Zonta - Christchurch-Canterbury Club

07/12/2025

💛🌼🫶 A huge thank you to everyone who organised our fabulous Zonta Club Christmas Lunch and the induction of our 2026 Board!
Thank you to Melissa Benge as President this year, and welcome and congratulations to Chris Blacklock for being our incoming President.
We enjoyed a wonderful day at the Christchurch Golf Club - filled with laughter, great stories, and delicious food.
A Zonta lunch with 3 magnificent prizes. Thank you to all who contributed, and those who will enjoy from winning!
We are deeply grateful for an incredible year and for all the ways we’ve helped so many women and girls toward a better world. This was a perfect moment to celebrate our achievements and enjoy a well-earned rest before we come together again to continue our mission. 💛🌼🌟🎄 Merry Christmas to you all, and also to our wonderful husbands who support us in all we do. Wishing you all and our Zonta friends around the world a Happy New Year! 🫶💛🌼

02/12/2025

Congratulations to Heidi Allan who is our Club's Zonta Women in STEM award recipient. Heidi receives a club award of $1000 and her application is forwarded for consideration for a national award, and a Zonta International award of US$10,000.

Heidi is studying at Lincoln University towards a Master of Science in Conservation and Ecology focusing on forest insect ecology. Her study examines the vertical stratification of beetles on red beech trees in New Zealand, and is the first comparison of beetle stratification and microclimatic variation in New Zealand beech forests. Heidi's monetary reward provides assistance with equipment costs and field trip expenses. The equipment required includes 108 flight-intercept traps, 36 climate sensors and purchasing a small drone and controller to use for setting the traps in the canopy.

Heidi has a strong and busy involvement in many extracurricular activities. Her roles have included Co-President of the Lincoln University Ecological Society and Lincoln University Soil Society; a volunteer for the Lincoln University Children's University programme and Christchurch Envirokids; and a member of the Lincoln University soil judging team for national and Australasian soil competitions. She is an active member of six clubs including Student Volunteer Army and run club. Outside of her Lincoln life she is a volunteer at the South Island Wildlife Hospital, a member of the Canterbury Branch of the New Zealand Entomological Society, and a member of Birds NZ.

We look forward to hearing from Heidi at an upcoming meeting, and wish her the very best with her studies and with the national and international Zonta Women in STEM selection.

28/11/2025

What an amazing effort🧡🧡 the Advocacy team have put into setting up Christchurch library displays for the 16 days of activism.🧡🧡 Highlighting the Zonta Says No To Violence Against Wonen campaign.🧡🧡🧡

27/11/2025

27/11/2025

The Zonta Dragons were out paddling for Zonta Says No To Violence Against Women at the Aoraki Open. Winning a trophy for 3rd place in the Women's 460m.

14/10/2025

Come and Give it a Go. Paddle for Zonta Says No To Violence Against Women tonight 6.30pm at Lake Rua Sawyers Arms Rd. Call Marie 0272094299

06/10/2025

Thank you to our wonderful Z Club from Avonside Girls, fabulous Quiz afternoon in the weekend, fundraising for KidsCan. Excellent raffles, 3 large baskets! Thank you to our Z Club for the 31st year of being incredible to all around you! 🌼💛👏🫶🙌

06/10/2025

💛🌼 Introduction for Joy Reid – One Mother to Another.
We were delighted to welcome Joy Reid, co-founder and CEO of the Christchurch charity One Mother to Another.
Founded in 2016 by Joy and Christina Buckland, this wonderful organisation provides care packages to parents and caregivers who find themselves in hospital with a sick child or newborn.
Each pack includes practical items, small comforts, and a handwritten note of encouragement - all designed to offer a little bit of hope and kindness at what can be a very difficult time.
From humble beginnings, One Mother to Another now delivers thousands of these packs every year to hospitals and neonatal units across the South Island, supported by an incredible team of volunteers and community partners.
Thank you Joy Reid, for sharing the inspiring story behind One Mother to Another and the impact it continues to have for families throughout Aotearoa.
Thank you…
2,800 volunteer hours each year
140+ active volunteers
Notewriters
Packing day volunteers
Delivery volunteers
Crochet heart makers
Knitters
Crafters
Board
Professional

16/09/2025

🧠✨ QUIZ TIME! ✨🧠
Join us for a fun afternoon of trivia while supporting a great cause!
Sunday, 5th October 2025
Quiz starts at 2pm (doors open 1pm)
Coaster’s Tavern, 1 Daniels Road, Redwood
Just $15 per person
All fundraising proceeds go to KidsCan, our chosen charity for 2025. Grab your friends, enjoy some food & drinks, test your knowledge, and don’t forget to bring cash for raffles on the day!
Tickets: $15pp - email pj@pinnacleandco.nz
To confirm your ticket.
Pay to Zonta Club of Christchurch-Canterbury:
03 1592 0100818 00 (Name + “Quiz” as reference)

10/09/2025

It's that time again. For the Z Club Quiz AFTERNOON. The Avonside Girls High School Z Club members would love you to support this event. Bring your friends and family and come along for some fun. You may even win a raffle. All proceeds go to Kidscan.

01/09/2025

President Melissa Benge (right) and Andrea Haberfield the Membership Chair welcomed Monika Limmer into the club and inducted two new members Rosie Graham and Anne Beard.
The club members extended a warm welcome. 💛

01/09/2025

Young Women in Leadership Club Award proudly sponsored by Adam Whitelock from Bayleys Real Estate. APPLICATIONS ARE NOW OPEN go to https://zontachristchurch.org.nz/ for more details.