A valuable asset for the future of Ōtaki.
Supporting the people and places of Ōtaki.
Rotary Club of Ōtaki in front of Rotary Lounge.
It’s not hard to fall in love with Ōtaki, says Rotary Club of Ōtaki President, Adrian Gregory. “Ōtaki epitomises a community that is active and interconnected with a strong sense of doing things right, for its people, the health, wellbeing and manaakitanga of the around 9,000 people who live here,” he says.
Settling back home on the Kāpiti Coast after six years in Wellington city, he and his wife, who works in healthcare, moved for the lifestyle, the climate and the community. Not long after moving to Ōtaki Adrian attended a Rotary meeting to discuss the Expressway and soon became involved in Lifting the Lid on Youth Suicide; an initiative delivering immediate support to students experiencing mental health issues. He became Chair of this initiative involving four Rotary clubs, followed by President of the Rotary Club of Ōtaki in 2020.
Rotary Club of Ōtaki at 50th Jubilee celebrations.
A long history of community service
The Rotary Club of Ōtaki has had a long and impressive history in the region. Recognised as a Club by Rotary International in 1964, they are one of 35,000 clubs worldwide; each working to create lasting change in their communities.
Although a lot has changed since their inauguration almost 60-years ago, their adherence to Rotary’s motto of ‘service above self’ certainly hasn’t. Carl Lutz, a member of the Club for 53-years says “we used to show up to meetings in a suit and tie, and attendance every week was mandatory – things are more relaxed these days.”
Throughout its long history, the Club has been involved in many humanitarian and community-focused initiatives, locally and internationally. They are now in their tenth year of providing meals to competitors and supporters of the Big Bang Adventure, have sponsored dozens to take part in Rotary’s Young Leaders programme and are long-time supporters of Healthy Heroes, an initiative promoting physical activity for youth.
Further afield, the Rotary Club of Ōtaki has supported international initiatives, from polio vaccine programmes in India to international disaster relief through the provision of essential shelter boxes.
“Our ongoing work in the community is testament to the continued relevance of Rotary and the impact we are still having on local communities – even 60 years later,” says Adrian.
A move to safeguard impact
Following the sale of their meeting hall (known locally as the Rotary Lounge) in late 2020, they started to look for a way to futureproof their impact as a Club. After looking into a few options, they decided that Nikau Foundation was a great fit and agreed to set up an endowment fund.
“Partnering with Nikau Foundation means ensuring we can continue to support local projects, causes and initiatives well into the future,” says Adrian, “having a fund means that no matter the challenges that Ōtaki faces in future, Rotary is poised to support the community long-term.”
With an agile approach, the Rotary Club of Ōtaki Fund is designed to benefit the community in a number of ways, from supporting youth development to fostering the arts.
Adrian says, “the role of the fund in the development of Ōtaki will be determined by staying connected, listening to what the community needs and playing our part in fulfilling those needs.”
To find out about the Rotary Club of Ōtaki Fund or to donate, click here.
