During 1992 some members of the Rotary Club of Wellington South took an idea to the board of that club suggesting that it change its meeting time from lunchtime to early evening. This was because it was becoming harder to attract new members to a lunch club and a good number of existing members were finding it difficult to take two hours out of a day once a week to attend rotary. The result of this idea was that the board recommended that the clubs meeting time be changed to the evening. A motion was put to club membership late in 1992 and the required votes (as per rotary rules) to make the change were not obtained and the motion was lost.

Some members were faced with the choice of either leaving Rotary, joining a suburban evening club or breakfast club or starting a new inner city evening club. During a conversation between John Sommerville and Paul Barnaby, John suggested the latter and the Idea began. In trying to attract new members to Wellington South it had become apparent that there was a place for a mid city evening club.

An informal “steering committee” was formed, which went on to become the unofficial board until the new club was chartered. It was made up of the following people: Paul Barnaby, John Sommerville, Ron Garrod, Alastair Bridge, Erin Clark and Alan Mearns.

Paul Barnaby went on to become the club’s charter president, John Sommerville its charter vice president. Alastair Bridge and Ron Garrod have both served as presidents.

Of these six people only Alan Mearns is no longer a Rotarian. Erin Clark was living in the USA for a couple of years, but returned to NZ is an absolute “stalwart” of the club having served in most positions. All have served Rotary at district level at one time or the other.

This steering committee sought out details from Rotary District as to the mechanics of forming a new club. District extension chairman Murray Calvert was consulted and meetings started to take place. Towards the end of February 1993 an “interest” meeting of potential members was held and attracted fourteen potential members, two weeks later another attracted twenty nine and a week after that thirty three attended.

The steering committee continued to meet frequently and  some meetings were attended by the District Governor Glen Caves, his representative Robin Adair, Murray Calvert and some of the local club presidents.

The Rotary Club of Courtenay Place was invited to become the “sponsor” club for Harbour city, and on acceptance appointed Dave Bennett as the District Governor’s special representative to guide the new club to its charter. Dave has often been referred to as the “father” of the club.

The process from this point until charter was not entirely easy to say the least. Many long meetings took place (mostly in the evenings). Negotiations of all sorts took place and the Rotary Club of Wellington Harbour City (which was the club’s formal name on charter) was eventually chartered with a Gala Charter Evening on 7^th August 1993 at the Plaza International Hotel (now the Duxton). The club was always colloquially known as Harbour City.

John Sommerville had negotiated the terms for the Plaza to be our meeting place with the food & beverage manager Gordon Koh, who went on to become a charter member of the club. It has often been said that the meal at this club is the very best you will enjoy at any rotary club in Wellington, if not New Zealand.

The partnership between the club and the hotel has been a huge factor in the success of The Rotary Club of Wellington Harbour City, having been the venue for many functions including Charity Balls, Rotary District & International Functions. The Rotary Club of Wellington Harbour City has even hosted a World President.

It would be remiss not to say that the Rotary Club of Wellington Harbour City would not have chartered if any of the steering committee members had wavered in their resolve to see this new club form. Some difficulties had ot be overcome on the way, but in the end and in the true spirit of Rotary “Service above Self” prevailed.

The club chartered with more than thirty members, many women among them and now has a mix of about 50/50 men & women. The club has become known as a vibrant and enthusiastic one with many charter members still belonging, some real Wellington characters among them.

The Charter Members were made up of 25 of the following.  So who were they?

In 2006 the Club changed its formal name to Rotary Club of Harbour City Wellington Incorporated, and that is how it is currently registered with Rotary International.