Rotary Club of Havelock North

11/10/2026

Making a Big Difference, One Page at a Time!
We are proud of our wonderful Rotary volunteers who take part in the weekly Lucknow School Reading Programme!
Every week, our dedicated volunteer "grandparents" spend one-on-one time with students, listening to them read aloud, offering encouragement, and helping them tackle tricky words. These short, focused sessions do so much more than improve reading skills - they build confidence, foster genuine connections, and make learning a truly rewarding experience for the children.
Our Rotary volunteers cherish this weekly time with the students, and their appreciation for the school community only grows stronger with each visit - especially after seeing the incredible talent on display at the school's recent 'Tour of New Zealand' production!
Giving time to these young learners helps them benefit and thrive. Thank you to the team from Havelock North Rotary Club for their ongoing commitment and support and thank you to the staff of Lucknow School for letting the volunteer "grandparents" enjoy spending time with the students.

09/10/2026

Today, Saturday October 10th, the Havelock North Rotary trailer raffle is outside The Warehouse, Hastings, until 5pm.

04/10/2026

30/09/2026

Eight Tukituki electorate candidates will be at the Meet the Candidates public meeting next Monday.
Come along and hear directly from our local parliamentary candidates before you head to the ballot box!
The Rotary Club of Havelock North and the Host Lions Club of Hastings are joining forces to host a Meet the Candidates evening, giving our community the chance to hear where each candidate stands on key issues.
📅 Date: Monday, 5 October 2026
⏰ Time: 7:00 PM start (Doors open at 6:45 PM)
📍 Venue: Havelock North Community Centre
⏱️ Finish: Approx. 9:00 PM
What to expect: • Addresses from local Tukituki candidates • Responses to pre-advised key community questions • Floor Q&A (time & moderator permitting)
Bring your friends and neighbours! Everyone is welcome.

27/09/2026

Busy hands, warm hearts!

Our amazing Havelock North Rotary Ladies Knitting Group has had an incredibly productive month crafting much-needed knitted items requested directly by local community support workers!

A big shoutout to the staff at Re-Source, who guide our team on which items are needed most and generously donate yarn toward the cause. The rest of the yarn is funded directly by the members of Havelock North Rotary Club.

How you can help keep the yarn flowing:
Starting October 9th, look out for Havelock North Rotarians selling tickets for our annual Christmas Trailer Raffle! Proceeds from ticket sales help us buy more yarn so our ladies can keep doing what they do best - keeping our community members warm and cozy.

Grab a ticket when you see us out and about, and support a great cause!

20/09/2026

What a brilliant day at the Hastings Blossom Parade! From vibrant colours and amazing floats to wonderful music, the atmosphere was unmatched.

Shoutout to our Havelock North Rotary members, the Hastings Host Lions Club, and local volunteer teams who helped keep the event safe and smooth for everyone. Proud to support our community!

12/09/2026

Step into history at the Keirunga Homestead Rotary Garden!
Did you know this beautiful spot has been hosting memories for over 50 years?
Officially opened on June 18, 1972, this area was originally known in the Nelson era as "the Island" - the unique slice of land sitting right between what was the up-drive and the down-drive.
Back in the day, it even featured a pergola covered in Kiwifruit - known then as Chinese Gooseberries. Members of the Havelock North Rotary Club transformed it into the perfect oasis for outdoor hobby groups and family picnics.
Five decades later, the iconic timber benches to the west of the lawn are still the perfect place to sit back, relax, and take it all in.
From weddings and community meetings to countless sunny afternoon gatherings, this lawn has seen so much community activity.
Have you ever attended an event or snapped a photo here? Please share your memories in the comments below!
For the past 53 years, Havelock North Rotary Club members have been active in creating and supporting local projects. If you want to know how you can help us with local community projects, please visit our web page https://rotaryhavelocknorth.nz/ or email [email protected]

02/09/2026

Lives transformed with a life-changing adventure!

Thanks to the Rotary-administered J.R. McKenzie Scholarship, these students recently took on the ultimate Outward Bound experience - an opportunity they said would have otherwise "just been a pipe dream."
From sailing and navigating without technology to building deep resilience, teamwork, and lifelong friendships across New Zealand, this three-week course empowers young leaders to unlock their full potential.
For students aged 16 - 18, the next course will be held in the July 2027 school holidays, with applications closing in late March 2027.
This year a Havelock North student was selected to attend. The cost of this year’s three week course was close to $7,000 with the J R McKenzie Trust contributing more than half of that amount and the Havelock North Rotary Club contributing a further $500. Many of the students self funded the balance with savings earned from their after school employment.
If you know an inspiring young person ready to step out of their comfort zone, reach out to your local Rotary Club early in 2027 to submit an expression of interest.

26/08/2026

The Stories Behind the Scenery at Te Mata Peak
Many of us have stood at the summit of Te Mata Peak, taking in those breathtaking, panoramic views of Hawke’s Bay. But have you ever stopped to think about the history beneath your feet?
Known to Māori as Te Mata o Rongokako, this is a place of deep spiritual and cultural significance - a sacred taonga tuku iho (heavenly gift).
To help visitors safely experience this incredible, sacred landscape, the viewing area at the top was specially developed back in 1998.
This fantastic community asset was a joint project built by two dedicated local groups:
The Rotary Club of Havelock North
The Hawke’s Bay Branch of the NZ Contractors Federation
Next time you’re up at the Peak enjoying the view, spare a thought for the history of the land and the team who built the platform we stand on!