Keeping the fire of Rotary going in Cook Islands

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

ROTARY’S footprint in the Pacific has grown once again, with the chartering of the Rotary Club of Aitutaki, Cook Islands. This is a significant milestone for the Cook Islands, District 9920 and Rotary South Pacific.

Translating to ‘keep the fire going’, Aitutaki is often described as a ‘little paradise’ and is a sort-after honeymoon destination, famed for its turquoise lagoon and pristine beauty.

With a population of just 2,000, the island is accessible via two flights from Auckland, NZ, to Rarotonga and then a short domestic hop to Aitutaki, roughly 265km north.

I started the Rotary Club of Aitutaki with 22 enthusiastic charter members, each committed to the ideals of service, leadership and community. The successful formation of the club was the result of determined leadership and the enthusiasm of the local community to have a Rotary club. Numerous phone calls and planning discussions took place with incoming President Mereana and Secretary Tangua, whose commitment to Rotary made this dream a reality.

Following these planning sessions, I travelled to Aitutaki to meet with the local community champions, assist with the groundwork for a larger community engagement session, and deliver orientation for the founding members on what Rotary is and how Rotary’s values align with their desire for a connected community. It was a key step in preparing the club for its launch.

The support of my district team, led by 2024-25 District Governor Vidya Nand, the Regional Council Membership Team, led by PDG Andy Rajapakse, and the Rotary International South Pacific and Philippines Office, was instrumental in speeding up the formation of this unique club. Their encouragement and oversight was momentous throughout the chartering process.

The establishment of the Rotary Club of Aitutaki is testament to the enduring spirit of Rotary – reaching the most remote corners of the globe, connecting communities and inspiring local leadership. The journey for this new club has just begun, and its potential to create lasting change is as vast and breathtaking as the lagoon that surrounds it.

Today, we have two Rotary clubs in Cook Islands. The first, the Rotary Club of Rarotonga, was chartered in 1969 and has 15 members.

Together let’s expand Rotary’s reach across the South Pacific.

If you have a passion to start a new Rotary club or a companion/satellite club please reach out to Raj Chand and the Regional Council New Club Development team via club.development@rotarysouthpacific.org

New club development assistance forms: bit.ly/newclub-aug25