New Zealand’s largest theatre, the Civic, was the site of the “Everlasting Good News” assembly in Auckland in 1963. But even it was not large enough, so the 2,000-seat Auckland Town Hall was also used to accommodate the crowds. The peak attendance of 6,005 included 191 visitors from 16 countries. Fred W. Franz, then vice-president of the Watch Tower Society, was among the delegates who were traveling around the world attending this series of “Everlasting Good News” gatherings.

On his arrival Brother Franz was welcomed in traditional Maori style on the sidewalk in front of the Civic Theatre. Passersby were immediately drawn by the singing Maori dancers in attractive native attire. It was difficult to say who enjoyed the unusual welcome the most, the enthusiastic onlookers, or Brother Franz and the Maori sisters who greeted him with a handshake and a nose rub.

This assembly was truly a landmark in the history of New Zealand. Unprecedented radio and television coverage was received, the highlight being a 95-second film of the baptism. A fine witness was given, by both the preaching of assembly delegates and their conduct. “You are the best organized and by far the best behaved people I have seen,” the manager of the Civic Theatre said.

“PEACE ON EARTH” ASSEMBLY

In November 1969 picturesque Alexandra Park, Auckland’s Trotting Club Raceway, was transformed into a beautiful assembly site by 1,500 volunteer workers. Over 5,000 potted flowers, 300 trees and shrubs and hundreds of square feet of “instant lawn” were used in decorating the platform. Green variegated geraniums against a background of red begonias spelled out “Haere-Mai” (Maori for “Welcome”). The occasion was the six-day “Peace on Earth” International Assembly, attended by both N. H. Knorr and F. W. Franz, as well as by scores of other delegates from foreign lands.

A special program, which included Maori singing and dancing, was arranged for the overseas delegates. One Maori brother told the enthusiastic audience that there were 193 of his fleshly relatives present at the assembly. This illustrated how well the Maoris were responding to the Kingdom message.

Some of the Auckland Trotting Club’s committee members beforehand had expressed doubts about allowing Jehovah’s Witnesses to use their facilities. But how they felt after the assembly was indicated by this letter received from the secretary:

“As your convention has now drawn to a close, may I take this opportunity to express my Committee’s appreciation to you and to all your delegates for the outstanding way in which your meetings at the Alexandra Park Raceway were conducted.

“May we also thank you and your workers for the wonderful cooperation you have shown, and the manner in which you have maintained the facilities during your stay.

“If you should ever wish to have another convention in this area, we hope that you will avail yourselves of the facilities at Alexandra Park.

“In conclusion may I express on behalf of myself and the Course Manager, our personal thanks to all concerned and advise that it certainly has been a pleasure to have you.”

Yes, raceway officials, hotel proprietors, traffic officers and businessmen were warm in their unsolicited praise of the cleanliness, friendliness and exemplary behavior of the Witnesses. One safety officer said that he had not seen anything to equal it in his 40 years’ experience. Some described it as the best organized convention ever held in New Zealand.

Again good publicity was received from the news media. The baptism of 421 new Witnesses was publicized nationwide. One convention speaker noted that one in 10 of all baptized, active Witnesses in New Zealand was immersed on November 7, 1969, during the assembly. For the public talk, “The Road Back to Peace in Paradise,” delivered by Brother Knorr, a fine crowd of 8,400 persons was present.

ADDITION TO BRANCH HEADQUARTERS

By 1973 a peak of over 6,000 Kingdom publishers had been reached, and the branch headquarters completed back in 1958 was overcrowded. So in July 1973 construction began on a large addition to the original structure. The December 1973 Kingdom Ministry reported:

“The last brick was laid on Sunday, November 18 . . . The entire project was virtually completed in 18 weeks to the day and preliminary figures indicate that 248 different brothers spent some 16,000 hours of work during that time. How grateful we are for their splendid support. Already we are feeling the benefits of the increased work space.”

MILESTONE ASSEMBLIES DURING 1970’S

The “Divine Victory” International Assembly in 1973 was the greatest theocratic event ever experienced in the South Island’s largest city, Christchurch. The 500 visitors from Australia and 350 from North America helped swell the attendance at Lancaster Park to a remarkable 11,640, more than 3,000 above the number attending the 1969 international assembly. Leo K. Greenlees of the Governing Body was the principal assembly speaker.

Five years later, in December 1978, the “Victorious Faith” International Assembly in Auckland’s Eden Park became the largest gathering of Jehovah’s Witnesses ever held in New Zealand. The peak attendance was 12,328.

[Picture on page 249]

Brother Franz receiving the traditional Maori greeting, a handshake and a nose rub, when visiting Auckland for the “Everlasting Good News” assembly