Reiki Masters began arriving at Vaughan Park in the afternoon, and met for dinner at 7.00pm Following the meal, Barbara James Bartle led the group in a memorable Opening Ceremony. Beginning with a silent walk to the outdoor amphitheater, where the four elements were acknowledged and their energy brought into the circle, then moving back indoors, to sit in circle, for a meditation and candle lighting ceremony. This was followed by a beautiful meditation for world peace with Bobbe Free, who gave each of the Masters a small globe as a reminder to continue sending Reiki to those areas of the world where suffering and war were prevalent.

The day began well with either a movement and exercise class with Lynn Walker, or an early morning walk on the beach and through the park. The first session was a group discussion. The topic, "How do we preserve the richness of Reiki as an Art, while establishing standards for professional practice," is being discussed in Australia at present as part of their National Reiki Project.

• Encourage a wider use of the Teaching Guidelines that are already established in NZ through Reiki NZ Inc.
• Recognize the importance of the NZ Health Charter.
• It is important that Reiki NZ Inc continues to set its own standards to avoid unprofessional practice.
• Sound knowledge plus professional practice prevents harm.
• Important for teachers to know the requirements of the law.
• Education critical for all those using Reiki professionally.
• It is necessary for Teachers to understand that Charter Members attain professional recognition, support and protection.
• Follow-up support for students is desirable. Review with students a month after class work.
• Teach from a scientific and balanced perspective rather than too much emphasis on the spiritual aspect.
• Keep focussed on the traditional history
• Continuing education for Teachers
• Compose a mission statement

• Maintain a reverence for the healing
• Guidance for living using the Reiki Principles
• Self treatments important
• Remember that the richness of Reiki comes from the Heart Centre
• Reiki channels to maintain their integrity and to 'walk the talk'
• Hold Reiki exchanges
• Maintain a reverence for the healing
• Guidance for living using the Reiki Principles
• Self treatments important
• Remember that the richness of Reiki comes from the Heart Centre
• Reiki channels to maintain their integrity and to 'walk the talk'
• Hold Reiki exchanges

These findings will be sent to the Australian National Reiki Conference in Perth in 2003 to be added to their deliberations.

Yolande Johnson, a Physiotherapist, Aromatherapist, Reiki 111 practitioner, and International Bodysense Teacher, treated the gathering to an inspiring talk about the Bodywork programme she has set up, working in Mental Health, with refugees at the RAS Centre in Mangere. With a background in conventional medicine, combined with extensive experience in complimentary modalities and bodywork, Yolande, with her team of trained practitioners is running a very successful programme.

Working mainly with Reiki and Bodysense, an integrated hands-on bodywork, Yolande has found that she has been able to build trust and safety for the refugees under her care. All of these people are survivors of multiple traumas, and in a lot of cases, torture. Reiki, in particular, is invaluable in helping these people to build confidence in themselves, their new lives, and experiences. So many Refugees are carrying "A Broken Heart." Yolande has found that in using Reiki, "one heart talking to another," it is possible to start to mend that heartache. It is also extremely valuable in assisting the release of emotions, while strengthening the client, so that they are able to start making choices for themselves. At present there is a 60-100% success rate with client improvement.

This was an excellent presentation and we found it extremely encouraging to learn how Reiki is being used, and is so well received professionally, within the Mental Health field.

Paddy Fahey, Chief Executive Officer of The New Zealand Charter of Health Practitioners Inc. gave a most interesting and informative talk about the Health Charter and the future of Natural Therapies in our country.

The NZ Health Charter, which was formed 10 years ago, was setup in order to protect all natural therapies practitioners, is trying to avoid working like the draconian model working in Australia at present. The challenge is to divert the push for Government regulation from pharmaceutical companies, who want the economic benefits of the 66% of women and 44% of men who rely on supplementary health care products.

The Charter already provides registration of nearly 1000 practitioners in more than 50 modalities. It represents the interests of over 70 modalities with around 8,500 members, and as such is a powerful lobbying body for its members. The large membership keeps registration costs to a minimum. It acts as a first base for accreditation for natural health practitioners, and deals with complaints against chartered members. Is in place to take care of regulations as they come in, and acts as a point of reference and representation for government, ministers, commissioners, media and colleges.

At present the Health Practitioners Competency Assurance Bill, (HPCCA) is before Parliament. Submissions close on 22nd November, after which the Health Select Committee will consider the draft Bill. The Bill will re-regulate all of the existing bills under the Medicine Act. The Bill recognizes the NZ Health Charter as self-regulatory for Natural Health Practitioners. It's main objective is to consolidate the 11 current statutes regulating health professionals into a single act. The belief is that in the future all health professionals will have to be regulated. Until the HPCCA is passed Paddy suggests that practitioners wait and see how this Bill will affect us. The Charter will continue to find commonality between modalities, so that we can all work together, and continue self-regulation, in order that all practitioners will be able to practice in safety.

Working towards a strong future for it's members, the Health Charter intends applying to become a Registration Authority, and would like support from it's Affiliates to become the Registration Authority for Natural Health Practitioners. The Registration role would be separate from the other Charter activities. More information can be obtained from the Ministry of Health website www.moh.govt.nz under the publications section.

After such a stimulating and full day the rest of the afternoon was for 'time out'. Participants were able to soak up the beautiful natural surroundings of Vaughan Park, book in for a Reflexology session, enjoy Reiki exchanges, browse in the Book Corner, or spend time with friends.

For the evening entertainment the Organizing Group had arranged for a Latin American Band to come and play. Sol de los Andes treated us to a wonderful evening of varied music, from exquisite pipes, to foot tapping irresistible rhythmic dance music - a fun and relaxing end to the day.

A glorious sunny morning saw the start to our last day, and the first session began with a panel discussion chaired by Beverley Scarll. Five Reiki Masters representing a wide geographic base were invited to make up the panel: Gloria Austin, Nigel Chan, Cilla Henry, Whiro Ratahi, Robin Rodgers.

During the weekend participants had been invited to submit questions for the panel, giving the Gathering the opportunity to hear, uninterrupted, five differing experiences and opinions. The questions were well thought out and varied, and the panel handled them very well, giving thoughtful and honest answers. Beverley was an excellent chairperson, and it was agreed that this was a most worthwhile session.

Guest speaker, Pamela Mathews, spoke about her life's journey and how she moved from being a graphic artist to an Inspirational Painter. Pamela talked about the correlation between our emotions, experiences, how we see our world, and what we draw. And then took the group through a most revealing exercise, drawing a tree. This was an absolutely fascinating experience and very helpful as a tool for personal growth. Pamela had brought along her beautiful painting, ' The Living Christ', to illustrate the development of a painting, and spoke about the exquisite layering of symbolism in the work.

There was also an opportunity for participants to view the range of Pamela's paintings, cards, and posters, and to talk to her about their tree drawings. It was a total pleasure to have such a gifted and beautiful speaker at our gathering, and judging from the talk afterwards everyone really enjoyed and benefited from the session.

After lunch Louise Campbell led us through a thoughtful and lovely Closing Ceremony, filled with song, candles, and loving words, giving each one the opportunity to acknowledge what they had received from the weekend, to farewell friends, to thank the organizing group in Auckland, and to wish Wellington well for 2003. As each person picked out their candle from a central spiral, Ann and Whiro Ratahi, chose a candle representing the love and energy from this gathering, to take back to Wellington, to be relit at the next Reiki Master Gathering.

At the first meeting of the organizing group, it was decided that what we would like to offer everyone attending the Gathering was the opportunity to enjoy a weekend filled with harmony, inspiration, expansion, exploration, relaxation, and rejuvenation. It has been a great pleasure to work together towards achieving these aims.