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Our Duties 15 July Please note that these may differ from previous notifications
Desk 6.45 - Jo Douglas
Greeter 6.45 - Lou Bray-Burns
Set up/Pack up - Aparna Dubey
Kaikohau - Howard Tong
Opening Thought - Tori Treigaadt
Introduction - Richard Brodie
Thanking - Ross Buxton
Parting thought- Nick Duncan
Reporter - Brenda Lazelle
Photographer - Jeff Lee
Guardian 6.45 - Charles Little
Our Speaker this week is:
Tava Malolua
Wellington Manager - Zeal New Zealand
Zeal is an Aotearoa youth organisation providing safe, inclusive local and online spaces – where you can explore and flex your strengths through affordable programmes and workshops, and make lifelong friendships at creative showcases and events.
Tava's topic is, "Providing inclusive spaces & opportunities for young people in Aotearoa."
President David
Kia ora Rotary friends, and Mānawatia a Matariki.
It is hard to believe we are now into the second half of the year and past the shortest day. So, here's to another interesting six months at RCPN.
Thanks to Paula and her Projects Committee for an excellent film night, and to you all for attending. It was a heartrending but ultimately rewarding film that showed how complicated and contradictory our social welfare system can be and the emotional toll these tensions can have. The film was very pertinent to Rotary as we are about helping the vulnerable. The film was a poignant example of what those vulnerable people might look like. The film night generated a handy $1000 for youth and other projects.
We also welcome Iona Sammons who we inducted into Rotary last week. We all wish her an enjoyable and fulfilling Rotary career. She will be joining the Projects Committee and will bring to it valuable skills and experience.
In the weeks ahead, the Board will be having its first meeting of the year, and a Strategic planning session as part of that meeting. We will build upon the comprehensive Annual Plan IPP Nicole produced last year and create some priorities to further that plan based on our themes for 2026/27 which are: Telling Our Story and Everyone Belongs. These themes involve promoting Rotary, our club, and raising awareness beyond our networks and into the Wellington community. Belonging means that a member feels connected to RCPN whether they have been a member for two months or 30 years, and they are able to contribute in a meaningful way (for them) as much as they wish to.
After our planning session, Directors will share proposed priorities with their Committees and these will become the focus of our club activities this year. We will also produce our budget in parallel with this planning. We wish to use our Committee structure as much as possible to ensure all of us are involved in shaping our direction.
After really helpful feedback from members, we are introducing regular brunches and early weeknight dinners; the aim is one a month. They will be informal, relatively short (one to one and a half hours) and early on a weekday night (5.45pm or 6.00pm) or a Saturday or Sunday. This is a chance to show up and chat with members without the meeting responsibilities or formalities. The first one is on Saturday 8 August at 11.30am at Hotel Catalina in Lyall Bay. You pay for and eat and drink what you wish and partners, children and friends are very welcome. Please RSVP to the invitation Lou has sent out.
Finally, I wish to thank IPP Nicole for her efforts in using Teams to bring in Mark Pickering and Antz Zogg to our meetings. I know this has given Mark and Antz real joy in being with their Rotary friends and we have been delighted to have their presence.
Antz is in a difficult place right now and is currently in Wellington Hospital. Please visit him there (mid-morning is best). Our thoughts are with him and his family at this critical time.
And finally, to all those traveling, we wish you a memorable time and a safe homecoming when the time comes to return home. Remember, if you are ever inclined, you are welcome at any Rotary club in the world. Anyone bringing back some banners or flags?
Have a satisfying week.
RCPN Perambulators welcome everyone to join them
Where: Wrights Hill and Karori Park Cafe 400 Karori Road
When: 26 July 2026 9.45 for a 10am start
Yes the Perambulators are getting out and about again!
This time we are going to meet at Karori Park Pavillion, at 9.45 for a 10am departure. Park your car at the Park or on the road beside the Park. From there we will do a car shuttle to the start of the walk, and do a circuit back to the Park for lunch. Rick is organising the circuit. Make sure you have good walking shoes and poles for those who like to use them. A drink, snack and jacket is also a good idea.
After our hike we will eat lunch at the Karori Park Cafe. This is a very relaxed place to eat.The menu leans to familiar café classics like toasted sandwiches and eggs Benedict, as well as options like the avocado bacon burger or a bacon and cheese pie.
Please register by Friday 24 July so we know how many to expect. Friends and family are most welcome!
Looking forward to another lovely Perambulation :)
Lou and Rick
The future looks good
Meetings, speakers and events coming up
15 July - Tava Malolua - Providing inclusive spaces& opportunities for young people in Aotearoa
22 July - Fiona Smith & Charles Little - New member presentations
26 July - Perambulators Wrights Hill - see deets above
5 August - Scott Langdale - Zealandia: where are we at and where to next
12 August - Elizabeth Lester - CEO - The work of Dwell Housing Trust
19 August - Phil McCarthy & Jacob Smythe
23 August - Lifting the Lid on mental health Global Grant briefing 2-4pm Deets TBC
26 August - Shona Riddell - Writer and podcaster - Lighthouses
2 September - Vice Chancellor Professor Bryony James - The vision for Te Herenga Waka
9 September - Aparna Dubey & Simon Warburton - New member presentations
16 September - Dr Melanie Young - Osteopathy and voluntary support for children in need
14 October - RADAR awards
21 October (Wednesday evening) 2026 Grand Night Out - No breakfast meeting
Wonderful celebration of Innovative Young Minds
Innovative Young Minds celebrated 10 years at Parliament this week, with over 1000 young women having the opportunity to view careers in STEM industries. Sophie Miller, one of our newest members was in the first cohort and gave a great speech. The club sponsors one young person a year (see Lucy with Rob below) and Rob Whitney and IRANZ are also significant sponsors.
Lifting the Lid Newsletter July 2026
To highlight the impact of Lifting the Lid on youth mental health and how valuable your support is, outlined below is an abbreviated note we received from a Principal. To read to note go to In Case You Missed it below ….
Providing Pantry Items for our New Arrivals
A big thank you to Rotary club members for their refugee pantry donations. During the year to June 2026, you all contributed to the resettlement of 114 individuals, across 30 households into Wellington, Porirua and the Hutt Valley with the support of 22 parishes and organisations. Keep up the good work!
Marc Rands
Tree Planting With Friends of Tawa Bush
A good group of keen Tree Planters, but only a few Port Nicholson members had a very successful afternoon planting 900 trees on the most beautiful day. D G Brent, Lisa, Nick, Charles and his wife Barbara, Marc and Ann Rands, Ayesha and her husband Bikesh, and Sarah the loan Interact member, along with the photographer. The afternoon concluded with a delicious afternoon tea compliments of Lisa. Brent had to spend all afternoon tea time at a meeting on his phone!
Flis Pask is a Wellington based ACC registered acupuncturist and Pilates teacher. She specializes in treatments targeting musculoskeletal health, sleep, and digestion.
Attached is the trapping roster to take us from May - August 2026
Please Text Fraser Ebbett (WCC) 021 765 694 when you arrive and leave the site
9-May
Jo Douglas & Steve Lawton
23-May
Noel Winsloe & Ross Buxton
6-Jun
Jeff Lee & David Shackleton
20-Jun
Marc Rands
4-Jul
Paula McKnight & Dennis Small
18-Jul
Jenny Flannigan-Tong & Howard Tong
1-Aug
Brent Gerrard & Rick Hughes
15-Aug
Dawn Sanders & Peter Whittington
As always please swap if your allocated date doesn't suit.
Many thanks to all for helping out with this important club project.
Kaikohau (Expression of hope)
Nau mai ngā hua
Nau mai ngā pai
Nau mai kia nui
Kia hāwere ai
Tihei mauri ora
Welcome all things that have grown
Welcome all things that are good
May they be plentiful and abundant
Port Nicholson Rotary Board Members 2026/7
President David Barnes
Treasurer Nick Duncan
Community Services Marc Rands
Club Services Ross Buxton
District Liaison Brent Gerrard Lifting the Lid David Shackleton
Secretary Jo Douglas Membership Nicole Barker Projects Paula McKnight
Youth Tori Triegaardt
Past President Nicole Barker
President Elect Nick Duncan
If you have feedback for the Editors, or content you would like included in the club bulletin, please send it to rcpnbulletin@gmail.com by 9am on Sunday to ensure its inclusion.
