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A fascinating update provided by Kapiti Youth Support tutor Darcy Hata, had the Kapiti Rotary Club and guests very interested with the excellent results that they are achieving by putting local youth onto the right track in life.
Rotary has had a long-standing relationship with Youthquest when it was established 11 years ago. Some of the original funding came from the JR McKenzie Trust, and several Kapiti Rotary members have taken a very active part with it’s development. Unfortunately, Youthquest lost a significant part of its funding and had to close its doors, and has subsequently merged with Kapiti Youth Support, and the good work together with qualified key personnel, has been successfully integrated into the KYS environment. They have now expanded their activities from solely dealing with teenage boys, and now include primary schools thorough using a different programme.
During the evening with the Rotary Club, Mr John Dow (organiser of the Gold Wards) complimented the KYS staff on it’s outstanding results in Kapiti. He explained that Regional Gold Awards are presented each year at Presentation Functions whereby all Finalists from their City receive a Certificate, and then further functions are held to re-present the Category Winner Trophies, plus everyone gets a photo with their Mayor. Wellington and Hutt City have most the most businesses involved each year. This year we had a finalist from Kapiti, in TOMM which is a health and welfare service for young people developed by Kapiti Youth Support (KYS) and the digital agency Luvly.
To add to the proceedings, the President of Kapiti Rotary Mr Chris Tchernegovski, then presented a cheque for $10,000 to the KYS representatives as further funding towards their excellent endeavours. He also added, that continuing Rotary Club interest will be accorded to KYS, and that funds from our Trailer raffle; golf tournament and other activities will be considered for future assistance.
Photo Caption: (From left) Liz Koh, (Kapiti Rotary) John Dow (organiser of the Gold Awards) Darcy Hata (KYS Senior tutor); Raechel Osbourne (KYS manager) Kapiti Mayor Guru Gurunathan
Beth is the Chairperson of Motor Neurone Disease New Zealand, and provided some very interesting facts about this incurable disease.MND is the third most common neurological disorder next to Alzheimers and Parkinsons. Approximately, there are 100 new cases reported each year, and there are currently a total of 300 people suffering this disorder.
The disease causes the death of nerve cells that control the muscles that enable humans to move, speak, swallow, and breathe. There is worldwide diagnostic activity being undertaken to ascertain the cause of onset, but as yet there is no cure and work is continuing.
The care and organisation of assistance to afflicted patients, is provided by Beth’s team, which is small but effective.
Funds are scarce, and arrangements have been made to conduct an ‘annual walk for MND’. This is to be world-wide on 11th November. Our local walk will be held at Weka Park, Raumati. Funds are to be generated via this walk, which will be applied to assisting with research and the provision of equipment and assistance to patients locally.
The Rotary Club of Kapiti has agreed to support this worthy cause, and Members will be encouraged to walk and help with local arrangements.
Photo Caption: President elect Annemarie Tiffen congratulates Beth Watson on an excellent address, and assures her of our Club’s support.
One of New Zealand’s longest ever serving parliamentarians, Peter Dunne, recently addressed the Kapiti Rotary Club.
The Hon Peter Dunne served as a busy politician for over 33 years, and retired from Parliament in April 2017. During his time as a politician he served as a Cabinet Minister or Associate Minister for both Labour and National led governments, and held 11 different portfolios. In 1995 he became an independent along with some members of both Labour and National, and formed the United NZ Party which later became the United Future Party. In due course he became the Party leader.
His time with the Kapiti Rotary Club was mainly devoted to explaining his working with the eight Prime Ministers that had led the New Zealand Government during his 33 years. Some very amusing anecdotes were recounted, which had the audience highly interested and eager to hear more.
At question time, he was asked his opinion on who was the best Prime Minister he had worked with. His response was, that all of the eight worked extremely hard for the benefit of the country, and it is difficult to rank them, because each of them held strengths in different form. He did go on to mention the ability of John Key as a very capable Chairman and economist, and Helen Clark as a very clever politician and negotiator. He regretted the fact that Bill English was not enabled to realise the plans and policies he had outlined prior to the last election.
In thanking the Hon. Peter Dunne for an outstanding address, Dr. Ken Milne of the Kapiti Rotary Club congratulated him for the informative insight into the life and trials of a New Zealand politician.
Photo Caption: Kapiti Rotary President Chris Tchernegovski (Left), and Dr Ken Milne congratulate Hon. Peter Dunne (Centre), on a most outstanding and informative address.
The Valley That Managed To Transform a CityMr Paul Atkins, Chief Executive of the well-known Zealandia Bird Sanctuary recently visited with the Kapiti Rotary Club, and presented facts about the preservation of wild-life in and about Wellington that interested a large audience.
Many species of native birds including Tui; Kakapo; HiHi; Korimako; Kaka and Fantail, have been provided with a predator-free safe haven within a fenced valley, in which to breed and live naturally. This has had the effect of bringing bird-life back into the surrounding suburbian gardens, and residents can once again enjoy the benefits of watching and listening to the attractive calls of native birds in their own surroundings.
Zealandia staff have been actively involved in the encouragement of a predator-free Wellington. Rats, opossums, and stoats have now been eradicated from the suburb of Miramar. There is an initiative to give priority to bringing about a Wellington that can boast being the ‘world’s first pest-free capital’.
Zealandia attracted almost 73,000 visitors in the past 12 months, and these included 4,600 cruise-ship passengers from all over the world. Comments relayed to staff have been very complimentary, and many overseas organisations have expressed intentions to emulate the wild-life preservation example that has been set in Wellington.
When asked about the future, Mr Atkins replied that ‘Zealandia is leading a transformational change in the way people think about the value of nature, and learn how to nurture and live with it in the places we live’.
Photo: “Paul Atkins Left), CEO of Zealandia Wildlife Park is congratulated by Rotarian Tim Beere (Right) on his outstanding address to Kapiti Rotary.
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