Kerikeri Lions have supported a wide variety of community activities including the Kerikeri Santa Parade. Photo / Peter de Graaf
Kerikeri Lions have supported a wide variety of community activities including the Kerikeri Santa Parade. Photo / Peter de Graaf
Kerikeri Lions Club has officially closed after 53 years and its Waipapa counterpart is heading the same way.
Former Kerikeri treasurer Bryan Souster said the male-only club stopped operating in December 2020 and officially closed one week ago. He insists this wasn't because women weren't allowed to join.
"Itclosed because all the existing members were getting too old and we couldn't find new members. We couldn't keep the memberships going."
Souster said Kerikeri and Waipapa were packed with retirees but few wanted to commit to community service.
"Most retired people don't get involved in community service, they've already done it."
A meeting was held in May with the aim of disbanding the Waipapa club and forming a new one to serve both the Kerikeri and Waipapa districts. But Peter Griffiths, secretary for Waipapa and District Lions, said not enough people could be found so the idea was ditched.
At another meeting on Wednesday, members voted to carry on with the Waipapa branch until at least December.
"We decided there is an opportunity to attract more members so we're giving it a chance," Griffiths said.
"We're a small group of people who want to serve the community, but trying to get people to want to do the same is very difficult. The Lions can only exist if the community gets behind it, if people join."
According to Souster, the Kerikeri club was chartered in 1968 by Lions Club International, but was first registered as an incorporated society in 1971.
Waipapa Lions has always been mixed, with men and women allowed. It was formed in 2005 as a protest against the decision of the Kerikeri club to remain male-only.
Our Kerikeri community group is taking over the Kerikeri Christmas parade from the Kerikeri Lions Club this year. Photo / Peter de Graaf
Griffiths said the club was trying to boost members from 10 to more than 20. "The only stipulation is you've got to be over 18 and be considered a good member of the community, and you have to be sponsored by an existing member."
The Waipapa club was considering changing its name to Bay of Islands Lions Club to serve the entire area.
"We're always looking out for new projects but we can't come up with new projects unless the community tells us and helps us."
The purpose of Lions clubs was to support the community through projects and fundraisers for distribution to worthy local causes.
Kerikeri Lions had supported a wide variety of community activities over the years, including funding scholarships for Kerikeri High School to send students on leadership development courses run by the R Tucker Thompson Sailing Trust.
The club was also the long-time organiser of the Kerikeri Santa Parade. Community group Our Kerikeri would take over this year. Our Kerikeri spokeswoman, accountant Annika Dicky, said the group had already put together a Christmas parade volunteer group.
"We have to secure funding but we're hoping to take it on. There will definitely be a parade."
