Today, as Aotearoa New Zealand marks Matariki, Lodge Tawhiri No. 166 extends warm greetings to our members, families, friends and wider community.
Matariki is a time of remembrance, gratitude and looking ahead. It invites us to pause in the middle of winter and think carefully about the year that has passed, the people who have shaped us, and the responsibilities we carry into the year before us.
For many, Matariki is a time to remember loved ones who are no longer with us. That act of remembrance sits naturally with the values of Freemasonry. In lodge life, we are often reminded that we do not stand alone. We inherit the work, friendship and example of those who came before us. Their efforts helped build the lodges, communities and traditions that we now have the privilege of caring for.
At Lodge Tawhiri, that sense of continuity matters. Our lodge has been part of Freemasonry in Hamilton since 1909. Across that time, generations of men have gathered in fellowship, supported one another, contributed to charitable work, and tried in their own way to live with integrity and service.
Today, we pause with gratitude.
We remember those who have gone before us.
We give thanks for the fellowship we share now.
We look ahead with hope, humility and purpose.
Mānawatia a Matariki.