Although the exact origins of Freemasonry are long since lost, its history can be traced back to as early as the Middle Ages and to highly skilled stonemasons who formed themselves into lodges to protect their skills and secrets and to pass on this valuable knowledge onto selected apprentices. Freemasonry is considered to be one of the world’s largest and oldest fraternal organisations, whose principles of integrity, goodwill and charity form the foundation for an individual’s way of living. Freemasonry is renowned for its key support of charitable activities and community services. Freemasonry in New Zealand is divided into three Masonic Divisions, each of which is divided in to a number of Districts, and each District has a number of Lodges. The Grand Lodge of New Zealand, based in Wellington, oversees all of these.