Redistricting in Rotary South Pacific

Redistricting will take place Rotary districts in the South Pacific to support the ongoing success of Rotary in this part of the world.  

Background

Rotary International's Board Decisions 

On 16 January 2026, the Regional Council and Steering Group of Rotary South Pacific put forward four requests to Rotary International’s (RI) Board related to the future of the Zone 8 Regionalisation Pilot.
 
The requests were to:
  • agree to extend the Zone 8 Regionalization pilot through 2027-28;
  • direct the districts in Zone 8 to pause elections for District Governor 2028-29 to allow Director Scott to convene a working group that will propose new districts starting 1 July 2028;
  • by a three-quarters vote, approve funding from RI Reserves to fund dedicated pilot staffing in Australia for 2026-27;
  • agree to reallocate a portion of the district funding in fiscal year 2026-27 to the Zone 8 Regional Council.
The Board approved all four items.

Timeline

New districts will be in place starting 1 July 2028. 

Coming soon: A more detailed outline of the timeline and activities for this project will be developed by the Redistricting Working Group in 2026. 

Contact

If you have more questions about this project, please contact: z8pilotstaff@rotary.org
 

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Why does our Zone need to be redistricted?

A: Unfortunately, membership has declined over the past 10+ years, and Zone 8 currently has several districts under the 1,100 member minimum for a district. Rather than being redistricted by Rotary International, the leadership in the zone considered a more collegiate approach to take into account legal jurisdictions, geography and culture. A redistricting working group is being established to consult and develop a pathway to be submitted to the RI Board later this Rotary year (2026). The long-term vision for our Zone was to review the best organisational structure needed for the ongoing success of Rotary in our region.

How does the redistricting effort affect my District?

A: The specific impact on each district is not yet known – some districts may not be impacted, some will receive new clubs, and some districts will be merged. The Rotary South Pacific leadership team aims to provide appropriate transitional support and updates to navigate the changes. The Chair of the Redistricting Working Group, Jennifer Scott, will provide an update on timelines and working group composition to the District Governors.
 

How does the redistricting effort affect my Rotary/Rotaract Club?

A: Your club will not immediately be impacted and can continue operations as normal. Clubs within the new redistricting boundaries, which are yet to be determined, will receive updates to help them understand the changes closer to the time when it occurs.
 

Who is part of the Redistricting Working Group?

A. The Redistricting Working Group is up and running with representatives from the Regional Council, the Pilot Steering Committee, from each class of Governors and key Rotary staff.
 

When will redistricting take effect?

A. From 1 July 2028, though transition may start prior to this date.