Home Page | District 9920

ABOUT DISTRICT 9920

District 9920 is a geographic area covering a half of Auckland, New Zealand

and the seven Pacific nations of American Samoa, Cook Islands, Fiji, French Polynesia,

Kiribati, Samoa and Tonga. This is the largest maritime district in Rotary and this unique Pacific influence

provides Rotarians with wide ranging and interesting service opportunities. In this area there are

53 Rotary clubs of which a third are in the Pacific countries.

Rotary Oceania Summit – Napier | 20–22 March 2026

We are going big and have amplified the district conference for 2026. This is a multi district event covering all 5 districts of NZ and the Pacific Islands

Rotarians, Rotaractors, and Rotary friends across Oceania – you're invited to join us in beautiful Napier for the Rotary Oceania Summit 2026!

Dates: 20–22 March 2026

Location: Napier, New Zealand

Don’t miss this incredible opportunity to connect, collaborate, and celebrate with fellow changemakers from across our region. Let’s shape the future of Rotary together!

The Children Waited Nearly Nine Years for This

Dreketi Village, Qamea Island, Fiji – November 2025
The District School at Laucala in Dreketi village has finally begun its long-awaited reconstruction, nearly nine years after Cyclone Winston devastated Fiji in 2016. While many communities received support to rebuild, the Laucala School faced unique challenges that delayed its restoration.

Background

Cyclone Winston left a trail of destruction, but the Laucala School initially survived the storm. However, the loss of trees behind the school led to soil instability. Nine months later, a rainstorm triggered a landslide that destroyed the school, leaving children from Dreketi and nearby areas without a proper learning environment. Makeshift classrooms sprang up in storage sheds, the local church, and any available shelter, ensuring education continued despite the adversity.

Community and Rotary Taveuni Response

With government resources stretched thin, the responsibility of rebuilding fell to the villagers and teachers. Rotary Taveuni, led by Past President Peter Brown, stepped in to raise the necessary funds. Despite being a small club of just 10 active members, Rotary Taveuni, with support from District 9920 clubs, Australian clubs, and a generous donation from a local resort, successfully raised over $250,000 for the project

Overcoming Logistical Challenges

Transporting building materials from Suva to Qamea Island posed a major logistical challenge, requiring a sea-going barge and experienced crew. Government funding was unavailable, but the ‘It’s Time Foundation’, directed by Rob Edwards, raised an additional $70,000 to cover these costs. Materials were sourced from local businesses, and in October 2025, the barge arrived at Dreketi village, greeted warmly by the community. A touching video of this moment is available at https://taveunirotary.com/rsfu, and photos documenting the journey can be found at https://taveunirotary.com/tr9d

Looking Ahead

Construction is progressing on schedule, and children are expected to start in their new school in early 2026. The new facility will feature off-grid electricity and air conditioning, setting a positive example for Rotary clubs across Australia and New Zealand. This achievement demonstrates that with determination and collaboration, even the most daunting challenges can be overcome.

Contact Information

Rotary Club of Taveuni: info@taveunirotary.com
Project Details: phbrown20@gmail.com
It’s Time Foundation: rob@robedwards.co
Media Contact: Paul Purvis, Phone: +61403442764

For further details and to access additional materials, please visit https://taveunirotary.com

Below is the current state of the school

ROTARY RECHARGE - ACCESSING FUNDS

Reminder - Rotary Recharge on Sunday is all about The Rotary Foundation. Join the zoom at 5pm NZT on Sunday 9th November to find out about District Grants and Community Needs – how to assess the needs in your community and access funding

Join Zoom:

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82108348287?

pwd=WQlLmn9fbbAGTJM3kLSqbMF7TBW0fL.1

District Grants and Community Needs – how to

assess the needs in your community and access

funding

Shake and Bake the Environment ideas and initiatives

Rotary Harbourside Club's new collaboration with Urban Ark - Manawa Taiao, which will involve a range of environmental and ecological conservation projects, from visiting a recycling centre through working on pest control.

Pakuranga Rotary, mobilised the international collaboration to save our vege lands

Peter Jolland from Pakuranga Club leads the blueprint on Vegepod in mobilising numbers of intermediate or secondary school across New Zealand even international counterparts.

Rotary District 9920 — Small in Number, Big in Impact

With just over 1,200 members, Rotary District 9920 represents only 0.01% of Rotary’s global membership — yet we consistently deliver far more than our share of impact through projects that touch lives across our local and international communities.

Whether supporting individuals, families, or entire communities, Rotary-led initiatives create lasting change — transforming the lives of those we serve, and enriching our own in the process.

Being part of Rotary offers so much more than the satisfaction of giving back. It’s about discovering new friendships, broadening your horizons, and finding purpose through service. Rotary connects you with people who share your passion for making a difference — people who inspire, support, and celebrate the good we can achieve together.

Join a community where personal growth meets meaningful impact — where fun, friendship, and fulfilment are part of every project.

Find out more about a Rotary Club near you:
www.rotaryd9920.org

RC Papakura, the NZ Motorcycle Show

Since 2012, the Rotary Club of Papakura has proudly hosted the Classic Motorcycle Show—our major fundraising event that fuels a wide range of charitable activities focused on youth development and life preservation.

A key focus of our charitable work is supporting the National Burns Unit at Middlemore Hospital. Our contributions fund specialist nurse training not available in New Zealand, and we also supply essential rehabilitation equipment that plays a vital role in patients’ recovery. This unit serves the entire country as well as the Pacific Islands, making a significant difference in the treatment and outcomes for burn victims across all age groups.

We also champion Youth Driver Awareness (RYDA), a programme dedicated to reducing the number of young people injured or killed in motor vehicle accidents. Students aged 15–17 take part in six interactive sessions that reinforce key road safety messages as they begin their driving journeys. Our club allocates funding to ensure that cost is never a barrier for Auckland schools wishing to participate.

Our investment in the future extends through several youth development programmes.

Rotary Youth Programme of Enrichment (RYPEN) brings together around 80 students aged 14–17 for a weekend at Kokako Lodge in Hunua. The camp fosters personal growth, confidence, and leadership while promoting cultural and social understanding among a diverse group of participants.
We award scholarships annually to students from three local high schools, helping around 10 students each year as they begin their tertiary education.
The Rotary Youth Leadership Award (RYLA) is a weeklong programme at Willow Park, Eastern Beach, for promising young professionals who have demonstrated leadership potential. Participants are challenged through hands-on activities and inspired by industry leaders while gaining a deeper understanding of Rotary’s values and community impact.

Through these initiatives, the Rotary Club of Papakura continues to invest in the wellbeing and potential of our young people and in the preservation of life—both locally and beyond. In the past 12 months, Papakura Rotary contributed $71,800 profits derived from the NZ Motorcycle Show last year into their local projects.