Our Projects
Another great evening with enthusiastic participants, who supported our causes. Thank you!
Lifting the Lid on Youth Suicide (HB). Funding early interventions for secondary school students who are at risk of self-harm or suicide.
Life Education Trust (HB). Funding the mobile schoolroom that visits primary and intermediate schools plus the educators who play such a big part in teaching young children about their bodies and minds and making right decisions.
Brain Injury Association (HB). Provides Care Packages and physical support for existing Brain Injury clients of all ages who require assistance to manage their everyday activities and to deal with added trauma.
Awhi Charitable Trust. Offers support to rangatahi who don't experience success in mainstream education.
Orokohanga Music Trust. Aim to empower communities through music.
He makes and installs ‘little free libraries’ as arranged with Hastings District Librarians.This one is at Oakleigh Downs in Grove Road in an enclave occupied by older people who have difficulty in getting to the main library. They are regularly restocked by library staff and books are sometimes left there by other people.
Thanks to Pete for doing this community project without any fanfares or fuss. The staff were very, very grateful. There are more planned for other semi-remote sites so we might see them popping up all around the town.
Thank you Tumu Timbers for donating the wood.
Our Club has adopted the section of the cycle trail running from the intersection of Te Mata Road and Waimarama to the northern boundary with Craggy Range vineyard. We spent 3.5 hours clearing weeds and grass from the sides of the cycle trail on Waimarama Road ready for King’s Birthday weekend.
We received feedback from Friends of Hawke's Bay Trails:
📢 Huge shout out to the wonderful volunteers from Stortford Lodge Rotary who donated their time and energy to the Waimarama Road section, that they have adopted, clearing away weeds, drains and grass encroaching onto the path last week.
They have plans to head back out and put in some more mahi later this month- so if you see our friends working in hi-vis, or safety signage please slow down and show them some appreciation!
We can't provide world class trails without support from our community, if you would like to become a Friend of Hawke's Bay Trails, please head to our website to find out how you can support us!
https://www.hbtrails.nz/.../donate-friends-of-hawkes-bay.../
Ehara toa i te toa takitahi, engari, he toa takitini – My success (or my strength) is not that of a single person but instead the strength of many.
is a national Rotary campaign in New Zealand aiming to collect 1 million cans of food for local food banks. The campaign is a response to the increasing need for food support due to the cost of living crisis.
Rotary Clubs across New Zealand participated, collecting donations at supermarkets, schools, retirement homes, and other locations. The campaign ran from June 9th to June 16th, 2025, with a focus on helping families struggling to put food on the table.
We collected cans together with Rotary Havelock North and presented them to Salvation Army Foodbank in Hastings.
Supplying Dictionaries at Schools
We visited Twyford School to present 52 Usborne Dictionaries to year 4-6 students. It was a pleasure to give these to the students as they will be useful in their learning and at home. We were impressed by the politeness of the students and their good behaviour. Great to see!
Cyclone Gabrielle Recovery
Stortford Rotary donated funds to purchase radio communications modules for HB Surf Life Saving Club.
Cyclone Gabrielle Recovery
Thanks to our Rotary members and the help of 8 Rotary clubs from Auckland and Northland we helped homeowners with getting their homes back to a standard of repair.
Rotary responded quickly to provide food, clothing and other basic necessities. Within days District Governor Kevin Forgeson and District Foundation Chair Ken Smith responded by securing a Disaster Response Grant from The Rotary Foundation to assist with recovery efforts.
Cyclone Gabrielle Recovery Genlend Project
A community initiative has been launched to bring generators, pumps and small
diggers from around the country into Hawke's Bay as part of the disaster response.
International Projects
Tanzania
A group of 18 Rotarians went to Tanzania to celebrate Form 4 Awards for students who reached the end of their O-level studies. A huge achievement in Tanzania.
We received the newsletter from St Jude with interesting information about their activities.
Samoa
A shipping container has been sent to Rotary Apia.
Brian McLay and his great team of merry men (and Di) did the deed last weekend and filled the shipping container with school equipment, school books and office furniture ready for transportation to Samoa. It’s now on its way. Congratulations to all the team on a great job done.
All Rotary Clubs endeavour to give international students the opportunity to experience New Zealand for a year.
In 2024 our club invited Laurenz from Germany. To see a student grow with self-esteem, assurance of self and joining in with all activities that Rotary is known for, we are sure that Laurenz had a great time with us.