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# Kiwi refresher was welcome treat
- URL: https://www.smdp.com/kiwi-refresher-was-welcome-treat-editor/
- Published: 2007-02-12T16:00:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-10-24T00:02:33.000Z
- Author: Guest Author
- Tags: Opinion, Santa Monica, #archive-import

*By Dora B. Krakower Santa Monica*

I was in New Zealand in 1981 — the first woman cantor to sing at Temple Sholom in Auckland, a sister city of Los Angeles. I sang “Start Today In The L.A. Way” over Radio New Zealand. Mayor Colin Kay gave my (late) husband a beautiful pair of cufflinks and me a lovely silver tray engraved with the Auckland coat of arms. I learned about Princess Te Puea, a great Maori leader.

It was wonderful having New Zealand here in my home-town (“A tribe on a quest,” Feb. 6, page 1). My Santa Monica song, “The Madonna of Santa Monica,” was performed by the Santa Monica Boy’s Club Choir during a historical pageant honoring Santa Monica.

Maybe I’ll go back to New Zealand, but (for now) I’m going to the beach here.

*Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on February 12, 2007.* [Read the original PDF.](https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/smdp%5Fbackissues/021207.pdf?ref=smdp.com)