He aha te mea nui o te ao? He tangata! He tangata! He tangata! — (What is the most important thing in the world? Tis people! Tis people! Tis people!)

As I look back on all the things I have seen and the people I have met since becoming president of Rotary International last July, I am certain of this: Rotary’s capacity to transform lives for the better is unparalleled.   

Our impact is far beyond anything I could have imagined when I first became a Rotarian. I think about the Rotarians I met in Pakistan, who partnered with Coca-Cola to improve sanitation in Karachi’s neighbourhoods while supporting polio eradication efforts. 

 DG Marion formally announced the selection of Mark Wheeler as our District Governor for 2021-22 at the Rotary Club of Wellington's lunchtime meeting today.

DG Marion Johnstone, DGE John Mohi and DGN Gillian Jones as well as several Past District Governors were present for the occasion. We wish Mark all the very best as he starts on his journey towards leading our District. 

Howard Tong, John Mohi, Marion Johnstone, Bob Smith, Mark Wheeler, Anthony Scott, Gillian jones and MItchell Brown.

The theme for D9940 Conference 2019 was “Light My Fire”, and the feedback we’ve had has been of many Rotary fires being lit.

The conference began on Friday night with the normal welcomes and flag ceremony and then the highlight of the night the iconic Patea Māori Club. I don’t have enough words available to do their performance justice.

If anyone was in two minds about going (or otherwise) to Wanganui last weekend for District Conference - I urge you to book early for next years conference in Lower Hutt with DGEJohn Mohi

The presentation from John highlights a conference that is going to be a ripper.!

 DG Marion themed her conference last weekend around ‘Light my Fire’ and I was thinking maybe the presenters were going to be reformed arsonists. In short, we had speakers from both ends of the social and political spectrum. 

The Rotary Club of Whanganui Daybreak shares a special moment.

Here's a proud moment for all the New Zealand Rotarians at Hamburg for the RI Convention. Included among them are DG Marion Johnston and her husband Mike.
With more than 200 nations represented, the parade of flags will have taken a while! It's also a powerful reminder of just how "International" Rotary International really is!!
Next year's convention is in Honolulu, Hawaii, from 6 to 10 June 2020. Who's keen?

On Monday, 27th May, Rotary Club of Ngāmotu, Taranaki, celebrated their changeover in style. Over 50 members, family, friends and visiting Presidents joined together in a night of celebration. President Elect David Lusk was presented with a Paul Harris Award and President Murray Gillespie was presented with a Paul Harris Sapphire Pin. These awards are for outstanding service to Rotary and the community it serves, President Murray Gillespie also handed over the chains of office to David Lusk. An auction was held and over $300 was raised for the Rotary International End Polio Now campaign. 

         We were thrilled with the number of applications we had for this year's national programme. The interviews have been completed by Rotary Clubs around New Zealand who have done a fantastic job in supporting the programme. It has been a huge task and involved hundreds of volunteer hours. 

What an amazing year our local Waiopehu College Interact Club has planned.  A very busy year ahead and exciting for us all.

Jay Thorne is the president this year. Jay jaytho2@waiopehu.ac.nz was one of the three students that came to Ambrym Island Vanuatu last October to assist with the days for girls distribution, which was organised by PE Jocelyn Hogg.  As incoming President of Levin Rotary Club, one of PE Jocelyn Hogg’s  goals is to fully support this team of youth with their endeavours.

Dan Hutchinson is the HOD outdoor Ed staff member who is the interact team leader his email is danielhut@waiopehu.ac.nz

(read more) to  view the impressive range of goals planned for the 2019/20 Rotary year!!

The Rotary Club of Levin has a number of farmers and lifestyle block owners in its membership.  A number of these farmers run a beef grazing scheme as a club fundraiser for local community projects.  Ten animals are bought and raised at a time, usually over a one to two year period.  One club member pays for the animals and is reimbursed after they are sold.  Pictured is a two year old steer bought mid 2018 for $800 and due to be sold for around $1,500 giving the club a net return of $700.

 ' A staring steer" 

Kia Orana everyone

We have confirmation of the second to last report being received at Rotary International for the post implementation of the Rarotonga Mobile Health Clinic - Rotary Foundation Global Grant supported project. I note the 1st anniversary of the handing over ceremony of the Rarotonga Mobile Health Clinic will occur on the 18th of June, 2019. Our thoughts and best wishes to the Cook Islands for the first birthday celebration and commemoration of this outstanding project - its vision and leadership from the Rotary Club of Masterton South, Rotarians David Baker, Dr Rob Irwin and Paul Snelgrove. 

Rangitikei youth impressed crowds of around 300 locals on Thursday evening with their efforts within the community. The John Turkington Forestry Rangitikei Youth Awards were held at the Marton Memorial Hall to recognise youth encouraging others, leadership, giving back, environment, sports and employment. Rangitikei District Council's Strategic Youth advisor Nardia Gower said it was great to see how stoked the youth all were, even if they didn't win they were happy to be nominated. "We have received overwhelming feedback from the young and old just saying how positive it was and how thankful they are," she said. In its fourth year running, nominations were at their highest at 76 with 117 youth highlighted. "It really adds to the validity of it as it's not just a council event but it's community as well," she said.   Alyce Turner ( 2nd from the right) won the trophy for overall Outstanding Youth award alongside the Giving Back award for her efforts in the formation of the Rangitikei College Rotary Interact Group that have undertaken a lot of community projects.

Hundreds of people turned out for the opening of the Marton Skate Park on Saturday 25 May. After years of dreaming and planning, The Rotary Club of Marton has helped to make the dream come true. Local Skater Roman Strong approached the Mayor some years ago and collected a large number of signatures to support a rebuild of the Skate Park. Pania and Ray Hemopo took up the challenge and prepared a detailed and comprehensive report to support an extension of the Skate Park. Pania approached the Rotary Club of Marton for help and with the injection of Rotarian Andrew Shand's enthusiasm and practical approach the project took off. Nearly $300,000.00 was raised by Rotary in a very short time. 

At the end of April Rotary Hutt Valley gathered in Tauranga-Taupo to help our friends at to plant native trees. Project Tongariro has been around for some time and through a Rotary Hutt Valley contact we arranged to plant trees to support Past International President Ian Riseley’s goal to plant over a million trees around the world in 2018/19 year. Following our trip last year there was plenty of interest within the Club for a repeat performance.  

As with last year we arrived to our own timeframe, most arrived in cars, one motorcycled and one bought his campervan.  A shared meal on Friday night set the scene for a weekend of fellowship teamwork. 

We take everyday necessities for granted and your unwanted bra is a way of helping restore that sense of self worth and ambition which at times becomes eroded by poverty. In warmer climates, not having a bra, is an issue of health too. Basically women have an infection called intertrigo which is a rash, or often abcesses will form between the breast and the chest wall. A bra lifts the breasts, increasing air circulation and hopefully reducing the incidents of that. Last year 1,125 bras found their way to Fiji and 520 to Vanuatu. Our first year 2000 bras were distributed in the Pacific - Rotary Masterton has a major donation drive to do the same again this year. There is a collection bin in Masterton @ Milady Lingerie or if you are outside of Masterton, you can send bras to Marquerite Vierstraete - Williams, 99 Blue Pacific Parade, Riversdale Beach, RD12, Masterton,5872

Let’s inspire people to play it forward.

#RotaryMastertonRocks