New Zealand
Because
of the the enthusiasm and the loyalty of members in days long gone Orangeism spread
around the world and it was started in Auckland, New Zealand, via a few Brethren
who arrived in 1840. Two years later Bro, James Carlton Hill a native of Co Wicklow
and District Master of Newtonmountkelly arrived in Auckland and brought with him
a District Warrant NO 1707 issued on September 13th 1828 to Bro John Both for
the purpose of planting the old Orange Tree in the sunny south. It bore
the signatures of Ernest, Duke of Cumberland, Rt Wor Grand Master and other Officers
of the Grand Lodge of Ireland and bearing the seal of the Grand Lodge. The early
New Zealand Lodges had their ups and downs. At one stage an early Lodge met in
an old house loaned by the sexton of the Church of England which had no furniture
and a raupe roof. The warrant with the bible on top resting on a three-legged
iron pot. The fact that a lot of early members were soldiers on the 58th and 65th
Regiments and that the gold rushes in California and Victoria attracted a lot
of members meant that some lodges had difficulties at times. A resolution of the
Grand Lodge of Ireland in 1866 forwarded to the Orangemen in New Zealand authorised
them to constitute a Grand Lodge for the colony. The Grand Lodge of the North
Island of New Zealand was constituted on December 26, 1867. The Grand Lodge of
the Middle Island as constituted in 1870 Later in 1908 the two Grand Lodges
were closed and the Grand Orange Lodge of New Zealand was constitute. There are
many dates in the commemorative calendar which are in the common denominator for
the world family of Orangeism but each jurisdiction has some important dates within
their own calendar.
As in the past the enthusiasm and the loyalty of today's
members keeps the Institution going. During the last few years a creditable record
has been set with the lodges assisting many local charities and community projects
such as flood and cyclone disaster relief work, support for drug and alcohol abuse
and counseling, street kids center, medical research centre, bursary grants and
assisting members in distress. At each Grand Lodge Session a project for the ensuing
term is decided upon which is additional to lodge projects. During 1990 they celebrated
the 150th anniversary of the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi, the interpretation
of which in todays world needs delicate handling and a good deal of understanding
by all New Zealanders