ASANZ Conventioners meet with NZ and Indonesian politicians

From June 27 to July 2, tertiary students and supporters from New Zealand, Australia and America gathered in Wellington to attend the Adventist Students Association New Zealand (ASANZ) 2006 Convention.

Held at the El-Rancho Waikanae Christian Convention Centre, the theme was “Called to serve!” and featured international speakers Pastor Ron Clouzet from Southern Adventist University, Tennessee, Pastor Dan Augsburger from Michigan, and Pastor Bien Tejano, the incumbent Philippines Ambassador to New Zealand.

These speakers presented on a variety of topics that included “The Holy Spirit and the call to service,” “Evangelism,” “Surrendering to Christ,” “The privilege of prayer” and “Relationship issues” relevant to Adventist young people.

Pastor Mau Tuaoi, the New Zealand Pacific Union Conference youth director, Pastor Nick Kross, from the South Pacific Division Youth Department, and Pastor Bob Larsen, the regional church pastor, were all present for the opening night, with Pastor Kross remaining for the entire convention.

Students attending took part in daily outreach activities, which included tree-planting along the Kapiti coastline as part of the Nga Uruora project and distributing copies of Steps to Christ and Sanitarium Up & Go drinks in central Wellington in exchange for participation in a brief religious survey.

More than 120 copies of Steps to Christ were given out to the general public by a handful of students in two hours, while 160 new trees were planted at the same time.

A visit to the Indonesian Embassy in Wellington was arranged in order for canned food items and used clothing collected by the ASANZ students to be formally presented as a contribution to the victims of the Yogyakarta earthquake in Indonesia, which occurred in the early hours of May 26.

As the Indonesian Ambassador to New Zealand had yet to be appointed, the ASANZ group was officially received by the Chargé d’Affairs Minister Counsellor Mrs Marlina S Tahrir, who graciously accepted the expression of sympathy and extended gratitude on behalf of the Indonesian people and her government.

An opportunity was given to the student body to respond accordingly whereby the vision and mission of ASANZ was explained by the ASANZ president, Dianne Sika-Paotonu, and the role of the Adventist Development and Relief Agency in Indonesia emphasised to the embassy officials who were present. Following the presentation, the group was given books and DVDs about Indonesia.

One of the highlights at the convention was the official tour of Parliament buildings, where the group was also permitted to enter the debating chamber during question time and observe Cabinet ministers debating the current tertiary issues in New Zealand.

While at Parliament the ASANZ group met with Hon Chris Carter, Minister of Conservation and Ethnic Affairs—a result of involvement with the tree-planting project. During this meeting an opportunity was given to share with the minister and his officials the vision and mission of ASANZ students as Adventist young people, emphasising the community aspect of ASANZ’s outreach efforts.—Dianne Sika-Paotonu/RECORD staff