• Rotary Fights Fires with a Greenbelt

    Whakatū Rotarians spent the weekend volunteering with a community wildfire-reduction initiative at St Arnaud, Nelson Lakes National Park.

    Clearing native trees beside Rotoiti Lodge Outdoor Education Centre may seem contradictory in a national park. However, the removal of highly-flammable Kanuka and Manuka along Lodge Road enables a green belt of native plants with low flammability to develop. This helps to reduce the threat from wildfires spreading from the west towards the village of St Arnaud.

    The Rotoiti District Community Board run project is endorsed by the Department of Conservation and Fire and Emergency New Zealand.

    The Whakatū team spent Saturday and Sunday morning moving the felled trees into piles ready for disposal. It was satisfying work, achieved ahead of the summer forecast of hot, dry and windy El Nino conditions in which wildfires are a threat.

    Clearing kanuka and manuka alongside Rotoiti Lodge Outdoor Education Centre mitigates the threat of wildfires.

  • Service with a Smile

    You don’t mind doing the dishes when you’re helping to raise $61,000 for Big Brothers Big Sisters Nelson Tasman!

    Whakatū Rotarians donned club shirts to serve diners and wash dishes for the annual BBBS fundraising dinner and auction. The smiles on the faces of this team in the kitchen of the Rutherford Hotel show they also had fun.

    This is the third year Whakatū Rotary has volunteered as waiting staff for the dinner. It’s an easy way for us to show our support for BBBS. The money raised will make a very real difference to the work the organisation does with young people across Nelson Tasman.

    https://www.facebook.com/BigBrothersBigSistersofNelson

  • Inspiring a New Generation of Service

    Whakatū Rotary welcomed Troy Stade as president for the 2026–2027 Rotary year at the club’s American Independence Day-themed changeover dinner at the weekend.

    At just a few weeks from turning 33, Troy is one of the youngest Rotary presidents installed across District 9999 (the South Island) this year. Rotary leadership runs in the family—his parents, Karen Stade and Martin de Ruyter, are both club members and former presidents, while Karen will serve as District 9999 Governor-Elect in 2026–2027.

    Troy is keen to make the club even more project-focused, encouraging members to “get their hands dirty” by digging holes, planting trees, and taking the lead in developing exciting new community service projects and volunteer-driven events.

  • Spin the Wheel and Have a Ball

    Whakatū Rotary went back to school for the first of the annual college balls last weekend, putting on a casino for the Nayland College Ball.

    The four casino tables (Blackjack, Texas Hold’em Poker, Roulette and Spin the Wheel) are a fun alternative to dancing for ballgoers and have been welcomed by students over several years. Running the casino is a great way for our Whakatū Rotary croupier team to connect with teenagers and we really enjoy the night out with them.

    The college support of our fundraising casinos helps us to support various community projects, so it’s a win-win.

    If you’re interested in hiring our team to run a fun (cashless) casino for your event, get in touch with us.