Ambassador McCormick and Mrs. Rae Grove.

Valentines Day Visit Brings Chocolates, Flowers, And A Little Bit of America

Ambassador and Mrs. McCormick visited Mrs Rae Grove of Sprott House for Valentines Day, bringing chocolates and flowers in true Valentines style.  Mrs. Grove came to New Zealand with husband, Colonel Neil Grove, who was the U.S. Defence Attaché at the Wellington Embassy during the ‘70s.  Following his posting, they moved to New Zealand where Colonel Grove became a published Maori scholar before his passing in 1999.

Mrs Grove said she was overwhelmed by the visit, and the Ambassador’s gifts of chocolates and flowers.

“We wanted to bring a little bit of what we do in America to New Zealand,” Ambassador McCormick said, “in a very gentle way”.

When asked what Mrs McCormick would think about her husband giving another woman Valentines Day gifts, he joked:  “I’m going to have some explaining to do”.