The Rotary Club of Downtown Auckland

06/07/2026

Last week, our club gathered for a milestone evening at our annual Changeover event, a night to reflect on an exceptional year of community impact, celebrate our achievements, and officially look ahead to the future!

Thank You, President Dan Turkel!
We extend our deepest gratitude to our outgoing President, Dan Turkel. Under Dan’s steady and inspiring leadership over the past 12 months, our club has championed amazing local and international initiatives, from environmental planting days and youth development sponsorships to critical community fundraising across the Pacific. Thank you, Dan, for your unwavering dedication, humor, and commitment to Service Above Self.

Welcoming President David Graham!
As one chapter closes, an exciting new one begins. We are thrilled to officially welcome David Graham as our President for the upcoming Rotary year! David brings incredible vision, energy, and a passion for community networking to the role. We are excited to support him as he leads us into another year of action and fellowship across central Auckland.

Special Guest: Incoming District Governor Jyoti Singh!
We were also incredibly honoured to have the incoming District Governor for District 9920, Jyoti Singh, join us for the celebrations. It was fantastic to share the evening with Jyoti as she prepares to lead our wider district network, and we look forward to working closely with her to create lasting positive change over the coming year.

Thank you to all the members, partners, and friends of the club who joined us to make the evening so memorable. Here’s to a vibrant, impactful, and successful year ahead under President David!

12/06/2026

Quiz Night 2026 Raises $3,000 for Pacific Initiatives!

The Rotary Club of Downtown Auckland recently gathered at the Grand Millennium Hotel for our 2026 Quiz Night, bringing together over 100 guests across 11 tables for a fantastic night of fundraising.
Thanks to the incredible generosity of our members, corporate partners, and guests, we successfully raised approximately $3,000! These vital funds will directly support our International Committee’s community initiatives across the Pacific.

🔹International Committee Project Spotlight: The Hope Center
During the Round 2 break, our International Committee shared a powerful update on how last year's fundraising efforts are actively transforming lives:
The Hope Center has broadened its footprint deeper into the Pacific, now actively serving communities in Vanuatu, Vanua Levu (the upper north island of Fiji), and remote villages across the Fijian mainland.

Looking ahead through 2026, we are working closely with the Rotary Foundation, the District Governor, and local Kiwi and Fijian Rotary Clubs to match fundraising amounts and build lasting, sustainable partnerships

🔹Heartfelt Thanks to Our Partners & Volunteers
• Our Corporate Partners & Sponsors: Grand Millennium Hotel, James Billing, Milford Asset Management, Mosaic FSI, Sysdoc, and Martelli McKegg.
• Our Rotary Family: The Rotary Club of Botany and the Rotaract Club of Auckland City for bringing unmatched energy and fellowship.
• Our Hardworking Volunteer Team: Dee, Jan, Nilam, Ali, Simon, Tim, Victoria, David, John, Greg, Renee and Peter for ensuring a seamless and memorable evening.

Vinaka Vakalevu and thank you for your enduring support!

09/06/2026

Double Win for Our Community Committee!

At the Downtown Auckland Rotary Club, our Community Committee is all about turning local generosity into direct, meaningful action. This month, we are incredibly proud to celebrate two fantastic initiatives making a tangible difference right here in Auckland.

🔹Books in Schools: Fueling a Love for Reading at Sylvia Park School
Thanks to a wonderful partnership with the team at Paper Plus Remuera, Sylvia Park School recently received four entire loads of brand-new books! The best part? These aren't just for the classroom—the children get to take them home and keep them to build their own personal libraries.
A massive shoutout to our very own Elaine Ebbett, who continues to tirelessly source local bookstores with surplus stock to ensure our 'Books in Schools' project keeps thriving.

🔹 Two Hands, Two Cans: Fighting Food Insecurity
Alongside fostering literacy, our club remains deeply committed to supporting local families facing hardship. Through our ongoing Two Hands, Two Cans initiative, we are mobilizing practical support and collecting essential food items to ensure fewer tables go empty in our community. Thanks to everyone's incredible generosity, our latest collection was proudly donated to the Auckland City Mission - Te Tāpui Atawhai on Boston Rd this past Thursday!

Want to get involved in hands-on projects that directly uplift Auckland schools and families? Drop us a message or join us at an upcoming meeting to see how you can lend a hand!

29/05/2026

Gumboots Ready! Downtown Rotary's 'Trees for Survival' Planting Days are Back!

We are incredibly proud to support the Trees for Survival programme, partnering with local schools to restore our natural ecosystems. Over the past year, students have been carefully nurturing native seedlings from scratch—now, it's time to help them get those trees into the ground.

Want to make a tangible environmental impact, support local youth, and enjoy a great day out in nature? Grab your gumboots and join us at our first two planting days of the season:
🔹Day 1: Thursday, 11th June 2026, South Head, with Meadowbank School
🔹Day 2: Friday, 19th June 2026, Freemans Bay, with Freemans Bay School

Want to join the crew? Send us a direct message, an email, or connect with our Environment Committee to register your interest and get the full details. Let's grow a greener future together!

27/05/2026

Meet Our June Speaker Lineup at Downtown Auckland Rotary Club.
As we head into the final month of the Rotary year, we are thrilled to welcome three exceptional guest speakers to our Tuesday morning meetings.

Mark your calendars for these upcoming sessions:

09 June 2026
Tom Maasland | Partner, MinterEllisonRuddWatts | AI in the Legal Practice
Artificial Intelligence is rapidly rewriting the rules of professional services. Tom will share expert insights into how AI is transforming legal frameworks, risk management, and the future of corporate practice.

16 June 2026
Colin Chisholm | Business Development Manager, Heartland Bank | The Bank and Reverse Mortgages
With shifting demographics and economic landscapes, financial freedom in retirement is more topical than ever. Colin will unpack the mechanics, trends, and strategic role of reverse mortgages in New Zealand.

23 June 2026
Sarah Murray | Owner & Editor, Fashion Quarterly | Media and the Fashion Industry
How does a legacy print brand thrive in a digital-first world? Sarah will take us behind the scenes of the fast-paced fashion media landscape, discussing cultural shifts, local manufacturing, and storytelling.

If you are interested to know if Rotary is for you, or would like to come along to listen to these amazing speakers, please send us a direct message or email!

23/05/2026

We're midway through an incredible two days of diplomacy and debate at the Rotary District 9920 2026 Model United Nations Assembly (MUNA)!

Hosted at Rosmini College, this year’s event brings together 300 future leaders forming 100 teams to tackle some of the world's most complex global issues. A massive thank you to our Secretary General, Shanan Halbert, for expertly guiding the delegates through a rigorous and inspiring weekend of debate.

Beyond the brilliant diplomacy, MUNA is also an opportunity to celebrate outstanding local leadership and give back:
🔹 Paul Harris Fellow Award: We were incredibly proud to honour Rosmini College Principal Nixon Cooper with a Paul Harris Fellow recognition, acknowledging his immense support of MUNA and dedication to shaping young minds in our community.
🔹 Supporting the Community: In true Rotary spirit, a $2,500 donation from Rotary District 9920 was presented to St. Vincent de Paul—Rosmini’s preferred charity—to support their vital work helping families in need.

Thank you to all the students, staff, volunteers, and Rotarians lead by Downtown Auckland Rotary Club’s Jan Malcolm who pour their energy into making this weekend a resounding success. The future of global leadership is looking very bright!

20/03/2026

Rotary District 9920 - Auckland and the Pacific Islands jewels galore! RCODA International Director, Dee Lodhia with DG Kirsten Hawke and Jennie Herring and Le Ann Herring. The team are attending Rotary Oceania Sunmit this weekend in Napier.

20/03/2026

RCODA members are attending Rotary Oceania Summit in Napier this weekend. Aptly themed 'Unite for Good', this summit combines districts of New Zealand and the Pacific Islands. It's been a great network with Clubs right throughout NZ and the Pacific and discover synergies in our community projects.

Proud moments at the Rotary Oceania Summit in beautiful Napier ��

Our President Ashika Devi alongside President Amelia from the Rotary Club of Labasa proudly representing the Pacific Islands—bringing our voices, our stories, and our commitment to service to the regional stage.

Stronger together, united in purpose, and inspired to create lasting impact across our communities �

Rotary Club Botany Downs Rotary Club Papatoetoe Central Rotary InternationalRotary District 9920 - Auckland and the Pacific IslandsRotary South Pacific Rotary Fiji

02/03/2026

A massive thank you to past Downtown member and Managing Director of Simplicity, Sam Stubbs, for joining us this morning. Sam shared a refreshingly positive outlook for the NZ economy, anchored by the transformative power of KiwiSaver.

His insights into how a growing pool of domestic capital can fuel infrastructure, innovation, and long-term prosperity gave us all plenty to think about. It’s a reminder that when we invest in ourselves, the potential is limitless.

We are grateful for Sam’s generous donation of $5000 to the Club on behalf of Simplicity NZ.

We were also privileged to hear from Peter Ross, District Chair of Youth Projects. Peter provided a comprehensive overview of the upcoming multitude of Youth Programs slated for this year.

Rotary is a global family, and it was a pleasure to extend a warm Auckland welcome to our international guest Albert van Kaastel from the Netherlands and his son Rob. Thank you for visiting our club and sharing in our fellowship!