Service Projects

Predator Free Waikanae is a community-led conservation initiative managed by the Waikanae Lions Club, aiming to restore native wildlife by eliminating invasive predators like rats and mice.

With the enthusiast support of local volunteers  – residents, businesses, and conservation enthusiasts – it is our goal to make Waikanae a thriving, predator-free sanctuary where native birds, lizards, and insects can flourish. https://predatorfreewaikanae.co.nz/

The Senior Citizens Christmas luncheon has been hosted by the Waikanae Lions Club for over 25 years.

The Waikanae Community hall is decorated with a Christmas theme and on average 70 Waikanae senior citizens attend. Most are on their own and for some this is the only Christmas celebration they get to have. Father Christmas is the guest of honour and all guests receive a ‘goodie’ bag.

A three-course lunch plus wine and beer and live music are provided free to our guests. Those that cannot drive are collected and returned home by Lions Club members.

This event is well supported by local businesses,  KCDC, Waikanae Lions members and their partners.

Our guests always enjoy the occasion and many come back year after year.

A coordinated effort with other Kapiti Lions Clubs, this event sees Lions members collecting non-perishable food and other essential grocery items from the general public for donations to the Kāpiti Foodbank.

The Lions clubs produce the fliers and signage and provide volunteer presence to help raise awareness and encourage generosity.   

Held in November every year, it helps families in need to stock their pantry’s ahead of the festive season.

A special day for many of our Club’s members and volunteers, making and serving meals to families with children at Wellington Hospital.

Ronald McDonald House relies heavily on community-driven support. The Lions’ contributions—whether through local fundraising or international volunteerism—play a vital role in sustaining these services. The work of Lions clubs ensures families can stay close to their hospitalised children without the added burden of accommodation costs.

This programme, known as “Recycle for Sight,” collects used eyeglasses, refurbishes them, and distributes them to people in need—especially in the Pacific Islands.

Lions Clubs across New Zealand and globally accept donations of prescription glasses, reading glasses, sunglasses, and frames (both plastic and metal). Children’s glasses are especially needed.

We collect the glasses and send them to a process centre where they are inspected for damage (scratches, cracks, loose screws), cleaned using ultrasonic washers, measured for prescription strength and packed for redistribution.

Like Lions Clubs around the world, we actively engage in street appeal collections. The street appeal format not only raises vital funds but also fosters direct engagement, allowing passersby to learn about the causes Lions support and the impact of their contributions.

Because we operate locally, our club can tailor appeals to urgent needs – whether it’s supporting a family facing hardship, funding equipment for a hospice, or contributing to national campaigns like Ronald McDonald House. Through these efforts, Lions Clubs embody their motto: “We Serve” – turning everyday generosity into lasting change.

Lions Clubs play a vital role in disaster relief worldwide, responding swiftly to natural and humanitarian crises with funding, supplies, and volunteer support. Through the Lions Clubs International Foundation (LCIF), they provide emergency grants, coordinate local aid efforts, and help communities rebuild after events like floods, earthquakes, wildfires, and cyclones. Whether it’s distributing food and water, offering shelter, or restoring infrastructure, Lions are often among the first to mobilise and the last to leave – ensuring long-term recovery and resilience.

Most recently, members of the Waikanae Lions have proudly worked alongside members of other clubs to support the provision of goods and services after the impact of Cyclone Gabielle in the Hawkes Bay.