Our very own Club President, Kathryn, along with Andrew, recently traded Papakura for the bustling, vibrant streets of Taipei, representing our club at the 2026 Rotary International Convention. From warm airport welcomes by enthusiastic youth volunteers to massive stadium cheers, it was a whirlwind trip of inspiration, fellowship, and unforgettable sightseeing.
Here are the highlights of their magical Taiwanese journey:
🌟 Fellowship & Inspiration at the Convention
The heart of the trip was connecting with the global Rotary family. Kathryn and Andrew hit the ground running:
The Grand Opening: They joined thousands of Rotarians at the massive Taipei Dome for a spectacular opening ceremony. A major highlight was cheering loudly as the New Zealand flag was welcomed during the parade!
Rotary Impact & Friendship: They gained fresh insights at the Rotary Impact Seminar and explored the "Friendship House" to see incredible community projects from around the world.
Traditional Hospitality: The duo wrapped up an unforgettable evening at a traditional Taiwanese banquet hosted by the Rotary Club of Taipei Fu-Jung, complete with live theatrical performances.
Coastal Wonders & Magical Traditions
Braving a scorching 34°C day (which felt closer to 42°C!), Kathryn and Andrew embarked on a stunning tour of Taiwan’s northeast coast:
Natural Marvels: They marvelled at the famous Queen’s Head rock formation, sculpted over centuries at Yehliu Geopark.
Magical Alleys: They wandered through the narrow, red-lantern-lined alleys of Jiufen Old Street and paused outside the iconic A-Mei Tea House.
A Sky Full of Wishes: In Shifen, they participated in a beautiful local tradition. Using traditional paintbrushes, they painted a colorful sky lantern with the message "Live, Laugh, Love" and watched it float up into the mountain skies.
🏙️ Rain, Robots, and Retail Therapy
Even a bit of misty Taipei rain couldn't slow them down. They embraced the city life by checking out the grand Chiang Kai-Shek Memorial Hall, riding the MRT, and catching cloud-capped views from the top of the iconic Taipei 101.
They also squeezed in some retail therapy at the futuristic Mitsui Shopping Park LaLaport—where they spotted a massive Lego mosaic of Taipei 101—and even enjoyed a lunch cleared by a friendly robot cleanup crew!
Welcome Home, Kathryn and Andrew! Thank you for proudly representing Rotary Papakura on the international stage. Taiwan clearly stole your hearts, and we can't wait to channel that global Rotary energy right back into our local community.
