History 2000-Present





  • July 2000 – Took over the organization and staging of the International Fishing Tournament in November as our major project – initially this involved a small committee but after the 2001 event a larger committee was formed with designated responsibilities and all members to assist with sponsorship of prizes; Monthly Committee Meetings are now being held in the homes of members resulting in better fellowship.

  • August 2001 – Stocktaking at West End Dairy with proceeds benefiting Administration Account. Further stocktaking projects followed in subsequent years

  • January 2002 – Modifications need to be made to the lighting mechanism on the Barbecue Trailer to avoid a repeat of an earlier mishap

  • July 2002 – A social weekend in Hawke’s Bay in the form of a “Wine Trail”

  • October 2002 – The Club hosted a successful Men’s Health Night at Rotorua Lakes High School Auditorium; upgrading of the Club’s jerseys from tee-shirts to polo type jerseys

  • November 2002 – Saw the Club being contracted to the Rotorua Stock Car Club for gatekeeping duties – six members per night for twelve meetings

  • February 2003 – Kite Day at Arawa Park with Rotorua East being responsible for onsite security

  • March 2004 – A further Men’s Health Night was held on 10 March

  • June 2004 – Saw the first year that deliveries of telephone books were delivered. This project has been completed annually.

2005 – 2009

  • June 2005 – A Music Hall Tea Meeting was held with support from other Clubs in Zone

  • September 2005 – A further Men’s Health Night was held in the Rotorua Concert Chamber with sponsorship from Cancer Society; Was the lead Club for Rescue Helicopter Appeal with funding of Night Vision Goggles

  • February 2006 – Club Amalgamation Proposal for Rotorua Zone Clubs. This did not eventuate but there was the willingness to support combined activities and projects

  • April 2006 – Conducted a feasibility study with regard to the “Largest Fly Fishing Rod in the World” following the concept being first mooted in 1994

  • July 2006 – An “Annual Plan” for the Club was introduced

  • October 2006 – The Club supported the initial planning for the establishment of houses for Ronald McDonald House Family Retreat in Rotorua. Sheree McKenzie was appointed as the Liaison Person in December 2006. In March 2007 Rotorua East approved the opening of a bank account as the lead Club.

  • April 2007 – Wine Trail / Club Weekend at Awakeri Hot Springs; Meal and table layout changed to a boardroom layout with members sitting face to face

  • October 2007 – A “Promise Auction” was held for Zone 8 Clubs

  • March 2008 – A “Peas, Pies and Poets” Dinner Meeting held with visiting Club Tokoroa City

  • April 2008 – Setting up of the Lions Club of Rotorua East Charitable Trust to replace the Projects Account; Participated in the “Relay for Life” in the Rotorua Lions Team of 20 members

  • December 2008 – A “Request for Assistance” form was produced

2010 – Present

  • November 2011 – The final International Trout Fishing Tournament organized by the Club

  • June 2012 – Lead Club for Rescue Helicopter Appeal for the third set of night vision goggles

  • July 2012 – Planning for tree planting at Lions Tree Grove in TECT Park; Club Excellence Programme Meetings facilitated by District Leadership Team

  • October 2012 – Wine and Food Festival to be investigated

  • November 2012 – Club stall at Night Market

  • March 2013 – Participated as marshals at Balloons over Waikato. Again in 2014 & 2015.

  • September 2013 – Business Meetings commenced at Mokoia Community Association Hall

  • April 2014 – Commenced the replacement of Neighbourhood Watch signage in Eastern Suburbs – Completed in May 2014

  • September 2014 – Club Banners replaced with pens for handing to Lions guests

  • March 2015 – Lead Club for funding of an automated external defibrillator for donating to Rotorua Civil Defence. The presentation took place on 25 August

  • August 2015 – Follow-up to the Club Excellence Programme. The Club now identifies itself with the Rotorua Eastern Suburbs

  • February 2016 – Donating of firewood to identified beneficiaries. Deliveries were made in the autumn.

  • May 2016 – Process commenced for the merging of Geyserland Lions Club with Rotorua East

  • January 2017 – successful merging with Geyserland Lions

  • May 2017 – Started building the Youth space stage at Puketawhero Park as a Lions Cenntenial legacy project

  • October 2017- Youth space stage formally opened

  • June 2018 –  Toddler bike track started and painted

  • October 2018  – Toddler bike track to be opened