Rotary Club of Kerikeri
The Rotary Club of Kerikeri is an active club of men and women devoted to the principles of Rotary.
Our club is involved in a number of international and community projects. We are also involved in community activities, both by assisting groups and individuals and by undertaking community projects.
We support Rotary in international projects such as the campaign to eradicate the world of polio, a major long term Rotary project that is on the brink of making history by achieving this objective.
In our wider region we support a wide range of activities and organisations. We support projects such as schools and hospitals in places like Vanuatu. We strongly support the Rotary Shelter Box project, a major Rotary initiative to provide shelter for people in areas of natural disasters.
The Kerikeri Rotary New World Garden Safari is now an established event in the area and is our major fund raising activity. Our new venture, The Northern Crossing Multisport event was held for the first time in 2010 and promises to be a significant annual event for the region. These events are supported by our major sponsors, Kerikeri New World and Top Energy.
A quick word from our president, John Toms
It is with great pleasure that I welcome you to the Kerikeri New World Rotary Garden Safari on behalf of the Rotary Club of Kerikeri.
This annual Garden Safari has become an important event in Kerikeri and for two days each spring, attracts people from a wide area to this wonderful part of the country and our lovely town.
Once again we have many dedicated gardeners who prepare and open their gardens for this event. The Rotary Club of Kerikeri is grateful to these people who so willingly allow us to showcase a great selection of Kerikeri gardens. We thank them for their generosity and support.
Our sponsors are an important part of our Garden Safari. David and Deanne Hannan who recently purchased Kerikeri New World Supermarket have continued to be our main sponsors. We are grateful to them for their generous support.
Our Rotary Club is fortunate to have Vicki Douglas and her team organizing this event. I am certain we will again this year have a wonderful Garden Safari. We look forward to meeting you on the weekend of the 30 & 31 October.
John Toms - President, Rotary Club of Kerikeri
23rd Garden Safari a great success in 2010!
Newcomers to the area are usually completely taken by surprise when they embark on the Garden Safari. They are amazed at the variety and beauty of the private gardens shared with them during this annual weekend event. This year was no exception!
Highlights included the adjoining properties down Stanners Road. These three rolling gardens, each unique in its own design, merge into one green belt, around a tranquil lake. 2 Shelter Box emergency response tents and kits were on display here. Donations from the public during the Garden Safari and the Waimate Show totalled $800. This amount was rounded up to the cost of a complete kit by the Kerikeri Rotary Club and donated to ShelterBox. The DOC noxious weeds stand was also much appreciated by interested gardeners.
The pocket stamp garden down Cannon Drive was an example of a ‘can do’ attitude to growing your own fruit and veggies in a very confined area. The immaculate exotic paradise created down Silkwood Ave was hard to tear oneself away from. The spring colours and fragrances of plantings on steep banks, shaded nooks and sunny expanses were a delight to all the senses.
Roland’s Wood is a special place for a ramble no matter what season of the year, a generous gift to the community. Rotarian volunteers have put in many hours this past year clearing and landscaping the stream and ponds in the lower part of the parkland. While the timing of the Safari just missed the breath-taking bluebell carpet, it was ideal for the lush spring foliage of all the European deciduous trees.
Palmco is another hidden gem. The garden and newly opened event venue will make for a pretty wedding ceremony backdrop that is not weather dependent, a huge factor in Northlands changeable climate. Their biologically purified ponds and swimming pools are an interesting option.
The Kerikeri Rotarians were out in the gardens all weekend assisting and supporting the gardeners, and chatting with the public. Funds raised from the Safari will be used to support all the local and international service projects of the Club.
22nd Garden Safari in 2009
The weather, the gardens and the visitors all came to the party on Saturday 31st October and Sunday 1st November 2009 for a stunning collaborative effort to raise funds for our community. 15 gardens and Roland’s Wood, in a very manageable circuit around Kerikeri, had all the punters raving about the uniformly high quality of the gardens. People gratefully expressed much appreciation to the garden owners for opening their gardens and allowing us the privilege of meandering thought them. The principal sponsor of the 2009 Garden Safari was New World supermarket.
Every garden was a highlight!