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Our Duties 29 July Please note that these may differ from previous notifications
Desk 6.45 - Dawn Sanders
Greeter 6.45 - Rob Whitney
Set up/Pack up - Lou Bray-Burns
Kaikohau - Sophie Miller
Opening Thought - Nicole Barker
Introduction - Joy Durrant
Thanking - Iona Sammons
Parting thought- Andy Ellis
Reporter - Ross Buxton
Photographer - Cameron Dittmer
Guardian 6.45 - Nick Duncan
Our Speaker this week is:
Scott Langdale
Zealandia volunteer, tour guide and photographer
Scott is a sustainability and environmental education professional with a deep background in Earth sciences, project leadership, and science communication.
After two decades leading geoscience and energy projects across the South Pacific, he shifted his focus toward helping people and organisations understand, and act on, the challenges of environmental sustainability.
Today, his work spans education, engagement, and strategy: from guiding international visitors through Aotearoa’s wildlife sanctuaries to supporting the development of evidence-based sustainability practices.
His topic is, “Zealandia: where we are now and where to next.”
President David
Greetings, Rotary friends,
Last Wednesday, we had a very engaging meeting, with Geoff Hayward from Volunteer Wellington and Rochelle Stewart- Allan from the Boring Fund sharing their experiences in community-led groups. RCPN has a common purpose as we are a community group, supporting local and international projects. We are motivated by helping others but, as Rochelle pointed out, we are also filling service gaps that, for whatever reason, our society chooses not to prioritise and where the system is falling short. Our Club's flagship programme, Lifting the Lid, is an example of such an initiative. Clinicians and school professionals have told us that without LtL, many young people would not receive timely mental health assistance. The consequences of this don't bear thinking about. RCPN does make a difference, and you make a difference by being a member.
Our Membership Director Nicole Barker, Fiona Smith and Iona Sammons are doing some great work in refreshing our social media, including reviving our use of our LinkedIn and Instagram accounts. I have been posting on Facebook and our goal is to take our internal and external communications to a new level by deliberately using social media. Over time, this includes making it easy for members and non-members to learn more about our club and Rotary, and book for events. Our aim is to eventually create new contacts we can connect with. I know some members may not use social media but if you do, please visit our RCPN profiles and, importantly, 'like', comment, and share our posts. Those simple actions increase our club's exposure.
At this week's Wednesday meeting, we hear from Scott Langdale from Zealandia. He will be giving us an update on Zealandia and talk about its future direction. Don't miss his presentation.
And make sure you join us at brunch on Sunday at 11.30am at Hotel Catalina in Lyall Bay.
Have a good week.
A small contribution can make a big difference …
The Club is again looking to help the settlement of refugees that arrive in Wellington, in co-ordination with the Anglican Cathedral. The Community Service Committee would like to invite club members to help by providing dry pantry items for the next group of refugee families for their arrival in September.
We are provided with a list of 20 items to source for the refugee family's pantry pack, which I will split between us to purchase, or you may have the items in your own pantry that you might like to donate.
If you would like to take part, let me know and I will allocate the items between those interested, and arrange to pick them up at the club meetings on 5 August, 19 August, 2 September, or arrange to pick them up at another time. Thank you.
Marc Rands (RCPN Community Service Committee)
The future looks good
Meetings, speakers and events coming up
5 August - Scott Langdale - Zealandia: where are we at and where to next
12 August - Elizabeth Lester - CEO - The work of Dwell Housing Trust
16 August Big Hats High Tea (Deets provided above)
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 - Fiona Smith & Simon Warburton - New member presentations
16 September - Dr Melanie Young - Osteopathy and voluntary support for children in need
23 September - Club Forum
7 October - Simon Douglas - Automobile Assoc. The transport issues facing NZ now and into the future
14 October - RADAR awards
21 October (Wednesday evening) 2026 Grand Night Out - No breakfast meeting
2027
21 April - Goal Setters Awards at Te Papa. Early notice for your diary entry
A GRAND NIGHT OUT
is a special night in the Rotary Calendar
Here is a little info for those who are new to the evening……
About the Charity “Lifting the Lid on Youth Mental Health” (LTL)
The LTL programme has been developed by Rotary to provide funds to colleges and schools in Wellington. LTL has a simple yet profound mission – to help Wellington schools source additional or complementary interventions for students who have, or at risk of developing mental health issues.
Outcomes to date:
3.5 years since “Lifting the Lid” started in Wellington
1773 students supported
2125 sessions funded
12 students per week it equates to during the school year.
There are 14 participating schools in Wellington: 10 Secondary and 4 Intermediate Schools.
An outline of the event:
A restaurant hosts a table of 8 people for a two-course dinner without charge, but guests pay for all drinks consumed, and any other food.
A fun and exciting fundraising evening, offering guests an exciting night out.
A “blind draw” is held when guests find out where they will be dining for the evening. Tables are matched with a venue, by drawing out a venue name from one hat and a table name from another hat.
On a slightly drizzly Sunday 7 walkers wound their way from South Karori Road to Wright’s Hill with a brief viewing of some remnants of old WW2 armaments and some outstanding views of Wellington. Followed by a quicker return trip down the hill to Karori Park Cafe for lunch.
Despite murky conditions we were in the bush for most of the walk and with little or no wind everyone stayed dry and warm.
While a small group everyone enjoyed themselves with plenty of time to chat along the way.
This week Port Nicholson Rotary welcomed two speakers working at different ends of the community-support spectrum: one connecting volunteers to causes, the other connecting funders to unglamorous need. We heard from Geoff Hayward (Volunteer Wellington) and Rochelle Stewart-Allan (The Boring Fund).
This week, members enjoyed hearing from two of our newest Rotarians, Aparna Dubey and Charles Little, who shared their fascinating life journeys, values, and experiences.
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.
