At our meeting on 29 May as speakers we had the pleasure of two notable Rotarians, Kick and Christine Hurley both members of the Rotary Club of Wellington who brought with them a wealth of knowledge about Rotary activity in the Pacific. Their background experience in the NZ Public and Diplomatic service provided a base for their Rotary achievements.(see Read More for Curriculum Vitae for Nick and Christine)
Nick spoke about his activity as a Rotarian as a diplomat in the Pacific and in retirement since 2014, Nick has continued to be involved with rotary projects in the Pacific and is Chairman of a Rotary District Committee concerned with the Pacific. Clubs are helped to identify where assistance is needed such as in water supply, education and health an example was the provision of a mobile health clinic.
Nick described how MFAT cooperated with Rotary such as for the distribution of emergency kits following Pacific Island disaster, also the distribution of books. Clubs can assist by raising funds $600 for the emergency kits.
Christine was also involved in overseas diplomatic postings initially including Tehran, Geneva and Brussels and later with Nick in Samoa and Rarotonga. Christine spoke to us about her work on the steering group of the Australasian Centenary Immunisation Program, 2018-2021. This project is to recognise 100 years of Rotary in Australasia and in cooperation with UNICEF is aiming to reach 100,000 disadvantaged babies and children during the next four years. The vaccinations are intended to prevent diseases including cervical cancer, severe diarrhoea, blood infections and meningitis. For donations and information about this project visit; www.everychildafuture.com
Christine passed out an information sheet about the immunisation project but this also includes an invitation for all Rotary clubs in Oceania to commemorate 100 years of Rotary in Australasia by providing stories about our Clubs. We are invited to contact email; mana-tangata-project@rotaryociania.zone
Phil Harland 31 May 2018
Nick Hurley and wife Christine with John Key in Cook Islands 2015
Nick Hurley: CURRICULUM VITAE
Nick Hurley has worked with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade since 1974, formally retiring in 2014 but continuing to carry out assignments for MFAT, most recently as Acting High Commissioner to Tonga from December to February this year. He has had extensive experience in the Pacific and Europe including more recently as New Zealand High Commissioner to the Cook Islands from 2015 to the end of 2016, High Commissioner to Samoa (2010-2013), Consul-General in Queensland (2008-2010) and High Commissioner to Solomon Islands (1999-2001).
Other postings have included Paris (as Deputy Ambassador and Permanent Representative to UNESCO), Fiji (as Deputy High Commissioner) and Rome.
His first posting was to the Cook Islands in the mid-to-late 1970s.
He has held a number of senior positions in MFAT in Wellington including APEC Senior Official, Director of the Economic Division and Deputy Director of the Development Cooperation Division.
While posted in the Pacific, Nick was a member of the Rotary Clubs of Rarotonga, Apia and Honiara. He is currently Chair of the International Committee of the Rotary Club of Wellington and Chair of District 9940 International Service Committee.
Nick is married to Christine, a Rotarian in her own right.
He has a MA (Hons) in French from Victoria University, Wellington.
Christine Hurley: CURRICULUM VITAE
Christine has had a working career that spans the public, private and not-for-profit sectors.
She was born and raised in Canterbury and has a Master of Arts in English literature from the University of Canterbury.
Christine first worked in marketing for Mount Cook Airlines, then joined the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ external aid division, with a particular focus on aid to the Pacific, and spent time in London in the Commonwealth Secretariat’s information service. After time out for children and accompanying her then husband on postings to Tehran, Geneva and Brussels, she became a senior advisor in the State Services Commission.
Christine next moved to the NGO sector as Chief Executive of the Wellington-based organisation, Interpreting New Zealand. She later went with new husband Nick to his posting as High Commissioner in Apia, where she took on the role of managing the Samoa Cancer Society. On return, she was appointed as national executive officer for Presbyterian Support New Zealand, followed by their most recent posting to Rarotonga.
Christine is a member of the Rotary Club of Wellington, where she is on the steering group of the Australasian Centenary immunisation project (which she will talk about later this evening). While overseas, she served on the boards of the Rotary Clubs of Apia and Rarotonga, and was involved in numerous local community projects.