Mission President's Seminar.

We left Sydney on November 12th for Auckland, New Zealand. The Mission President's Seminar was held in Takapuna, a very nice, up-scale suburb of Auckland. We flew Air New Zealand. The flight is 3 hours and very nice. We happened to be on the same flight as President and Sister Quinn from Adelaide.
Upon arrival we were met by a corporate cab driver and taken to the hotel, the Spencer on Byron. Our room was on the 10th floor overlooking the bay and Rangitoto, a very large volcanic island.
Auckland skyline and harbor.
Auckland skyline.
Spencer on Byron hotel.
View from our room on the 10th floor of hotel.

That evening we had dinner at a Thai restaurant with old friends from Sydney. With the consolidation of the areas, the Clarks, Public Affairs, the Nallys, In field Representative, and the McLaughlins, Executive Secretary to the Area Presidency, were all transferred to New Zealand. Elder and Sister Bartholomew were spending the last two weeks of their mission at the Area Office in Takapuna training their successors who will now be stationed in New Zealand.
Dinner with good friends.

After dinner we went to the Clarks apartment for ice cream. They live in a very upscale place, far different from what we live in here in Sydney. In case you think I was obsessed with their apartment, you are right. I took a lot of pictures, but will only share a few of them with you. Just to describe their place, penthouse on top floor overlooking the beach, with swimming pool and beach access, next door to the Area Presidency's apartments. They have a kitchen with granite counter tops, dishwasher, garbage disposal, two bathrooms with two sinks in each, tub and shower in one; shower, bidet in the other one, a half bath with sink and toilet, a large bedroom with walk in closet; a spare bedroom with wall to wall closet and acts as an office and guest room; a large living-dining room.

Before eating ice cream we got the royal tour of their digs including the beach. This picture was taken on the beach access.
Clarks, Elizabeth, Bartholomews.

Clarks apartment, top floor, second from left.
Clarks kitchen. Living room in Clarks apartment. Kaye Nally, Elizabeth in Clarks' living room.
View from Clarks apartment of beach and Rangitoto, an inactive volcanic island.
Swimming pool at Clarks' apartment.

The Area Presidency lives in a group of apartments adjacent to the Clarks'.

Area Presidency Apartments.

Each morning I would get up and exercise on the beach. These are a couple of pictures I took one morning. Ranitoto is a very large volcanic island out in the bay and is very prominent from most vantage points.
Rangitoto at sunrise.
A walk on the beach.

The Seminar took place all day Thursday, Friday morning, and Saturday morning. On Friday afternoon we all went to the Auckland Museum. The following pictures were taken there and are of some of the dignitaries that attended the seminar. Elder Cook, Elder Jensen and Elder Baxter did not attend. They had meetings.
Auckland Museum.

Elder and Sister Hilbig
Elder Hilbig, Jay
Elder and Sister Callister.
Lon and Kaye Nally
Our favorite mission president and his wife. President and Sister Lee, from Adelaide, serving in the Melbourne West Mission.
Jay and Elizabeth at Auckland Museum.
Maori Masks in Auckland Museum.
Maori Dancers.
Maori carving at Museum.
Winter Gardens on grounds of Auckland Museum.
Beautiful flowers in the Winter Garden on the Auckland Museum grounds.

The Area Offices in New Zealand are very nice. The outside looks like an ordinary office building but the inside is very nice. The Auckland New Zealand Mission offices are on the first floor but rumor has it they will soon be moving into their own place near by.
Area Offices in New Zealand - Takapuna.
Administration Office name plate.