- throughout December at Four Seasons and Kaimai garden centres and Pippins florist
- outside Mitre 10, 9am – 1pm on Saturdays 5th, 12th and 19th December and,
- at Matamata market on 12th December

We were accepted for emigration to New Zealand in 1994, sold everything in Wales and in 1995 we bought a dairy farm in Arohena. I had wanted to live in New Zealand after learning about New Zealand from our Kiwi geography teacher who taught me at Kirkham Grammar School. We first applied for emigration in 1981 but didn’t meet the criteria. It took 14 years from first applying to being accepted but was home from us first arriving.
We sold our Arohena dairy farm in 2012 and built our home in Matamata on an 11 hectare maize block we’d bought in 2011. We now grow maize and graze seven Dexter Cattle (my pets).
My wife and I didn’t know many people in the Matamata area so Pauline joined Inner Wheel and I joined Rotary. We have made lots of friends and enjoy the fellowship of Rotary. I used to go to meetings when farming and only came into contact with farmers, now I meet people from all walks of life in Rotary all with the same purpose of helping the world be a better place. Rotary is like a second family to me.
I joined Matamata Rotary in December 2014 and have been on Programme (booking the speakers) for two years and am in my second year as Director of Service Projects and have a dedicated team who help with projects around Matamata. I am also helping with Interact at Matamata College. I see these enthusiastic youngsters as our future leaders.
Our daughters are all married, live in New Zealand and have given us nine grandchildren to keep us on our toes.
Story as published in the Scene 1 October 2019
There was certainly no clowning about last Friday morning as Matamata Rotary members hit the streets with hundreds of home baked cupcakes. Every year, Matamata Rotarians and their significant others slip on a pinny, whip out the mixing bowls and get their bake on! For what you may ask...well that would be to raise much needed funds for Cure Kids and their biggest fundraising appeal, Red Nose Day. With the inaugural fundraiser in 1989, Red Nose Day has grown to become one of our country’s most recognised appeals. Held annually in September, the funds raised go to help fund big research for little lives.

Rotary Director, David Hulme, was delighted by the support given to Rotary and Cure Kids. “We must give particular thanks to our fantastic business community who donated very generously this year” says David. “Each and every business that we visited gave a little something and, even if they didn’t want a cupcake, they still dug deep for the cause. This year saw a significant increase in the amount raised which was over $2,600.”
Rotary is a global network of 1.2 million neighbours, friends, leaders and problem-solvers who see a world where people unite and take action to create lasting change – across the globe, in our communities, and in ourselves.
My name is Amandine Gerlache. I am 17 years old and I from Celles a village of about 500 people near Dinant in Belgium. Celles is considered to be one of the most beautiful villages in all of Belgium!

Under the hammer of the incomparable John Price, and the organisation of David Hulme, the auction was a big success, raising more than $4,500. Rotarians from Morrinsville, including 2019-2020 District Governor Peter Maxwell, and Te Aroha joined in to increase the fun and add competition to the bidding.