This special edition of the bulletin recognises the recent visit to New Zealand of Rotary International President Ian and Juliet Riseley.
RI president Ian and Juliet arrived into Auckland and the beginning of the month of March to attend South Pacific Presidents Elect Training at the Waipuna Hotel. This gave the opportunity for District Governor Elect Marion Johnstone and her team of Assistant Governors and Presidents elect for the 2018/19 Rotary year, to charter the year ahead in earnest.The theme for the coming Rotary year is "Be the Inspiration!" 
and RI President Ian declared the theme to the gathered Rotarian's for the coming year on behalf of RI President Elect Barry Rassin, from Nassau in the Bahama's.
and RI President Ian declared the theme to the gathered Rotarian's for the coming year on behalf of RI President Elect Barry Rassin, from Nassau in the Bahama's.Part of the RI President's time in Auckland was spent visiting to the Rotary Grove where a number of Presidents of Rotary have planted a Peace Tree. Our current District Governors of New Zealand and the Pacific Islands celebrated RI president Ian Riseley planting a Totara in the Rotary Grove in the Auckland Domain, on the corner of Carlton Gore and Grafton Road's. Of note was the tree doing quite well planted by our own Past RI President Bill Boyd during his year of 2006-2007.
Ian Riseley & DG's at the tree planting Plaque for Bill Boyd
(DG Mitch hiding behind the tree)
Deb Gimblett & Marion Johnston at SPPETS Rotary International President Ian Riseley visits Palmerston North and Feilding!
Our District was fortunate to have the opportunity to have RI President Ian visit our District. Considering the schedule of a Rotary International President of 365 days in the role and the opportunity to visit 220 countries, 540 Rotary Districts, 35,500 Rotary Clubs and our over 1.2 million Rotarian's - to have RI President Ian attend a lunch and dinner function in our Rotary District was a rare and extraordinary event for our District.
The day started with the arrival of RI President Ian at Hotel Coachman in Palmerston North just prior to the first function of the day. The lunch function was an opportunity for Rotarian's to share a special couple of hours be updated on Rotary at large by RI President Ian .
A welcome from Palmerston North City Council Mayor Grant Smith highlighted the community partnerships and importance of Rotary providing leadership and support to do community good. The function also hosted Mayor Tracey Collins from the Tararua District Council. Mayor Tracey noted the significance of the occasion that also recognised 75 years of the Rotary Club of Pahiatua.
The culmination of the day saw speeches by Rotary Club of Ngamotu supported Peace Scholar Tonga Karena, address RI President prior to making his way to the Presidents Peace Building Conference in Sydney on March 17th. As a precursor to the RI President visit to Massey University Wild Base Hospital and the Rotary inspired and supported Wild Base Recovery, speeches were made by Past District Governor and Wild Base Recovery Trustee Past District Governor Rodney Wong and Pro Vice Chancellor of Sciences at Massey University, Ray Geor.
With 50 Rotarian's and guests present, the lunch meeting with RI President Ian was a special opportunity to hear from a Rotarian who has and continues to "Make a Difference" in our world.
The remainder of the afternoon had RI President Ian journey to the Massey University Veterinary Sciences Wild Base Hospital for a behind the scenes and close encounter with the special work that is done to save our special native species from injury and disease.
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RI president Ian was welcomed by the head of the Wild Base Hospital Dr Brett Gartrell. Brett toured the Rotary party through the amazing facility that not only trains veterinary students but acts as the foremost native wild life hospital centre in New Zealand. RI President Ian witnessed the operation on a native wood pigeon whose broken wing was being cast to immobilise and assist the repair of its broken bone.
It would be a rare life changing experience for a New Zealander to come face to face with a Tuatara or Ruru (Morepork), so for Aussie RI President Ian Riseley the opportunity to spend time in close contact with two endangered New Zealand native species that were being cared for at Wild Base Hospital was truly life changing.The Rotary connection through the Palmerston North City Council, Massey University and Rotary with partnerships was highlighted with the visit to the to be opened Wild Base Recovery Centre in the Esplanade.
The visit hosted by Aaron Phillips, Parks and Environment Adviser from Palmerston North City Council gave RI President Ian a first hand look at a world first in the care of rehabilitating native wild birds who will pass through this world class facility from the Wild Base Hospital, enroute to a return to their native habitat. This of course after a period of rehabilitation that will ensure the opportunity for the public to visit the facility and experience the changing dynamic as native wild life and birds find their way from Wild Base Hospital, through Wild Base Recovery then back into the homes in the New Zealand bush.
Rotary Club of Wanganui President Tom Carter donated a Totara and Titoki which were planted alongside the Rotary Club of Tawa's gifted tawa tree in the Wild Base Recovery centre. The three trees were planted by RI President Ian Riseley, District Governor Mitchell Brown and President Tom Carter to commemorate and celebrate the visit of RI President Ian and the future opening at "RotaFEST 18 - A Festival of Rotary" of Wild Base Recovery at 3pm on Friday the 11th of May 2018.