PROJECTS

 
 
A montage of some of the Club’s projects and events
Birdwood Reserve Environmental Project
For decades Birdwood Reserve has been largely ignored despite being at the very entrance to Karori. It is a beautiful stream gully but is steep sided and hard to access other than via round the Sanctuary, by Saint John's Pool track. As a result, Birdwood Reserve has been unloved, weedy and full of rubbish. KĀKĀ (Karori Kaitiaki) in partnership with Rotary, is planning to make the Birdwood Reserve more environmentally attractive and sustainable, through more extensive weeding, ‘tidying up’ the vegetation and creating a robust track through it and providing a new entrance to Zealandia.
Christmas Pudding Sales
Our annual fund raising activity, bringing the world famous (in New Zealand) Rotary Christmas pudding to the community.
Citizenship Awards
 
We partner with Johnsonville Rotary and local primary schools in encouraging good citizenship amongst young people, with an annual Awards Ceremony attended by the Mayor of Wellington.  
Emergency Response Kits
 
People can lose everything, including loved ones, when disaster strikes. Rotary helps survivors get through the first days by providing Emergency Response Kits.
 
Kits contain essentials such as tools, toiletries, first aid supplies and household items. This basic equipment enables families to construct a simple shelter and clothe themselves. Kits include tools, toiletries, first aid supplies and household items.
 
These kits are forward positioned in the South Pacific region.
Ian Crabtree Trust
 

Ian Crabtree was a member of Wellington North Rotary who left a bequest. RCWN appoints the trustees to manage the Ian Crabtree Trust.

 

Each year the Trust distributes over $400,000 to

  • the Mary Potter Hospice
  • secondary schools in Wellington and Porirua to support their underprivileged students.
Karori Book Fair
 
The Karori Community Book Fair organised by Rotary and Karori Lions provides much needed fund raising for community support projects. The 2026 Karori Community Book Fair will be held on 11-12 July at the Karori Baptist Church, Marsden Village, Karori
Karori Youth Development
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Khandallah Fair
 
 
The Rotary Khandallah Fair is held on the second Sunday in December on the main street of Khandallah wet or fine. Renown for its interesting craft stalls and entertainment, the Rotary Khandallah fair is a fun place to shop before Christmas.
Kiwi Community Assistance
 

KCA supports Wellington communities by rescuing surplus food and household goods, redistributing them to front line agencies assisting those in need.

 

RCWN is a long term partner of KCA. We have provided funds for purchasing a truck as well as to help with a shift to new premises.

Life Flight
Rotary is a partner of Life Flight Trust – providing emergency air services. Our current project is sponsoring 'Bees In The City'.
Lifting The Lid
 
This is a project involving most Rotary Clubs in the Wellington region. Lifting the Lid provides funding for students that need counselling and psychological support. Their school identifies those at risk and in need of professional assistance, Rotary picks up the bill.
 
Sadly demand for this service is very high and requires constant fund raising.
Marsden Club
Rotary has a long history with the Marsden Club which provides day care for dementia sufferers.
 
The photo shows Rotarians and volunteers completing a recent garden cleanup. We are always looking for volunteers to help us with these activities.
Mary Potter Hospice
 
Rotary has supported the Mary Potter Hospice through contributions from the Ian Crabtree Trust.
Odell Reserve
 
Planting and caring for the environment in the Odell Reserve to establish a Garden of Peace and Remembrance.
 
Our next efforts are planned for late autumn 2026, watch this space.
Polio Eradication
 
Rotary International has partnered with the Bill and Melinda Gates foundation to eradicate polio world wide. We are down to a handful of cases in just a few countries.
 
Great progress has been made and we are almost there. The fight continues.
Reading In Schools
 
 
Several of our members travel weekly to Wainuiomata to read with and encourage reading and maths skills by pupils at Arakura and Pukeatua primary schools.
RYLA
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RYPEN
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Scholarship Trust

The RCWN Scholarship Trust provides scholarships as follows:

 

Individual scholarships for tertiary and polytechnic study. These are currently valued at $5000 each and can be applied for at

Applications open on 1 August and close on 31 October each year.
 

Two Tātai Ako scholarships to support students in their final year of study for a Bachelor of Counselling and Addiction Practice while they undertake a practical work placement at DCM.

 

Life skills. The Trust supports the work of Te Kahu Tiu Trust, a land-based regenerative kaupapa that restores identity, well-being and capability in at risk young men.