the two nations. Health access to visitors from either countries.

A study of investment opportunities in either country. Reciprocal visits of industrialists and investors. More media coverage in either country about each other and what is available in either country.

More reciprocal visits by The Government and political authorities of either country.

Finally I believe that a higher/improved Diplomatic Relation is required.

Hoping that this is considered in due course and that the Maltese Associations and Societies are kept well informed I thank you very much.

Yours Truly

Anthony Micallef 
President : Maltese Association of Wellington Inc.
     

16th June 2000

Dear Cecilia Attard-Pirotta,

I have posted you in the normal mail a letter on the 2nd of June regarding what we think is needed to start of in an agreement between Malta and New Zealand,! hope that you have received that by now.

Since then we received the Business Link from Canberra and noticed that a delegation of business men and companies are visiting Australia and we truly feel that an effort should be made for them to include the major cities here in New Zealand as well. It is really short-sighted we think that these opportunities are not well taken when they present themselves.

There is enough time until the third week of July for the itenary of this delegation to change like we suggest and for these businesses in Malta to measure interest and maybe future possibilities from here. This is another valid reason for us to ask for improved representation between the 2 countries as we feel that the Honory Consul here and The High Commission in Canberra continually oversee our existence.

Kindly let us start something beneficial to all in Malta and New Zealand as soon as is practical. Please conform receipt of mail. Thank you very much.

Yours Truly
   
Anthony Micallef 
President : Maltese Association of Wellington Inc.
     

20th June 2000

Dear Sir/Madam,

With pleasure I read this week that your ministry is aiming to help small ethnic community groups here in New Zealand. Ours is in such a category and I am honoured to be the President of the Wellington community.

We are working as hard as we can to get both countries that is Malta and New Zealand to sign an agreement between them and to improve diplomatic representation, as you can see from copies we have received and send to both Ministers of Foreign Affairs.

Our vehicle in our small community is a newsletter of which we are also sending a copy which we have been printing and sending every 6 to 8 weeks with great difficulty because we neither have the means nor the finances for such an exercise.

We hereby ask for your help, support and assistance in setting up and maintaining an office so that our activities will be maintained and continued to achieve what we have been aiming for. We believe that any assistance we get will serve as an investment in the future for New Zealand if closer ties are begot with our small island nation which sits in the middle of the Mediterranean.

There are facilities and opportunities which will definitely proof beneficial for both countries and their population.

Awaiting to hear from you and hoping that you will act favourably in our behalf we send you our regards and thanks.
   
Yours Truly

Anthony Micallef 
President : Maltese Association of Wellington Inc.
     

20th June 2000

21st June 2000

Dear Mario Azzopardi,

I like very much to show my gratitude in the assistance you gave my wife whilst in Malta in donating the books for the Maltese Association of Wellington Inc. The members and their children will find them very useful and appreciate very much your kind gesture.

I will definitely write to The Times of Malta shortly expressing our gratitude and rest assured that I will mention this extremely kind gesture from yourself and the Ministry of Education in Malta.

Maybe from now on the sad feeling we had of us being The Forgotten Maltese will not hold good anymore. Again thanking you I send my regards.

Yours Truly 
Anthony Micallef (President: Maltese Association of Wellington Inc.
                                 Founder : Friends of Malta society New Zealand.
                                 Editor : The Maltese Wellingtonian.)

PS : Please check our website at www.allmalta.com/wellington/index.html