The Rotary Club of Gisborne West was chartered in 1968 with 29 members. The current membership is around 30 men and women. The club meets weekly from 5.30pm to 7.30pm on Thursday nights at the Poverty Bay Club corner of Customhouse St and Childers Road. There is half an hour of socialisation before dinner. During the evening, there is a three minute talk by one of the members, Rotary business, a fun fining session and a guest speaker. A number of additional fundraising and social activities are held to enable inclusion of partners and families. Our members represent a wide range of vocations, enjoy the fellowship of the weekly meetings while contributing to the community through involvement in local, national and international projects.

• Assisted establishment of the Life Education Trust Mobile Classroom and ongoing   assistance with running costs and the purchase of a new mobile classroom.
• Establishment of the Vanessa Lowndes Abilities Centre.
• Moving of the Star of Canada to become a maritime museum in Kelvin Park.
• Erection of the Band Rotunda at the junction of the three rivers.
• Supporting young people to attend leadership and self confidence courses.
• Supporting young people to undertake student exchanges and hosting international students.
• Supporting young people to visit other countries and view their vocation through Group Study Exchanges.
• Supporting young people to attend science schools.
• Financial support to the Tongan College Farming project.
• Supply of moulds and equipment to construct concrete water tanks in the Tokolau Islands.
• Construction of ablution blocks in Tonga.
• Emergency boxes for disasters in the pacific region.