To all the fathers I hope you had a Happy Father’s Day! We celebrate our fathers, the love and guidance they have shared with us and the influence on our lives. But of course, it’s also a time to reflect on whanau and family – I hope your day was full of love and peaceful reflection.
The last week has caused me to reflect on the Nepal and Tibet disaster. The families whose lives have been changed forever by the flood as it travelled nearly 100 km and devastated populated areas along the Lende Kholā and Trishuli̇̄ Kholā rivers.
We have had contact with several Rotary clubs in Nepal who are very keen to support the relief efforts now and into the future. The RNZWCS appeal enables us to send funds to our Rotary connections in Nepal and assist directly with support in the right places. I’m certain there will be further calls for assistance in the longer term with targeted projects and partnering opportunities with grants available from the Rotary Foundation.
The Foundation is always foremost in my mind – don’t forget to save the date for an evening with RI Past President Gordon McInally and his wife Heather. The dinner will be held at The Welington Club on Monday 2nd November – 5.30pm arrival for a 6pm start. To enable Rotarians who need to travel home outside of Wellington, we will ensure it finishes by 8.30pm.
I was fortunate to travel to Masterton South Rotary Club on Tuesday evening and spend the evening in fellowship with members. The club is in good heart with a laser focus on the replacement of the Kids Own Children’s playground next to QEII Park and the Millennium Native Forest Reserve in Masterton, which is a 5-hectare flourishing suburban native bush and wetland oasis close to the CBD. They will soon be preparing for the Masterton Christmas Fair which entertains thousands of people in early December. It was a pleasure to be there as a new member, Beverley Jack, was inducted into the club – welcome to Rotary Beverley!
Talking about new members, our membership numbers had a very slight increase over the last two months. It’s very encouraging to see positive growth which is always a result of US asking people to join us. The only way that we will increase our membership and grow, is if WE ask someone to join us. So let’s keep up the good work and show people how Rotary gives us fun, fellowship and fulfilment.
The RADAR Award programme is designed to acknowledge an employee, irrespective of age or vocation, who, in the eyes of his or her employer, displays outstanding qualities in terms of approach, attitude, dedication and commitment to his or her job.
The RADAR Awards programme has been added into the 2026 list of projects undertaken by the Rotary Club of Port Nicholson. Its purpose is to acknowledge excellence in the workplace and recognise individuals whose outstanding service and contributions often go under the radar and deserve public recognition. These RADAR Awards are part of the wider Rotary Club of Port Nicholson's Awards programme.
Nominating candidates for RADAR Awards
Nominations are invited from local Wellington businesses and organisations. The programme recognises individuals who have consistently provided excellent service to their workplace and community. Closing date for applications is 14 September.
The inaugural RADAR Awards presentations will be held on 14 October 2026. As this is a pilot year, the first nominees have been approached by Rotarians. In future years, the programme will be held earlier in the year and applications will be sought from Wellington-based businesses.
A maximum of four RADAR Awards will be presented each year.
Selection and 2026 RADAR Awards Breakfast Individuals who are nominated will be invited to attend a selection interview. Successful nominees will then be invited to attend the RADAR Awards breakfast at 7.00 am on 14 October at The Wellington Club, Level 5, 88 The Terrace, Wellington. This is the usual Club meeting time and venue for Rotarians of the Rotary Club of Port Nicholson.
The Awards function will be dedicated to acknowledging the successful nominees. There will be no first, second, or overall winners. All successful nominees will be recognised equally. Each recipient will receive a handsome plaque and a certificate.
Fellow workmates and management are warmly invited to attend the breakfast and support their colleague. Each successful nominee and their nominator will receive a complimentary breakfast.
Supporters attending on behalf of their organisation are asked to register for the breakfast at a cost of $30 per person.
Confirmation of attendees will be required one week prior to the RADAR Awards breakfast.
More information on the 2026 RADAR Awards:
Click on the links below to download the following documents
An evening with Rotary International Past President Gordon McInally and his wife Heather on Monday 2nd November –
The Wellington Club
5.30pm Welcome for a 6pm start. Finish by 8.30pm
As the Trustee Chair-Elect for the Rotary Foundation, Gordon is keen to visit us and remind us of our focus on the Foundation and all the good it does in our world. He is a very keen supporter of mental health initiatives and many other health-based initiatives.
Wellington siblings Jayathi and Jayath Jaiganesh are making waves internationally with the release of their debut children’s book, Bella and Bio-Bot. The book is available online and in stores in London, Cambridge, Sharjah, and New York, has been added to the prestigious British Library, and is available in New Zealand libraries. Jayathi recently served a term as a member of the Rotary International Youth Advisory Council. The children's mum, Jay, is a member of the Rotary Club of Wellington North. Continuing her work in the area of youth, Jayathi is using her enthusiasm to help our tamariki engage in the science arena.
Rotary Youth Advisory Counci members advise the Rotary International Board of Directors to shape the future of Interact, Rotary Youth Exchange, and Rotary Youth Leadership Awards (RYLA). Since the Council began four years ago, they have championed an inclusion strategy for young people in Rotary, advocated for the launch of the @rotaryyoungleaders Instagram channel, and hosted virtual webinars and breakout sessions at Convention to raise awareness about Rotary’s youth programs. The Council meets virtually on a quarterly basis, providing direct feedback to Rotary’s Board of Directors.
Bella and Bio-Bot take readers on an imaginative journey full of curiosity, adventure, and discovery, showcasing the creativity and insight of these talented young Wellington authors. The launch marks an exciting milestone in their literary journey, and the siblings credit their parents, teachers, mentors, and friends for their invaluable support and encouragement.
Beyond being an engaging story, Bella and Bio-Bot has a strong STEM focus, introducing children to science, technology, engineering, and problem-solving concepts in an accessible and fun way. Through the adventures of Bella and her robotic companion, young readers are encouraged to think critically, experiment, and explore the world around them—making the book both entertaining and educational.
“We hope our story inspires children and young readers in New Zealand and around the world to explore the joy of reading and embrace creativity,” say Jayathi and Jayath.
There is now a discovery kithands‑on exploration to help young children notice more, ask questions and keep exploring. Order your copy: Visit Amazon and search for Bella and Bio-Bot Jayathi Jaiganesh or use the direct link: https://www.amazon.com/Bella-Bio-Bot-Jayathi-Jaiganesh/dp/1035862255
This November, Rotary members around the world have the opportunity to get moving for a great cause through Cycle & Steps 2026, supporting the work of BeyondWater in East Africa.
BeyondWater is a charitable organisation working to alleviate poverty across East Africa by providing access to clean drinking water and sanitation facilities. Rotary has been a major supporter of this work, helping BeyondWater reach more than 300,000 people every day.
The organisation is led by Pete and his wife, who are members of the Rotary Club of Pohutukawa Coast (D9920) and have been based in Nairobi, Kenya, for the past 15 years.
🚴♂️ Pedal Against Poverty
In November, the third Pedal Against Poverty event will see a team of cyclists from New Zealand, Kenya and the USA tackle an incredible 1,500km journey along the length of New Zealand’s South Island.
The team, including Pete, is aiming to raise $10,000 to build a new block of toilets at Kikongo Primary School in Kenya.
While the cyclists will be covering their own costs, they are also taking a support vehicle, driven by a member of the Rotary Club of North Harbour, and are seeking sponsorship to help cover the costs of this vehicle.
🌍 How can your Club get involved?
Alongside Pedal Against Poverty, BeyondWater is inviting Rotary clubs around the world to take part in Cycle & Steps 2026.
On 21 November — or another date that works for your club — registered teams can gather at a local venue and walk, run or cycle a route of their choice. It’s designed to be easy for Rotary clubs to participate in, wherever they are in the world.
Whether we put together a team, organise a local activity, or support the Pedal Against Poverty team, it’s a great opportunity to combine fellowship, physical activity and fundraising while contributing to a project that will make a lasting difference for children in Kenya.
Your commitment to service makes an impact year-round. Here are meaningful ways to come together and create lasting change this quarter with The Rotary Foundation.
International Literacy Day, 8 September. Help Rotary build a more equitable world where all children receive quality education and adults gain essential literacy and numeracy skills. Honor Literacy Day with a gift to The Rotary Foundation.
International Legacy Giving Day, 13 September. For more than 100 years, Rotary members have created legacies of Doing Good in the World through The Rotary Foundation’s Endowment. Celebrate their impact and shape the future with a gift to the Endowment.
International Day of Peace, 21 September. Peacebuilding is central to Rotary’s mission. When communities create peace locally, global change follows. Mark Peace Day with a gift to The Rotary Foundation that empowers Rotary and Rotaract clubs, districts, and peace fellows to build lasting peace worldwide.
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terms of approach, attitude, dedication and commitment to his or her job.
It's great to see an article on Radio New Zealand news about the ShelterBag project. 
