Contrary to the fearmongers - those who would declare we need to fight them over there lest they come to fight us over here - this is a safe and peaceful land, and we need to do everything possible to keep it that way.
This city is particularly fortunate in the willingness of its citizens to participate - in their many different ways - to the maintenance and fostering of the city's institutions. Volunteering has long been a central part of life here and it's great to see the continuing benefit that such service grants to us all, those who volunteer and those who are its recipients.
One form of volunteer effort that is particularly heartening is evidence of participatory democracy when people get together, as they have recently, to express themselves and to petition government on issues of concern that affect this city and this country.
The several marches and meetings to express our concern with the form, substance and process of the Trans-Pacific Partnership agreement is one example of our active democracy.
More recently we've assembled to discuss the issues of climate change, issues for citizens here and everywhere to debate.
It's to the credit of everyone who took the time and effort to attend and participate - of particular note was the successful effort of Rochelle Bullock to safeguard our coastal waters from exploitation and potential environmental damage.
It was gratifying to see in attendance our mayor, Annette Main, and several of our councillors, Hamish McDouall, Helen Craig and Martin Visser. More members of council would be a welcome presence but the four who were present represent the health of our community's democracy in action.
No account of our blessings and of gifts received this season and throughout the year would be complete without the mention of places and people that make life better for a lot of people as well as for me.
When UCOL closed its gym, it seemed a treasure discarded, but the Inspire Gym which rose from those ashes has more than made up for that loss.
Under the leadership of Mere Tua and Paul Ngatai, and assisted by an able team, the gym has reached out to provide important health services to people from across the city and especially those with disabilities. They're a great compliment to our collective health and comfort.
Comfort brings to mind the imaginative delicacies regularly created in the Ambrosia Deli by Nevana Turner and her sister Angela.
I've sung their praises before and do so again as the quality and imaginative effort they make deserves recognition.
So also does George's Fisheries, ably run by Greg and Evonne Robinson, with occasional assistance from son Jacob and a fine, attentive staff.
Together they take the freshest fish and prepare it with meticulous care to present it with mouth-watering goodness of taste. There's got to be an element of love there.
This city, for its physical beauty and the spirit of its people, is worth celebrating.
We need to take a leaf out of Voltaire's Candide and spend time literally and figuratively cultivating our own gardens.
As the winds calm, we need to carry on by looking for the best of real presents - our families and friends in a city and a country that values peace.
-Jay Kuten is an American-trained forensic psychiatrist who emigrated to New Zealand for the fly fishing. He spent 40 years comforting the afflicted and intends to spend the rest afflicting the comfortable.
