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And if you have any comments on the layout, content and information provided, let us know, because the Newsletter is yours.
Rotary Hutt City breakfast meetings
Meetings are held 7am to 8.30 am on the first and third Wednesday of the month at Boulcott's Farm Heritage Golf Club, Military Road, Lower Hutt. Please RSVP to chrissi@roll.nz.
For those of you who have not pre-paid (see President's Report below), breakfast continues to cost $25 per person, payable on arrival to Gaylene Hughes.
Members, don't forget to check the Duties Roster (Meeting Responsibilities) below for your nominated duty for our next meeting on 4 March.
Meeting Responsibilities
Greeter
Percy, David
Payment Taker
Hughes, Gaylene
Reception Desk
Tatham, Peter
Opening thought
Harding, Katrina
5 min What is my Business?
Xie, Brad
Intro to Speaker
Tooley, Cameron
Thanks to Speaker
Ross, Brian
Quizlett (6 questions about your industry)
Walker, Chrissi
Closing thought
Avison, Sue
President's Report
Ata marie, good morning, buenos dias,
I’m pleased to announce our confirmed President Elect, Craig Deadman, who will take over from me in July.
Finding a successor wasn’t easy as the role can seem onerous. In reality, with only two breakfast meetings a month, one board meeting, and a few emails, it’s far less demanding than it may appear. While I chose not to lead major projects like an orchestral concert or hospital raffle (both great successes), these may have added to that perception. I’ll continue as Events Coordinator. Please join me in wishing Craig every success — he has the full support of the Board.
Several Rotabiz members toured Pertronic Industries this week, gaining a fascinating insight into the assembly of fire detection and alarm systems exported worldwide from their Wingate factory — including a significant new USA contract that has driven substantial growth.
David (Percy), Stephen, and Peter were excellent hosts, guiding us through the process of circuit board production, put together both by hand and using impressively fast, precise machinery. Photos below.
We have got a few seats left in the theatre on Wednesday evening, 4th March from 5.15 pm to see NZ film Holy Days.
By all accounts it’s hilarious and quintessentially Kiwi. $26pp and funds raised will go to the Te Omanga Hospice. Please use the link below to purchase your ticket – we’d love to see you there!
The Board is running a membership drive with the Hutt Valley Chamber of Commerce at our 1 April Rotabiz meeting. MP Chris Penk, whose portfolios include Small Business & Manufacturing and Building & Construction, will be speaking. The Chamber will invite its database and we hope to fill the room. It’s a great opportunity to hear a topical speaker and connect with potential new Rotabiz members from across the Hutt Valley as we continue to grow the club.
I'd like Rotary Hutt City to have a legacy at the Dowse Footpath and would like to set up bricks naming each of the past-Presidents back to 1980. (The club started in 1943, but that's a long way back!)
If you're a past-President, are related to one (or know of someone who is), or have a connection with one that you'd like remembered, please use the link below to purchase a brick. They're $150 each and funds raised will go to Lifting the Lid, our youth mental health programme. (The bricks are a Rotary Hutt Valley project and they've given us a discounted rate, so we'll be helping them out too!)
Doing a sales pitch at our recent Breakfast meeting
Ian Ramsay
Ian has agreed to this article appearing.
It is with great sadness that we wish to report Ian's resignation from the Club, having been a member for almost 30 years. Ian will be 81 later this year.
His Parkinsons disease is progressing and he is finding it harder and harder to do things. Speech therapy is required each morning, and it is not possible for him to do this before our 7am meetings. In addition, his driving licence has been lost and he has sold the Waikanea holiday home.
During his time within the Club, Ian has been both Treasurer and more recently Secretary, Gaylene Hughes succeeding him in this role a few years ago.
During his working life, Ian has had a long association with Highflo, who have made copper fitting since 1958. Ian's father, A.J. Ramsay co-founded the company in Otaki before they moved to Lower Hutt. Until recently, Ian was still a visitor to the factory on occasions, catching up with industry regulars whom he had known for many years. His daughter Lynette and son in law Ian are now instrumental in running the company.
On behalf of the Board, President Katrina recently sent flowers to Ian and wife Trish.
Ian replied:
''Thank you for your good wishes and lovely flowers you sent me. They are very much appreciated.
I have had many enjoyable years and made lots of friends in Hutt City Rotary but I have to face the reality that I can no longer do what I used to.''
Ian attending a Business Breakfast meeting in Wainui in November 2020, along with Anna from our Club.
We’ll aim to get our sponsored attendee to an upcoming meeting so he can tell us about his experiences.
Today's Date 27 February
The waterfront dispute of 1951 was the biggest industrial confrontation in New Zealand’s history. Although it was not as violent as the Great Strike of 1913, it lasted longer, for five months, from February to July, and involved more workers. At its peak, 22,000 waterside workers (‘wharfies’) and other unionists were off the job.
Sid Holland’s National government declared a state of emergency on 21 February, warning that New Zealand was ‘at war’. On the 27 February, troops were sent onto the Auckland and Wellington wharves to load and unload ships. Emergency regulations imposed strict censorship, gave police sweeping powers of search and arrest, and made it an offence for citizens to assist strikers: even giving food to their children was outlawed.
As the dispute dragged on through autumn and winter, there were sporadic outbursts of violence. By the end of May, with new unions of strike-breakers (denounced by unionists as ‘scabs’) registered in the main ports, the wharfies’ position was becoming increasingly hopeless. They conceded defeat on 15 July.
On 2 May 1951 baton-wielding police confronted marching waterside workers, freezing workers and other supporters at the intersection of Cuba and Dixon streets in Wellington. More than 1000 unionists had set off from the Wellington Trades Hall intending to march on Parliament, only to find their way blocked by 100 police. After scuffles broke out between constables and the leading ranks of marchers, waterside leaders Toby Hill and Tommy Wells persuaded the unionists to disperse to avoid further violence.
Looking Back 18 February
In the "Who am I?" slot Doug Webb, born in 1976 and therefore 80 this year, provided a brief history of his banking career in far flung places such as Manila and Washington DC.
Pushed back a fortnight because of illness, Lieutenant Cam Millar of the Salvation Army wished to thank everyone who provided gifts through the Tree of Joy.
He provided an explanation that whilst over 3,000 gifts had been donated in 2025, only around 2.400 had been distributed. There was always need for a ''float'' for the following Christmas as donees began the process of delivery to needy families quite early. But shortly, a further distribution would be made in the coming weeks. Quite often drawing kits were leftovers but at the beginning of school terms, they went very quickly!
One new innovation this year had been allowing people to pick gifts themselves.
In Cam's opinion, 8 year olds did the best of any age group. What was needed going forward was a greater variety of gifts for the very young (3-5 years old) and for the oldest (15-18 years old).
Finally, he said that the net of donees could possibly be widened going forward, if present giving levels remained high.
Our man speaker was Mary More, who provided a fascinating insight into to the work of the New Zealand Parole Board. Mary had visited all 15 or 16 prisons in New Zealand during her time.
Each potential prisoner (currently 11,000 in prison) seeking release was risk assessed, extremely necessary given that 20% of all prisoners were violent offenders.
For anyone to be considered a candidate for release, it was important that safety factors were understood by the offenders otherwise the task was almost impossible.
Mary highlighted the need for greater funding for the removal of tattoos. Many prisoners had been tattooed to initiate themselves into gangs, and removal would help their cause in the outside world.
Looking Back 24 February: Rotabiz visit to Pertronic
President Katrina writes:
Rotabiz members were privileged to tour the Pertronic factory in Wingate. Founder and Club member David Percy and colleagues Stephen and Peter showed how the fire detection and alarm systems are made, with parts assembled by hand and using high tech, super-fast machines.
Looking Forward 4 March Neil Macdonald: Aspiring Walls
Neil's talk will be on ''All in the family - working together with wallpaper.''
For over 50 years, the company operated as Pacific Wallcoverings, becoming a staple of New Zealand manufacturing. However, facing closure in 2020, the business was saved and rebranded as Aspiring Walls Ltd by long-time General Manager Neil and his wife Tanya.
Key Milestones & Business Today
Re-foundation: Officially re-founded in September 2020 as a family-owned business, retaining the expert talent and manufacturing equipment from its predecessor.
Family Legacy: The company is now a multi-generational effort, with the Macdonalds' four daughters involved in continuing the "kiwi can-do" legacy.
Production Scale: It stands as the only wallpaper manufacturer of its scale in the Southern Hemisphere, producing over 340,000 square metres of wallcoverings in 2021 alone.
Design Reach: They launch at least 12 new collections annually, offering a range of styles from luxe modern to chic industrial.
A heart warming short video can be found at the link below:
Kevin Harris, President Petone Rotary and Fair Convenor writes:
Kia Ora Koutou
This is just a quick email to acknowledge the contribution from your members to a very successful Petone Rotary Fair 2026.
This year's Fair was the 33rd Fair (over 34 years - one cancelled during Covid) that has been run in Jackson Street Petone by our Rotary Club with each one being successful in a variety of ways.
Our goals for the Fair were:
To support the businesses of Jackson Street and make Petone a destination people want to come to;
Create a sense of community, not only by supporting the businesses but also by creating a family event that is fun and which supports stall holders and other community organizations; and
To raise funds that enables Petone Rotary to donate monies to organizations that fit within its strategic goals for the year.
We have very much appreciated the commitment and availability of your members to help make this event happen.
We look forward to working with you for Fair 2027!
Every 90 minutes, heart diseases takes the life of a loved one in New Zealand. That’s almost 6,000 mums, dads, siblings, and grandparents. And there’s something you can do today to help prevent this.
Join the Heart Foundation on Friday 27 and Saturday 28 February as we take to the streets and raise vital, life-saving funds to support heart health in New Zealand. Gift two (or more) hours of your day as a Big Heart Appeal street collection volunteer.
We need your help to improve the way we diagnose, treat and prevent heart disease - and research is the key. Every dollar you help collect will enable us to invest in life-saving heart research and specialist training. You could be part of unlocking the next big breakthrough in heart healthcare.
Every day, dedicated cardiologists, researchers and support teams work towards a shared goal – stopping all New Zealanders from dying prematurely from heart disease.
It is simple to register (see link below which also provides more background information) and you can select when and where you would like to volunteer from the list of our available sites. Once you have completed your registration, our friendly team will take it from there.
We are so grateful for our amazing volunteer street collectors – the impact of your gifted time cannot be understated. Please consider joining us for the Big Heart Appeal street collection today.
Rotary Eastern Hutt's Mike Keehan, Walk for Mental Health Sub-Committee Member writes:
The Rotary Club of Eastern Hutt in conjunction with Wellington Rugby will be conducting three Walks for Mental Health, in support of Youthline, on 15 March 2026. The events will be held at the Hikoikoi Reserve Petone; William Jones rugby park, Wainuiomata; and the Ngati Toa domain, Plimmerton.
We will have volunteers and supporters on the day, but the presence of other Rotary representation would be most welcome and appreciated.
Free barbeque services will be provided and donations towards Youthline will be gratefully received.
Tough Guy & Gal Challenge 9 May: Save the date please!
Andy Soper writes:
We are once again providing marshals for the Tough Guy & Gal Challenge in Wainuiomata on Saturday, 9 May. I’m coordinating this – and will also be entering the event, so there’s an extra incentive for you to be there and have a good laugh!
We need 24 volunteers, to make sure nobody veers away from the course. Your help will raise $3,000 towards our community and youth projects.
There is great camaraderie and it’s such fun to watch competitors struggling through muddy ponds etc 😊
For now please just save the date – 9 May – and talk to anyone you know who might like to help. It’s a good opportunity for young people to get involved in a Rotary project.
While the Saturday has to be our main focus, if you can’t make it but could help with registration and finish line duties on a morning earlier in the week, please let me know as soon as possible - Tuesday 5th, Thursday 6th or Friday 7th May.
A flyer from the Hutt Valley Chamber of Commerce advertising our forthcoming Breakfast meeting in April with Chris Penk, Minister for Building and Construction, Minister for Land Information, Minister for Veterans and Minister for Small Business and Manufacturing.
Closing Thought 18 February
Presented by Stephen Robinson
Very apt quote from Stephen (borrowing from Jane Seymour) after the worst storm since 1968 on 16 February........
- Friday 27 February - Saturday 28 February Heart Foundation street collection (see notice above). You can register and discover more information at the link below:
- Sunday 15 March Walk for Mental Health: Youthline 12.30pm for 1.00pm start Hikoikoi, Petone (see notice above)
- Tuesday 28 April Petone Rotary Club are holding its 75th Anniversary dinner, to which we are invited.
We now know this will be held at The Petone Club on Udy Street Petone commencing around 6.00pm and will include a 3 course buffet style meal.
Further notices will be issued closer to the time and as more details of the program become available. If you wish to register your interest to receive further updates, please contact Gerry Pallo, Petone Rotary 75th Anniversary Convenor at gernpa@actrix.gen.nz
This will further assist in the event planning for catering purposes.
- Thursday 30 April Come and join us at The Devil Wears Prada 2, Petone Lighthouse 5.45pm. $30 pp, including munchie pack!
Remember to bring some loose change along to the meeting so you can contribute if you answer a Quizlett question incorrectly :), or wish to "Buy The Box".
If you should have any interesting stories about fellow Rotarians then please pass them onto Craig so he can share them at the meeting. Email: craig@packprod.co.nz
Payment is also now available by Eftpos onsite - no excuses!
Last Edition, I asked: What is the main character called in the Peanuts cartoon, and why?
Creator Charles M. Schulz named the character after a real-life colleague named Charlie Brown, with whom he worked at Art Instruction Inc. in Minneapolis.
This month's question (fairly easy): When was Rotary Hutt City founded? (If you've been listening to Linton and reading this Newsletter, you should know!)
We’ll aim to get our sponsored attendee to an upcoming meeting so he can tell us about his experiences.
A flyer from the Hutt Valley Chamber of Commerce advertising our forthcoming Breakfast meeting in April with Chris Penk, Minister for Building and Construction, Minister for Land Information, Minister for Veterans and Minister for Small Business and Manufacturing.
