Building momentum: Membership growth in District 9920

New Zealand’s District 9920 is celebrating a standout achievement, recording net membership growth in 2024-25, with four clubs ranking among the zone’s top 20 performers.

WORDS: Raj Chand. Regional Council Membership Team – New Club Start Up.

As Rotary enters a new year of opportunity and impact, we’re proud to celebrate an encouraging membership milestone for District 9920. The recent release of official figures on 1 July 2025 confirmed that the district is one of only three districts in Rotary South Pacific with net growth in 2024-25. Even more impressively, four of our clubs have ranked among the zone’s top 20 for membership growth: the Rotary Clubs of Greenlane, Botany Downs, Suva East and Papatoetoe West.

What made this possible?

The growth we’ve seen across these clubs wasn’t the result of a single strategy, but rather a shared mindset of purpose, energy and connection. Each club tailored its approach to their unique communities, but several key themes emerged:

1. Purpose-driven projects

Project visibility and relevance mattered. Botany Downs, Suva East and Papatoetoe West attracted members by leading hands-on initiatives that directly addressed local needs – from feeding programs to environmental clean-ups – inviting the community to join in and experience Rotary in action.

2. Attracting younger members

A key success across these clubs has been their ability to appeal to younger professionals and community-minded individuals. Through modern communication, family-friendly events and flexible meeting options, these clubs have seen a significant increase in younger member engagement. As a result, District 9920 has seen a noticeable reduction in the average age of Rotarians – an important step in ensuring the long-term sustainability and vibrancy of our movement.

3. Leveraging cultural diversity

Greenlane made intentional efforts to embrace the multicultural makeup of their cities. Language-friendly meetings, cultural celebrations and inclusive leadership helped create a space where members felt seen and heard.

4. A culture of retention

Retention wasn’t left to chance. All these clubs actively conducted check-ins, held regular fellowship events and asked members what they wanted from Rotary. In many cases, it was about staying relevant – offering value both in service and in professional/personal growth.

5. Support from Rotary International and district

Clubs took full advantage of Rotary International tools, including the Learning Centre, club health checks, and membership goal tracking. District leaders, led by DG Vidya Nand and DGE Kirsten Hawke, regularly shared resources, facilitated cross-club collaboration and celebrated progress.

While every club faced challenges – from the balancing act of hybrid meetings to member availability – what stood out most was the resilience and creativity of our clubs. Together, they proved that growth is possible when we focus on relationships, relevance and results.

As we continue forward into this Rotary year, we hope the momentum continues – not just in numbers, but in engagement, energy, diversity and impact.