N Z A S      

                    NZAS is representative of 'The New Zealand American Society'. It is a Non profit organization established officially as such since 1988. It is a carry over from a society of Ex-New Zealand Patriots and friends call 'The Kia Ora Club'. They were organized on the Brigham Young University campus in the early 1950's by NZers attending BYU and returning Mormon missionaries who had served, for the LDS Church (Mormon) for two-three years, in the South Pacific Isles of Aotearoa (Native maori name for New Zealand). These missionaries wanted to keep the language and culture that they had learned while in NZ active and alive. They had regular gatherings and performed the Maori Culture when occasions presented themselves and like wise continued to speak the reo (Language) to each other so they wouldn't forget. The name was change to the New Zealand American Society so as to make it easier to locate on government, telephone, etc. listings and to indicate, as the name denotes, the general membership of the organization. Regardless of your race, creed, color, culture or origins, etc, everyone is invited to join in and participate with us. The only obligation for membership is a $1(US) annual registration fee, that entitles you to become a voting member and receive periodic newsletters throughout the year. Because we are a not-for-profit organization we do accept donations of any amounts & forms, e.g. funds, stocks, lands, real estate, materials, time etc. Much of the gatherings are for the sole purpose of having good, wholesome, enjoyable Kiwi fun that you can have with the entire family. Food & music, in most case, is an important part of these get-togethers, intermingled with camaraderie and of cause culture, language, love and friendship. The society is intended to be a nation wide (US) organization with branches in different locations of the country. e.g. California, Las Vegas, Northwest etc, etc. Each area will need to organize and register their groups with their local area authorities. Our Cultural Performing group here in Salt Lake City is named  'KO NGATI HIONA' (or Children or Tribe of ZION). We perform professionally throughout UTAH and other parts of USA with exciting crowd pleasing performances. We also sponsor a catering service where the food is prepared in the traditional methods of our ancestors called a hangi (Luau or Umu). This is where the food is seasoned to perfection and cooked in an earthen oven to produce delicious & tantalizing flavored meats and vegetables, perfected over the centuries to totally satisfy one's tastes buds & Pellet. The NZAMBF or The New Zealand America Marae Building Fund, was recently changed to and Federally and State registered as a 501-C3 organization now recognized as 'KIA NGAWARI MARAE, Inc' address: PO BOX 313 LEHI UT 84034-9998.  It's committees' main purpose is to organize lands, materials, equipments, funds, etc, etc, for the construction of a facility & grounds called a Marae. Its purpose of which is the cultivating the Maori culture, Maori Language, genealogies and histories of the people from New Zealand and from all over. This facility will serve also as a museum and gathering place where we can host visitors (especially from NZ, but not limited too), a place for cultural exchange and educational hands-on field trips, a place where our youth can mingle for social gatherings, weddings, reunions and birthdays etc. and, in doing so, learn more of their Cultural Heritage and finally, this will be a place where we can memorialize those who have gone before us and pay them tribute, hold our funerals (Tangi) and store and display treasures & gifts (Taonga) they have left us. This later project is currently in its infancy. 

Phew! Well that's who we are, and now, we would love to know who you are, please visit our - NZAS GUEST BOOK

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