• Conferences
• About PPSEAWA
• News
• Peace Ambassador
• International Bulletin
  • April 2006
  • March 2005
  • January 2004
  • August 2002
  • December 2001
  • May 2001
  • April 2000
  • August 1999
    • President's Message
    • Singapore Hosts Second Part of the Workshop, "Children, The Family and Health"
    • Vietnam in Transition: The Canaries of Saigon
    • Australia Report
    • New Zealand Report
    • Water: Preserving Marine Heritage in Samoa
    • Global warming threatens coral reefs; Island Nations
    • USA Report
    • Gearing up for the "granny boom"
    • It's never too late to surf
    • The longevity revolution - Implications of an aging world
    • Eternal students
    • Helping the elderly help themselves
    • Cleaning up the Net: Child Pornography
    • Kick the Habit
    • Conference Adopts Plan On Limiting Population
    • H₂O, a formula for good health
    • Women's health and bioethics
    • International Year For The Culture Of Peace, 2000
    • A time for hope
    • Manifesto 2000 - For a Culture of Peace and Non-Violence
    • An international code of conduct
  • December 1998
  • July 1998
  • Fall 1997
  • Spring 1997
• Reports
• Member Countries
• Related Sites

International Bulletin - August 1999

New Zealand Report

PPSEAWA NZ National Conference 1999 Panel - Valuing Older People Left - Margaret Sweet, Chair, with participants from China, Egypt, Taiwan, and Korea PPSEAWA NZ National Conference 1999 National Officers (l. to r.) Carol Woodbury, Secretary; Freda Bleasdale, President; Itie Libbe, Treasurer

PPSEAWA New Zealand recently held its 1999 National Conference in Christchurch, the Garden City of New Zealand. Delegates were warmly welcomed by Councillor Carole Anderton, representing the mayor of Christchurch, and she extended best wishes for a successful Conference. She expressed the wish that delegates from other parts of the country would have time to see something of the City and also the Festival of Flowers.

After the singing of the National Anthem the Rev. Valerie Hogan, a member of PPSEAWA International read the Opening Prayer. This was followed by Greetings from the four members of Parliament present and representatives of our Corporate Bodies.

As 1999 is the International Year of the Older Person our Keynote Speaker was the Hon. David Carter, minister of Senior Citizens, who gave an interesting Address. He spoke of valuing the contribution of older people and a society for all ages and mentioned many events to be held on the Theme throughout the year. We also had a Panel of Women from Different Cultures on VALUING OLDER PEOPLE. The Panelists who now live in New Zealand were from Korea, China, Taiwan, and Egypt. Margaret Sweet, who chaired the Panel, asked the young women about the attitude to older people in their countries. This proved to be extremely interesting and we learned that in these countries there is great respect for older people.

Apologies and Good Wishes were received from Lady Hardie-Boys, Patron of PPSEAWA New Zealand; PPSEAWA International President Dr. Betty-Lou Girardi; Dame Catherine Tizard GCmG, GCVO, DBE, QSO; Mayor of Christchurch, Garry Moore, and members of Parliament; Alison Roxburgh, Vice-President of International Council of Women.

A moment of silence was observed in memory of Eunice Nieukerke O.B.E. who died last year and was National President 1968-1972 and was at the same time PPSEAWA International President.

Reports were given by National President Freda Bleasdale and National Treasurer Itie Tibbe. The National President also reported on the 1998 Conference of National Council of Women and congratulated our Christchurch member Christine Low on being elected to the NCW National Board. The President also reported on the AGM of the United Nations Association of NZ where PPSEAWA was elected to the National Executive. The PPSEAWA representative Anne Town reported on the New Horizons for Women Trust (second chance education for women).

There were also Reports on our various Trusts and Funds and several donations were approved. It was decided to pay three Registrations of $300 each for three Pacific Island ladies to attend the South West Pacific Dietetic Conference in Auckland this year. Interest from our "Friends of the Pacific Education Fund" was donated for School Equipment for Bougainville College. We are also continuing our support of our Save the Children Fund girl in Fiji, and donations to the wives of four students from the Solomon Islands at the Theological College in Auckland. We also made a donation of $300 to Dr. Jama from Ethopia, who has been in New Zealand for three years, towards a Special Course for Re-classification to practise in New Zealand. Our Special Conference Collection was donated to the lady who is doing a Study on PPSEAWA.

All Area Groups celebrated the 70th Birthday of the founding of PPSEAWA in Hawaii in 1928 with Luncheons, Dinners and Concerts. Christchurch also marked the occasion by bestowing Life membership of Christchurch Area Group on four long-serving members. These included Beryl Evans a past member of PPSEAWA International.

PPSEAWA New Zealand continues its loyalty to the Association and members are looking forward to the next International Conference in the Cook Islands in the Year 2000.

A very successful Conference concluded with the Conference Dinner and some wonderful entertainment.

Other PPSEAWA New Zealand news:

Patricia Morrison QSM, a very loyal PPSEAWA member in Christchurch and a tireless worker for the United Nations Association, the Y.W.C.A. and other Organisations has received a very special Honour. In the 50th Anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (10 December 1998) she was chosen as the YWCA AOTEAROA - NEW ZEALAND HUMAN RIGHTS HERO, and was recently presented with the Award by the mayor of Christchurch at a large Function in the city. Patricia, a distinguished student during her university days and within the NZ International Student Service, moved to Geneva to work with post World War II displaced European students for their repatriation or overseas settlement. So began an international and empowering involvement as a worker in development with the displaced, dispossessed and disadvantaged. For 10 years she worked as Secretary for Co-operation and Development with YWCAs, especially in Africa, Asia, the Carribean and Latin America.

Wellington PPSEAWA

Members of the Wellington Area Group prepared and served Luncheon at the United Nations Association of New Zealand ASIA PACIFIC REGIONAL MODEL UNITED NATIONS GENERAL ASSEMBLY when 140 Senior School Students from New Zealand, Australia, the Pacific Islands and Asia gathered in Wellington from 8-10 December 1998 to explore International Issues in a simulation of the United Nations General Assembly. This proved to be a very successful venture.

Last Modified: June 05, 2010