It is that time of year again. The South Pacific Cyclone Season officially commenced on 1 November 2025 through to 30 April 2026.
NIWA Prediction: Five to nine named TCs could occur in the Southwest Pacific from November 2025 - April 2026.
Rotary Emergency Response Kits are prepositioned in 5 countries for immediate response for when the needs arises.
The project started in New Zealand (Rotary Club of Eastern Hutt) 42 years ago in 1983. Thanks to all who make a difference for people when at their most vulnerable.
Celebrating 42 Years Distributing Emergency Response Kits
As we near the end of the year, it’s time for the final round of orders for Usborne Dictionaries and Rhyming Around the Alphabet books. Thank you to everyone ongoing support — it’s greatly appreciated.
To ensure books arrive before schools close for the year, please have your orders and payments in by Friday, 14th November. This schedule will allow for quick distribution to Wanganui and Wellington ahead of the summer break.
Of course, you’re also welcome to place orders now for the New Year school start — and another order round will come out in February next year for those who prefer to wait.
Now is a good time to review your contribution to The Rotary Foundation. It is MY charity of choice and takes a major share of my charitable support. Yes, my wife and I do support other charities.
I would hope that The Rotary Foundation has a high position in your personal charity budget. Most of our Rotary Clubs support the Foundation. (And if ‘most’ does not equal ALL then it should.) Many individual Rotarians support the Foundation and YOU also can (I’d like to say should but you’d scold me) support the Foundation with your personal contributions. How many of you are a Centurion member? At $US100 ($NZ170) per year, it’s not even a long black coffee per week.
However, I would like to see more of you considering the Paul Harris Society as your annual gift to The Rotary Foundation. At $US1000 ($NZ1700) it is less than a meal out each week for one.
And don’t forget, you all get a 33% tax refund on your charitable donations.
November is The Rotary Foundation month. It is time to review your charitable budget.
Place The Rotary Foundation higher up in your budget.
A quick but important reminder that we need clubs to register for our upcoming Special AGM to approve the new Constitution on Sunday, 14 December at 4pm on Zoom.
Achieving a quorum is essential, and we’re getting close to the deadline — so if your club hasn’t registered yet, please do so.
Founded in 1985 by three Tawa Rotarians with a shared love of caravanning, the Rotary District 9940 Caravan Club has spent nearly four decades bringing members together for fun, fellowship, and regular rallies.
This November marks the club’s 40th anniversary, to be celebrated in Carterton with a weekend of catchups, meals, and a possible winery visit.
Accountability and transparency have earned The Rotary Foundation11 straight years of four-star ratings — the highest possible — from independent evaluator Charity Navigator. Ninety-two percent of Foundation funds are spent directly on programs.
Impact: Rotary partners with other organizations to increase our impact and make your donations work even harder. When you give to PolioPlus, for example, you have the satisfaction of knowing that every $1 Rotary commits to polio eradication is matched by $2 from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.
A record of success: Rotary unites leaders who have the skills and resources to tackle some of the world’s most difficult problems and deliver sustainable, long-lasting results. For decades, Rotary has been a leader in the battle against polio and has caused cases to plummet from 350,000 in 1988 to only a handful this year
Global reach: Our 1.2 million members span the globe, uniting people who have a common desire to serve others. From teaching children to read in Ecuador to a microcredit program in Indonesia, Rotary members identify local problems and use Rotary’s vast network and the resources of The Rotary Foundation to take action in their communities.
Local Impact: Half of everything you contribute to the Rotary Foundation Annual Fund comes back to YOUR home district. At the end of every Rotary year, contributions directed to the Annual Fund-SHARE from all Rotary clubs in the district are divided between the World Fund and the District Designated Fund(DDF). Districts can use the DDF to pay for Foundation, club, and district projects that your club and others in the district choose.
Shelterbag Project - a Nationwide response by Rotary to rough sleeping homeless
Urgent Funding Needed!
The Shelterbag Project is a powerful Rotary initiative addressing the growing issue of rough sleeping and homelessness.
The story began in Adelaide, where a local Rotary club identified Shelterbags as a practical way to provide warmth, comfort, and dignity to those sleeping rough. Their success quickly inspired other clubs across Australia, turning a local effort into a nationwide movement.
You can read the original story in the June 2024 edition of Rotary Down Under: Shelterbags for the Homeless in South Australia. To date, more than 2,900 Shelterbags have been distributed across Australia.
Now, Rotary aims to replicate this successful project in New Zealand, working with existing social agencies to deliver Shelterbags free of charge to people living on the streets.
This compassionate effort will help “Provide Comfort and Dignity for the Homeless Rough Sleepers in New Zealand.”
We need to order some minimum numbers now and then again later in November…hit ‘Read more’ for details…
Life Flight Trust and Rotary District 9940 Regional Children's Health Trust
Thanks to the significant number of Clubs that have contributed either via the Children's Health Trust or directly to the Life Flight Trust.
Our total donated is just over $113,000!!
This year is the 50th anniversary of the Life Flight Trust and the critical service that they provide across New Zealand does not lessen. Life Flight Trust extend their thanks to our district for the continuing support and contributions to help with purchasing vital lifting equipment.
Support needed for Rongdal Community School, Vanuatu
Rongdal Community School in Port Vila, Vanuatu, provides education for children from families with little or no income.
To make this possible, the school runs a community garden. Parents contribute by working in the gardens, and the produce is sold at the local market to help cover school costs for their child(ren)
Because travel home is expensive, around 70 students live at the school. A new boys’ dormitory is almost complete, but the boys are still sleeping on the floor.
The next step is to provide bunks so they can rest safely, comfortably and be ready for the new school day.
Left - Current bunks, Centre - new bunk block, Right - the schools children
👉 Our immediate goal is 20 bunks for 40 boys.
Each bunk set costs $300
Every contribution will make a direct difference in the lives of these children.
Together, we can give these children the dignity of a proper bed.
To offer support to BUY A BUNK, please contact Jocelyn
As New Zealand marks Mental Health Awareness Week, Rotary Clubs across Wellington are shining a light on the importance of supporting young people through their Lifting the Lid on Youth Mental Health programme.
The story behind this Nationwide Rotary Project to assist the homeless started with the identification of Shelterbags by an Adelaide Rotary Club as a possible means of support for rough sleepers there and have now been picked up by other clubs across Australia. The story spotted by Waitara Rotary is in theJune 2024 RDU: https://rotarydownunder.org/shelterbags-for-the-homeless-in-south-australia/ .Through the work by the Adelaide Rotarians the project has gone nationwide through Australian clubs:https://www.shelterbags.org.au/
So far 2,900 Shelterbags have been distributed in Australia.The aim is to replicate the project in New Zealand, and deliver Shelterbags free of charge to people living on the streets through existing social agencies who already work with the homeless in New Zealand.This project will;
“Provide Comfort and Dignity for the Homeless Rough Sleepers in New Zealand”
Shelterbags are manufactured in South Africa by Sheltersuit SA Foundation.Sheltersuit SA Foundation is a South African non-profit organization that provides immediate shelter to people experiencing homelessness while also creating jobs and skills development opportunities. It is an offshoot of the global Sheltersuit Foundation, which was founded in the Netherlands in 2014 by Bas Timmer after a friend's father died of hypothermia while sleeping on the street.
Sheltersuit SA Foundation manufactures a product called the "Shelterbag," which is a lightweight, portable, waterproof, and windproof sleeping bag. The Shelterbag is manufactured to accommodate an additional blanket for extra warmth. The Shelterbags are produced from quality, locally sourced materials. These partnerships have been nurtured to ensure Sheltersuit SA Foundation are able to negotiate fair prices every three months.
Through a skills development and training programme Sheltersuit SA Foundationhas enabled previously unemployed and talented seamstresses to earn while they learn. All the team members are breadwinners for their families and support up to 6 family members with their income stability.
Waitara Rotary (https://www.facebook.com/BryanVickeryMedia/videos/the-rotary-club-of-waitara-bell-block-districts-are-importing-50-shelter-bags-fr/933763454877500/ ) contacted Australian Rotarians and arranged for the importation of 50 Shelterbags. Teaming up with social agencies in Taranaki these have been distributed to and greatly appreciated by rough sleepers in New Plymouth. Partnering with local social service providers who distribute and register these bags means that Shelterbags help create the first important step to get people off the street through the additional wrap around support offered by social agencies. A further community benefit is that CBDs and retailers who suffer from unsightly bedding clutter in their doorways can expect these to reduce as Shelterbags roll up and are easily carried over the shoulder during the day. Because Shelterbags offer wind and weather protection, it also allows rough sleepers more options for shelter spots outside of CBD shop awnings.
A 20ft container that will hold 1,200 Shelterbags can be in Auckland by next May for the Winter of 2026.
Estimated number of rough sleepers; 800 Auckland, 141 Wellington, 270 Christchurch – approx. 1200 without other cities.
The SA team have advised 1,200 bags will take 3-4 months to make. Costing based on the Waitara exercise and confirmed manufacturing costs and current exchange rates indicates full costs per bag in the order of $150 - $160.We are aiming to deliver bags to clubs at $NZ150 eafor distribution free of charge to local social agencies.
In Auckland there is already support from Auckland Council and other agencies including:
Detailed planning is underway to confirm delivery and devanning in Auckland and the subsequent distribution but there is keen interest from Auckland Council andSocial Service providers who have regular contact with homeless and rough sleepers in Auckland as well as in Wellington and Christchurch.
The bags provide warm dry durable shelter that could be a desirable Rotary branded item that will meet an immediate need.
Rotarians will need to fund, fundraise, organise storage and distribution between clubs and link with existing social providers.This could be a high-profile nationwide project that puts clubs in touch with other organisations and attracts the attention of potential new members with a great project on home turf – Kiwis helping Kiwis doing it tough. To make this happen a commitment to funding is required with $45,000 committed and delivered by 30th October and a further $45,000 by 20th November.
Milestone Dates
$45,000 raised and available by 30th October 2025
A second tranche of $45,000 by 20th November 2025
3rd tranche of $30,000 by15th January 2026
4th tranche of $30,000 by end February 2026
Balance to fund through to end March 2026
Ship from Cape Town – Target 1st March
Arrival NZ port – 1stMay 2026 latest
Distribution complete – 31 May 2026
With the overall project cost estimated to hit ~ $180k, committed finance is needed early. Whanganui RC has already committed to finance 40 bags they see are needed in Wanganui!Get in quick with your pledge.
We seek your consideration and support for this project with a commitment that enables the milestones to be met.
Charitable Donations should be made to: ROZOPS Ltd – Special Projects 06-0193-0905286-007using “Shelterbag” in the particulars field and your club (or individual name) in the reference field. Donations by individuals will receive a donations receipt to allow for a 33% IRD rebate.
Contact for further details and confirmation of support.
For Rotarians in the District: It is time for you to act. Nominations are due with the RYLA Chair by 15 December 2025. The information pagetells you where to go to get the forms for Applications.
For sponsors and candidates wishing to be considered, please contact your nearest Rotary Club. You can find your nearest club from the district club list here.
President Elect Learning and Development Seminar will take place in the Palmerston North Convention Centre, 354 Main Street, Palmerston North
Saturday 2th May 10am - 5.30pm
Sunday 25th May 8.30am - 1.00pm
This seminar series will equip President-Elects (or nominated club members) with the resources and tools to support their clubs through the 2025-2026 Rotary year.
Graeme Blick has dedicated 55 years to improving the science of geodesy in New Zealand and has been New Zealand’s Chief Geodesist since 2009 and is a member of the Rotary Club of Plimmerton, as is his wife Christine.
On June 21-25, 2025, Calgary, Canada, is the host city for the Rotary International Convention. For Rotarians seeking the experience of attending a Rotary Convention, this will present the ideal opportunity. To travel to Calgary, attend the Convention plus add a time to travel in North America.
Coming up very soon is the learning and development opportunity for President Elects and any other Rotarians.
This will be an on-line zoom meeting.
It is designed to provide current information to Presidents Elect, Club officers and any other Rotarians in order to prepare them to have an effective and successful year. You will have the opportunity to engage with Rotary leaders, and be involved in discussion sessions on various topics relevant to Rotary club leadership and management.
The Rotary International constitution which applies to all clubs, requires that President Elects must attend.
For Rotarians who have held the role of President in previous years and are standing again, please be aware that many things change over time, so it is important you do attend and do not assume you have "been there, done that".
Thank you to every one who has supported this project.
The really, really good news is financially the project is almost fully funded but we still have approximately US$79,000 remaining that we need to raise out of a total of US$3.9 million. Almost there !
The latest April 2023 Newsletter update for your reading is here.
The Rotary Foundation helps Rotary members advance world understanding, goodwill, and peace by improving health, providing quality education, improving the environment, and alleviating poverty. The Rotary Foundation is recognized as one of the most effective and well-managed charitable organizations in the world. Here in Aotearoa New Zealand and throughout the world our Rotarians are working on activities to promote peace, fight disease, provide clean water, sanitation, and hygiene, save mothers and children, support education, grow local economies and protect the environment. For more information on the Rotary Foundation see here.
Join us in our work or let us know of community needs by contacting a local Rotary or Rotaract Club here. For enquiries - contact the District 9940 Foundation Administration here
The Foundation is supported by voluntary contributions of time, skills and funds from Rotarians and friends of the Foundation who share our vision of a better world. Donations to help our work in the world should be sent to the Rotary District 9940 Foundation bank account 03-0502-0416962-00.
The Rotary vision statement begins with the words 'Together we see a world where people unite...' It is important that at this time we stand beside those Rotarians and community members who are affected by Friday's tragic events and offer whatever support we can
As Rotarians we hold core values of diversity, service, integrity, fellowship and leadership; in the ensuing days and weeks we need to demonstrate our commitment to those values
We will be listening to the needs of Christchurch as a whole and District 9970 in responding to the needs of the community. I am appealing to each Rotarian to look in your own communities and ask how you can support them in this time of need.
I have talked to John Driscoll and below is a message sent by him and from the Rotary Club of Riccarton who is most closely engaged with the communities on the ground.
Members attended the Hui this afternoon at Horouta Marae in Porirua with Plimmerton and Tawa Rotary Clubs, Porirua Multicultural Society, Mayor Mike Tana and our local Muslim community. There were moving tributes shared for all families affected with the tragic events that happened on Friday.
Our clubs are encouraged to donate to the Riccarton, Christchurch Rotary account listed below
On behalf of DG Marion, with the adoption of the new District Constitution last year, the minutes of the District Board Meetings are now available in the document library here under the section Administration.
Defibrillators provided by Rotary Satellite Club for Stratford.
Amelia Lumanglas, clinical services manager at Elizabeth R Lifecare and Brigid Bright, facility manager, receive the AED from Daniel Stieller, Rotary Satellite Club of Stratford chairperson and Ally Cook-Coles, a member of the Rotary Satellite Club.
The Rotary Satellite Club of Stratford may only be a year old, but it has already made its mark on the community. This month, three Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) were purchased by the group to be placed in Stratford.
The bus has arrived and the Rotary Club of Rarotonga has already been busy promoting the mobile health clinic as you can see from this article in today’s Cook Islands News.
The new Mobile Health Clinic ready for its official unveiling next Monday.
The Rotary Club of Rarotonga has completed a two-year project to bring a mobile health clinic to Rarotonga.
The mobile clinic is the first project of its kind in the Cook Islands, and the bus is now ready for its reveal later next week says Rotary president Mark Boyd
“We see this mobile clinic as having a very high profile and it will be used to promote health initiatives.”
The bus will be donated to the Ministry of Health at a dedication ceremony scheduled for 10am on June 18 at Constitution Park. “We have a number of dignitaries and visiting Rotarians from New
Zealand attending the ceremony, including former New Zealand High Commissioner Nick Hurley and his wife Christine,” said Boyd.
President Mary Mason of South Wairarapa Rotary Club with AG John Stevenson and DG Mitch with Martinborough Volunteer Fire Brigade Chief Fire Officer Bill Butzbach and volunteers with their brand new community supported Incident Response vehicle.
Martinborough Volunteer Fire Brigade gets a new vehicle
The students are on their way to different places around the world
. Our NZ Outbound students have just left for their year overseas and have arrived safely in their destination countries. Also thanks to our stalwart committee member Russell Cameron and his partner Alison who are also winging their way to South America as Chaperones for the five students from other NZ Districts.
From our own District seven students have gone overseas
Tori Guy from Taihape (Taihape Club) has gone to France
Zara Mulcahy from Bunnythorpe (Takaro Club) has gone to Taiwan (a first for NZ)
Zora Conroy-Chelius (MIlson Club) from Ashhurst has gone to France
Regan Coulter from Paraparaumu (Kapiti Club) has gone to Austria
Tazman Cherian from Wellington (HUtt City Club) has gone to Spain (also a first for NZ)
Phillip McFadzean from Masterton(South Masterton Club) has gone to Italy
Rosie Darrah from Porirua (Plimmerton Club) has gone to Switzerland
Four of our seven outbound Rotary Youth Exchange (RYE) students for 2018 left Wellington on 9 January for their year of mind-blowing adventure, learning and life experience in Europe.
From left to right: Tazman Cherian, Phillip Mcfadzean, Rosie Darrah and Regan Coulter
The NZ (all districts) RYE outbound student contingent at Auckland Airport
RYE - 9940 Outbound students leave for their adventure
To all Rotarian's, Interactor's, Rotaractor's and our Satellite Club members,
On behalf of the the District Board, the District Advisory Committee, our District Leaders and District Committee members, thank you all for a great start to the 2017/18 Rotary Year where we have definitely been "Making A Difference!"
I hope you are now able to take some time to have a summer break, chill-lax and spend time doing "me" things with family and friends.
I look forward to many exciting Rotary activities in the New Year. I am so proud to announce that we will host Rotary International President Ian and Juliet Riseley in Palmerston North for a special day on the 6 March, I hope as many Rotarian's will join us to celebrate Rotary on this special occasion.
We will start our Rotary programs in the new year with our Outbound International Youth Exchange students departing and welcome home our Rebound students; the National Science and Technology Forum; RYLA at Silverstream; RYDA at Manfeild Park; the opportunity to support End Polio Now with a great range of support activities including an amazing movie to premiere "Breathe", to get us through to the elimination of Polio in the world; the first Interact Council weekend for Interact Club members of the District; another exchange with students to Australia with the RANZSE program, President Elects Training and South Pacific President Elects Training at Waipuna Hotel Auckland, RYPEN at Vertical Horizons outside of Inglewood and then we will look to prepare for the our main event of the year which is combined with our District Training Assembly from 11-13 May 2018 - "RotaFEST 18 - Our Festival of Rotary".
Please consider coming along with me and our growing contingent of Rotarian's heading to the Rotary International Convention 23-27 June 2017 in Toronto, Canada, with Rotary International President Ian and Juliet Riseley.
Thank you to my great team Assistant Governors and most of all the Presidents leading our Rotary Clubs into the new year with more fun and exciting projects to "Do Good in our Communities" through "Service Above Self " and on behalf of Fiona and I hope you will join me to Go Wild About Rotary in 2018.
It’s a long, long way from Taipei to Takaro, but 16 Taiwanese Rotarians made the journey to Palmerston North in time to join DG Mitch’s official visit to his own club in early November as part of a fun-filled – and fast-paced - visit to D9940 from 5-12 November.
The RID 3523 Rotary Friendship Exchange (RFE) group dined with the Rotary Clubs of Wellington, Masterton South, Wairarapa South and Takaro, enjoyed wine and cheese tasting with the President of the RC of Carterton at his vineyard and had lunch with Rotarians from several Whanganui clubs.
The 3 men and 11 women from 12 clubs in 3523 included a married couple and a mother and daughter, joined by 2 women from a 3490 club.
Representatives for the 2017-2020 Council cycle must be selected by 30 June 2017. Our district must select a representative and an alternate representative in 2016/17. Nominations are called for.
Full information about the qualifications and duties of the representatives, along with the procedures for his or her selection can be found in How to Select a Council Representative and RI Bylaws Article 9.
Join us in commemorating our Foundation’s century of achievement. We’ve launched a special website to give you the information you need to plan your own event, promote the anniversary, and brush up on your Foundation history. Explore the Centennial website to learn more.
We have three Interact Clubs in our District – Otaki College (Otaki Rotary), SHINE Wanganui Girls College (Whanganui Daybreak Rotary), Port Nicholson Rotary (Wellington Girls College and Wellington College) and more are being planned.
Members of the Wellington Girls College and Wellington College Interact club - our latest club to be formed
The International Fellowship of Rotarian Educators is one of RI's newest fellowships. The website address is www.rotarianeducators.org. As you can see from the website, one does not have to be an educator or work in the field of education to be a member-just have a passion for or an interest in education. Membership is available for one year ($20 USD), three years ($50 USD), or a lifetime membership for $100 USD.
rders for Usborne Dictionaries and Rhyming Around the Alphabet books. Thank you to everyone ongoing support — it’s greatly appreciated.
Members attended the Hui this afternoon at Horouta Marae in Porirua with Plimmerton and Tawa Rotary Clubs, Porirua Multicultural Society, Mayor Mike Tana and our local Muslim community. There were moving tributes shared for all families affected with the tragic events that happened on Friday. 
Remember the 
Its that exciting time of year again.
The NZ (all districts) RYE outbound student contingent at Auckland Airport
- by PDG Anthony Scott
Members of the Wellington Girls College and Wellington College Interact club - our latest club to be formed