the perfect weather conditions for a picnic

And again we had a spring picnic in Wilton Otari Bush. Last year the weather was perfect but yesterday it was maybe even better. Imgaine how summer will be!!
We welcomed four new families of which one arrived 5 days ago and we are already looking forward to the next meet up because we know that there are new migrant arriving within the next couple of weeks.
December will be busy with all kind of Christmas functions so probably at the end of January will be the next meet up.

Cheers

Hilly and Marco

Weather forecast looks perfect

Hello all

The picnic will be held tomorrow because the weather forecast looks perfect.
19 degreees and sun, what else do you want.

See you tomorrow.

Hilly and Marco

Picnic Time ! 29 November Otari's Wilton Bush

Hi All !!

During our last meeting at Speight's Ale House we already discussed the next event. As some of you may remember last spring we had a picnic in Otari's Wilton Bush and we had a great time and how lovely the weather was !! We think it is time for an outdoor event again and although it is not summer yet we know the weather can be really nice this time of year so we give it a try !

The picnic will be held on 29 November from noon onwards (weather permitting) in the Troup Picnic Area of Otari's Wilton Bush, a great place to meet, play or have a walk. On Saturday morning 29 November a note will be put on the weblog so you can check if the picnic will go ahead. If the weather is really bad we will postpone the event till the next Saturday.

Come and join us !! and bring your snacks, finger food, drinks and other goodies with you and as always this is a perfect opportunity to meet other migrants and share ideas or information.

Hope to seeing you all !

Marco and Hilly

28 September and pictures

Thanks for coming along at our meet up in the Speights Ale House and it was great to welcome a couple of new faces on this beautiful spring day. Because the Botanical Gardens celebrated the yearly Tulip Day it was a bit busy on Tinakori Road, but still a lot of you could make it. The meet up was a less Soccer Meet Up as planned and in the end only four went to the stadium. We do hope they enjoyed the match and as the Wellington Phoenix won with 2-1 it must have been a great atmosphere.
Unfortunately, our specials guest, the journalist of Radio New Zealand could not make it at the last moment but he already mentioned that he want to come along for our next meet up.

Anyway as we said, it was a great meet up again! Hope to seeing you all at the next event !Cheers,

Hilly & Marco

additional information 28 September meet up

Hi All

We have been approached by Tim Graham, a journalist/reporter of Radio New Zealand News. While Tim was surfing the web he came across Welly Rocks and its activities and became interested in this social network group.
On Friday 12 September Hilly and Marco had a meeting with Tim and discussed what he wants to do. As a result of our very pleasant meeting we have invited him to attend our next meet up on Sunday 28 September in the Speights bar, which is on the same day the Wellington Phoenix play against Sydney FC. For those who are interested in watching the game in the stadium, a perfect place to gather. Tim would like to interview some of the Welly Rocks members. In general the questions will involve your immigration to NZ and Wellington in particular and the Welly Rocks meet ups. The interviews won't take long and will be broadcasted on National Radio in the program's " Morning Report" from 6am-9am or " Check Point" from 5pm-7pm. This will confirmed by Tim at a later stage.
For Welly Rocks this is a recognition of bringing (new) migrants together and a wonderful opportunity to promote the social meet ups. So we would like to remind you on the next meet up on Sunday 28 September at 2.30 pm in Speight's Ale House in Thorndon, everybody welcome, even when you're not a football fan !

Soccer Meet Up Sunday 28 September

Hi All,

As you may know, Wellington has is own Soccer Club called ' Wellington Phoenix'. One of the upcoming big matches is on Sunday 28 September when the Wellington Phoenix will play Sydney FC in the A-league competition game in the Westpac Stadium in Wellington. Welly Rocks will organise a meet up around this event. For those who are not familiar with soccer, there will be other Welly Rocks members who can explain the rules.

The location for this meeting is The Speight's Ale House on Tinakori Road in Thorndon, Wellington from 2.30 pm onwards. For those who want to go to the stadium to watch the game you can head to the stadium around 4 pm having enough time to buy tickets and watch the game. For those who are not interested in watching the game, you can stay and continue your conversation with a glass of wine, beer or cup of tea/coffee.

If you are keen to join us, please drop us an email on info@wellyrocks.com

The social event will be around soccer but will also give recently arrived migrants to meet other 'new Wellingtonians' who are a bit longer in the city.

There will also be a special guest and we are looking forward to seeing you all.

Cheers,

Marco & Hilly

Pictures from the mid winter meet up in the Hummingbird

Hello all

This beautiful winter day the sun didn't only shine (finally) outside but also inside the Hummingbird. We thought the atmosphere was great and it was nice to see everybody chatting and enjoying themselves! It was good to see so many familiar faces and also welcoming new ones ! We received very positive feedback about the location "the Hummingbird" from several attendants so we will keep this in mind. If anybody has a suggestion about a location you think it's worth trying for a meet up, we are more than happy to know, so please drop us an email.

Hope to seeing you all at the next event !

Cheers,

Marco and Hilly

Midwinter Meet Up Sunday 3 august

Dear All,

Winter has arrived and it would be nice to have a Midwinter meet up on Sunday 3 August in the heart of Wellington CBD. We will meet up at 2.30pm in the Hummingbird which is number 22 Courtenay Place.

http://www.wotzon.com/profilepage.html?comp_id=1002129&CatID=2

This is a nice winter location and everyone will enjoy the warm atmosphere in there. It has a reputation as a Jazz lounge but that is normally a lot later in the evening so those who choose to stay can take the odd photograph if they want.

It is also New Zealand Film festival and a perfect opportunity to make it a special day out in Wellington (www.nzff.co.nz).

A reply at info@wellyrocks.com would be much appreciated if you would like to join us.

Bring your friends, colleagues and neighbours and looking forward to seeing you all at the Hummingbird.

Marco and Hilly

Pictures from All Blacks - Ireland game

On Saturday 7 June 2008 we had a meet up in The Speight’s Ale House which started at 3.30 pm with a presentation from a former rugby player. The presentation was around the All Blacks but also around the basic rules of rugby. We saw a special videoclip of the Haka and at the end of the presentation everyone learned something around rugby they did not know before. Later that evening we watched the game and understood a bit more of the tactics which was the aim of this presentation for most of the people who attended this meet up. The atmosphere in the pub was really good and besides enjoying the game there was enough time to chat with each other and share information. Till next time and a few pictures for those who couldn’t make it due to other commitments.

Hilly and Marco

Rugby Meet Up 7 June

Hello (new)migrants to the Wellington area.

As you probably know, rugby is the number 1 sport in New Zealand. One of the upcoming big matches will be played on Saturday 7 June when the All Blacks will play Ireland in the Westpac Stadium in Wellington.

Welly Rocks has organised a meet up for everyone who is interested in rugby or who wants to watch the game with people who are rugby fans or not so familiar with rugby.

Marco has been in contact with a New Zealander, an all time rugby player who is keen to come to our meet up before the game to give us his views on the game as well as telling a bit about the background of rugby in New Zealand.

The location of this meeting is The Speight’s Ale House on Tinakori Road in Thorndon Wellington where we gather at 3 pm. After his story, people have time enough to go the stadium if they have got tickets and for those who don’t have tickets we can stay and watch the game in The Speight’s Ale House.
Because it will be busy in most of the bars the owner of the bar would like to know how many people will turn up and if there are people who want to have dinner or something else to eat after the presentation. So please drop us an email on info@wellyrocks.com or reply in this thread.

You can check the menu on www.shepherds.co.nz

It is a great opportunity for everyone to catch up or meet recent arrived migrants in Wellington.

Looking forward to meet you.

Hilly and Marco

Meet Up - Friday 2 May at 5pm

Hi All,

On Friday 2 May from 5pm onwards we will have a Welly Rocks meet up in the Jimmy's Cafe( the St James Theatre, Courtenay Place). Wouldn't it be nice to have a drink and a snack together at the start of the weekend !!
Feel free to bring family, friends, neighbours and colleagues so they can meet other migrants, especially when they are new to the city!

Looking forward to see you all,

Marco and Hilly

A very nice and sunny picnic

Hello all

It was a lovely and sunny afternoon in the Botanical Gardens, last Saturday.

We welcomed a few new people in Wellington and they enjoyed the lovely weather as much as the Welly Rocks members who are a bit longer in the greater Wellington area. Different issues were discussed and before we knew it was time to say goodbye.

Hope to see you all at the next event!

Cheers

Marco and Hilly

Quiz Night 11 March

Hi All,

Sheila Messer is organizing a Quiz Night

Date And Time:
Tuesday, March 11
Quiz night starts at 7:30PM but come at 6:30-7PM to
order dinner, drinks or just visit before the event
starts.

Place:
Bristol
131 - 133 Cuba St
More info at:
http://www.hotelbristol.co.nz/new_quiz.php

Cost:
It’s free except for your drinks & food and we might
win a $100 bar tab.

RSVP:
Please let me know if you can come as I should let the
Bristol know if we have a large number of people going
Max team size is 8 though so if we have lots of ppl we
can make multiple teams.
My email is sheila_messer@yahoo.com

Thanks!

Sheila Messer

Picnic - Saturday 15 March at 12.30 pm

Hi all,

This great summer inspired us to organise for the next Welly Rocks meeting another picnic. This time in the Botanical Gardens at the Children`s Play Area on Saturday 15 March from 12.30 pm onwards. This is also a nice opportunity for mums&dads and kids to join in ! Depending on the weather conditions please check the website in the morning on March the 15th if the picnic will go on. When the weather is too bad for a picnic we will meet the same day (15March) also from 12.30 pm in the Speights Ale house "The Shepherd`s Arms" in Thorndon: http://www.shepherds.co.nz/

Map of the Botancial Gardens http://www.wellington.govt.nz/services/gardens/botanicgardens/pdfs/botanicmap.pdf

Let`s hope the sun will shine!

Looking forward to see you all!

Cheers,

Marco and Hilly

Anita's farewell

On a beautiful Sunday afternoon we had the first Welly Rocks meeting of 2008. Around 30 people turned up and it was great to meet a couple of new faces. Today was the last time Anita was around as she is heading off to Blenheim for a two year wine course. That's why Hilly Lutter and Marco van Hofwegen, who are going to to look after Welly Rocks, had not organised anything special but the sun. Blenheim had the most sun hours in 2007, but Wellington is doing very well in 2008 and hopefully the next meeting will be as beautiful as today.

Go Wellington!!!!!

Hilly & Marco

Reminder - Sunday 3 February 2008

Hi all,

It is great that Marco planned a meet up on Sunday 3 February from 12:30pm, since I am back in town and eager to meet you again and especially to welcome newcomers to the city.

Hopefully the summer will hold on for a little while, so we can enjoy the sun on the terrace of Mac's Brewery. For me it will be the last Welly Rocks for a while since I will be living outside Wellington, but luckily I found two volunteers to keep Wellington Rocking for us immigrants: Hilly Lutter and Marco van Hofwegen, who can be contacted via this website or on info@wellyrocks.com

See you next Sunday!

Anita

first Welly Rocks of 2008

Hello all

On Sunday 3 February from 12.30 pm onwards we will have the first Welly Rocks meet up of 2008.
This time it will be in Mac's Brewery, so close to Te Papa for those who want to visit the museum as well. It is a great opportunity to meet each other and welcome migrants who recently arrived in Wellington.

Feel free to bring family or friends so they can meet other migrants and have a nice Sunday afternoon.

Marco van Hofwegen(partner of Anita)