I know you will preparing for your World Polio Day events - the flyer below in this bulletin will show you how to register your event - we need to push on and finish the job and End Polio Now.
Don't forget to register for the dinner with Rotary Foundation Chair-Elect and Past RI President Gordon McInally. I would love to have your support to showcase several of our districts projects and launch our ‘Say NO to Domestic and Family Violence campaign. We are incredibly fortunate to have a past Rotary International President come to our district and we should make the most of it. Let’s show him how we enjoy our Rotary with fellowship, fun and fulfilment.
Introducing “Say NO to Domestic and Family Violence”
Domestic and family violence affects every community in New Zealand. The 2026Salvation Army State of the Nation report highlights that family violence remains one of the country's most significant social challenges, with police responding to a family harm incident approximately every three minutes. Behind these statistics are individuals, families, and children whose lives are profoundly affected.
Rotary has a unique opportunity to help raise awareness, encourage community conversations, and support prevention through its extensive network of clubs, volunteers, and community partnerships. We are not counsellors but we can raise awareness of support available within our communities. We are looking to build relationships and support with Women's Refuge, Shine, NZ Police Family Harm Teams, The Salvation Army, schools, councils, and other local community organisations.
This initiative was started successfully over a year ago in Rotary throughout Australia, and we are now ready to introduce it to New Zealand.
We will initially focus on two key activities:
Purple Fridays – encouraging Rotary members and community members to wear a purple Rotary T-shirt one Friday each month to raise awareness and start conversations about family violence.
A District Purple Walk in November – aligned with Rotary clubs across Australia, bringing our communities together in support of family violence awareness and prevention.
We are looking for clubs to get in behind this national and zone initiative. This is not a fundraiser - the investment involves buying a T-shirt. Your President has received information about this initiative and the support is strong across all five Rotary districts. More information will be available as we ramp up with this project.
You may have seen RC Johnsonville's Facebook post about their 12 October meeting on the subject of Shelterbags. Guests who attended the meeting by special invitation came from Rotary Clubs of Tawa, Wellington and Wellington North. The presentation featured Major Mat Badger from the Salvation Army in Johnsonville, which had been given 40 bags.
Mat shared very positive feedback on the warmth and waterproof qualities of the Shelterbags and their observable impact on the physical and mental wellbeing of the individuals who received the bags. The bags were considered very practical, being the size of a large duffel bag and able to be carried (and stored) quite easily. Mat said one individual had valued his bag so highly that, after being allocated permanent housing, he carefully cleaned and returned it, to ensure someone else could get the same benefit.
Looking at the prospect of extending the distribution of Shelterbags to Salvation Army outlets across Johnsonville, Tawa, Porirua and the Hutt Valley, Mat confirmed a target of 100. He is very willing to speak to any club that would like to hear from him further. The trial run, using supplies funded with help from ROZOPS, has emphatically proven the value and impact of the bags.
RC Wellington representatives told the meeting that its members had delivered 57 bags (47 from ROZOPS and 10 from Wellington) to the Compassion Soup Kitchen in central Wellington and had been assured that a further supply in the order of 100 would be very much welcomed. RC Carterton provided 3 Shelterbags to Kim's Way in Masterton - whose response they described as 'ecstatic'.
In combination, the Salvation Army and the Compassion Soup Kitchen have affirmed a desirable target of 200 Shelterbags for the coming winter, working as our partner agencies in the project.
We are asking our District to help spread the word to every Club from the Kapiti Coast to Upper Hutt and across Wellington City. A small contribution from many clubs at $150 per bag will easily spread the load.
Presidents/Secretaries/Treasurers - Please ensure you complete the forms for the insurers as soon as possible. If you have not received the email request, please contact District Insurance Officer Barry Bailey bjbvan@gmail.com
Health and Safety
Please ensure that your club has a current Health and Safety policy in place. This is important for ensuring that you are considering the safety of your members.
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.
