Clan MacKenzie New Zealand lieutenant Alistair MacKenzie is planning to use time in the clan's top office to establish a scholarship to encourage young Mac Kenzies to get involved in their heritage.
Mr MacKenzie (69) and his wife, Helen, were in Dunedin at the weekend to attend the annual Clan MacKenzie gathering, held in Mosgiel and Dunedin for the first time.
More than 80 people attended the gathering which started on Friday night and ended with a tour of Toitu Otago Settlers Museum yesterday.
Mr MacKenzie said his personal aim was to establish the scholarship so young people could study heritage, including music and clan research.
"It's an ongoing thought process and it will take time to get the information together to tell the story and get support.''
Mr MacKenzie, a kiwifruit farmer and horse breeder and trainer from Te Puke, got involved in the clan when he was 10, when his father took him to a gathering in Invercargill.
From then on, he took an interest, even to the drawing of the clan's stag head emblem on his school books.
However, he let his interest lapse and did not get involved again until his father was elderly.
Mr MacKenzie is the lieutenant to the clan chief in Scotland and is his personal representative in New Zealand.
His role includes chairing the annual meeting, held on Saturday, and overseeing clan activities.
The object of the society was fellowship and promoting the clan throughout the country.
Genealogy was becoming a more important part of the activities, he said.
The annual gatherings were held around New Zealand as a way of promotion but also to involve different branches.
Next year, the gathering would be in Napier.
It was difficult in some areas to find organisers as it was a big job.
By moving the gatherings around, the burden was spread.
"New Zealand has a strong Scottish heritage and it is cross-culture. It is amazing how many pipe bands in this country wear the MacKenzie tartan, something we are very proud of.''
