Love Letter From New Zealand To Malta

Written by Anthony Micallef
President : Maltese Association of Wellington Inc.
Founder   : Friends of Malta New Zealand. 
Editor      : Maltese Wellingtonian

All I do is A Labour of Love for my home country.( MALTA)   Since leaving my country  20 years ago I have felt in me that I am more Maltese then ever. I have an ever increasing goal to give all I can in the way of introducing and promoting the one and only George Cross Country in the world, its culture, language and heritage to a people who know very little about Malta. I am a proud Maltese and  even more so to come from Birkirkara.   

We left Malta  like migrants before us  looking for a better future where to bring up our young family but we shall never forget our upbringing and the sagrifice our parents struggled for in their efforts to give us a memorable and comfortable childhood. This is I believe what keeps us wanting to belong and recognised as Kiwi Maltese. History speaks for itself and nothing can take the importance of a country no matter how small it is.  

In the last 10 years my voluntary work amongst other Maltese and their descendants in New Zealand has been full of successfull results which is a benefit to both Maltese New Zealanders and to Malta as a country. We managed to obtain a Bilateral Agreement between the two countries, we have made our mark in the New Zealand Parliament by donating a Maltese Ribbon  handmade of Maltese Lace permanently sitting on the Ethnic Rock alongside others from other communities. One of our members also won a scholarship to Malta to help with the organisation of CHOGM when this was held in Malta, last year.  

We represent Malta annually at Eurofest and also at The Upper Hutt International Festival in our contiual effort to promote our beautiful country. We also attend Carol singing at Xmas time at the Botanic Gardens in Wellington where we sing popular Maltese  carols alongside other European countries represented in New Zealand. We also enjoy hosting Maltese dignitaries when they visit this country and of course other Maltese Migrant groups who usually tour New Zealand. In one phrase we are truly Maltese and Proud. I am also  very happy to be the proud owner of a personalised number plate on my vehicle which you guessed it , It says MALTA 1 which means Malta First a constant advertisement for our home country. There are others within our community in New Zealand with similar number plates all giving a free add when they are on the road. These include MALTA and 4 MALTA both in Christchurch and 1Malta in Taupo.

In addition to all this in our efforts to introduce New Zealand to other prospective Maltese migrants we assist in any way possible anyone who requests our help.

The number of First Generation Maltese in New Zealand is now about 400 with two thirds of them able to read, write and speak Maltese.