Hi Everyone - The days are certainly lengthening. As I sit at my computer at 8pm it is still daylight outside, a time of year I know I always look forward to. Summer is here and the Christmas/New Year Festive Season is fast approaching.  For many of our member societies their end of year production is currently taking place.

When the curtain falls no doubt those involved will put away their talents for a period and pursue the perhaps less energetic, outdoor pleasures that summer has on offer here in New Zealand whilst others will be focusing on a short respite before heading back to the rehearsal rooms in January to ready themselves for the March/April productions. Once again I have had the privilege of attending a number of member society shows around the country in recent months and I can sincerely say that I have come way from each and every one of them feeling thoroughly entertained and with a sense of pride in what the respective societies achieved.

The number of ‘younger’ people involved in these productions was something I took note of and it is pleasing to know that musical theatre can still attract some of our young talented people when there are so many other activities competing for their ‘spare time’

 Thank you on behalf of the MTNZ Executive to all those societies who continue to host us when we attend your productions. We are extremely grateful for your generosity and wonderful hospitality. I would also like to thank our major sponsors John Herber and NZ Fire Shield (Diane, Graeme, Deane, Mark and Amanda) for their ongoing support of MTNZ.  This is an invaluable sponsorship arrangement for MTNZ.

It has been an exciting year for MTNZ as we celebrated our 50^th Anniversary and looked back on the last 50 years of our organisation, and we now, in 2011, look forward in our 51^st year with re-branding our logo and launching a new website at our 51^st AGM in Nelson in March.

With the recent events at Pike River mine resulting in such a huge loss to the West Coast community and NZ, the MTNZ Executive past and present, extend their love, sympathy and support to the members and families of Greymouth Operatic Society and Hokitika Dramatic Society, and of course our Canterbury members have also had to face many challenges after the 4 September earthquake.

Wishing you all a very Merry Christmas and a happy and prosperous New Year and sincerely hope that you can spend time with those you love and care for at this special time of year

Ian Reid – President MTNZ