News Page
Stay up to date with the latest news and events from across District 72. For ease of navigation, we have divided this page into four sections: Members, Club Officers, District Officers and the District Calendar.
We recommend regularly checking the sections that apply to you!
Message From
Mark Tweedale
Better Together – Join the Team
Greetings fellow Toastmasters,
I am honoured to have been elected as your District Director for 2026–2027, as we come together as one District and welcome Fiji into this next chapter of ours.
This is an exciting time for our District. We are not only bringing communities together, we are also creating something new – a District shaped by the people within it.
Now, I invite you to be part of that journey.
There are a range of opportunities available for you to contribute, grow, and support others, whether you are looking to step into a leadership role or be part of a team behind the scenes.
Step Into Leadership
If you are interested in roles such as:
- Area Director
- Administration Manager
- Finance Manager
- Public Relations Manager
You can express your interest here:
District 72 Expression of Interest – District Leader Form:
https://forms.gle/
Join a District Team:
If you would like to be involved as part of a team, there are many ways you can contribute across areas such as training, events, club growth, communications, and more.
You can express your interest here:
District 72 Field Officer and Support Team Expression of Interest:
https://forms.gle/
Whether you are stepping into a leadership role or supporting behind the scenes, your contribution matters.
Together, we will build a District that is inclusive, supportive, and focused on helping every member grow.
I encourage you to take a moment to explore these opportunities and express your interest.
Kind regards,
Mark Tweedale
District Director Elect 2026–2027, District 72
Members News
Autumn Newsletter
The April 2026 Newsletter is packed with updates, inspiration, and opportunities to get involved! Find out about the upcoming training workshops, results from the Division Contests and information about the District Conference in May.
Has your club done something interesting that we could feature in the next newsletter? We would love to hear about it! Send your story to newsletter.d72@toastmasters.org.nz
District 72 Conference 2026
Join us for the annual District 72 Conference! This year, it is being held at the Caroline Bay Hall in Timaru from Friday 15 May until Sunday 17 May 2026.
The theme will be “Celebrate the Journey” and it will be a reflection of the progress we all make during our time with Toastmasters. Feel empowered by keynote speakers, be entertained by the District contest finals, connect with other members and experience the best that Toastmasters can offer!
Starting In:
Share the Journey With Fazla Dulficar
As a way of giving back for the incredible support and encouragement she received in the lead-up to the Toastmasters World Championship of Public Speaking, Fazla Dulficar kindly offered to share her journey – taking us behind the scenes with the lessons learned, the challenges faced, and what it truly takes to grow as a speaker. This included insights on authenticity, vulnerability, and the importance of asking for help.
For those who missed this incredible workshop, the recording is now available.
Pathways Progress Sheet
Looking for a way to keep track of your Pathways progress? This Progress Sheet by District 72 makes it easy! It allows you to see all the available paths and gives an overview of what should be completed for each level.
It is also a great way for Club VP Educations to support newer members with structure, guidance and challenges.
Club Officers News
Club Officer Training - Round 2
Information about Round 2 of Club Officer Training is now available on the training page of our website! This is a great way to connect with other Club Officers from around District 72 and is one of the goals in the Distinguished Club Program.
This time, we are offering the choice between live Zoom sessions or On-Demand sessions. Live sessions offer the benefit of meeting other members from across the District, but On-Demand sessions are a great alternative for those who need more flexibility.
Workshops: Finish Strong. Start Stronger.
As we approach the final stretch of the Toastmasters year, now is the perfect time to build momentum, strengthen your club, and set yourself up for success in the year ahead.
Public Relations Campaign
After much planning, collaboration, and creativity, we are proud to officially launch our District 72 5-Week PR Campaign “Show Up. Speak Up. Share It.” that has started today, Monday, 27 April 2026 and will conclude end of Sunday, 31 May 2026. This is your club’s opportunity to grow visibility, attract visitors, and celebrate your members in powerful ways.
Each week brings new themes, prizes, and opportunities to showcase your club. Most importantly, clubs who engage will see real outcomes: increased confidence, stronger member connection, and more guests walking through your doors.
Here are the 4 key promotions/challenges your club can jump into right now:
1. Weekly Facebook PR Challenge
Post engaging content aligned to the weekly theme (e.g. speeches, open nights, member spotlights, guest experiences) and tag the District 72 Facebook page @Toastmasters NZ – Lower North and South.
What you can win:
- $20 Facebook Boost support for 5 clubs every week
See further below for WEEK 1 Theme, Caption and Hashtags to use.
2. Billboard Selfie Challenge
Take a creative selfie with a physical or digital Toastmasters billboard and post it on your club Facebook page using the campaign caption + hashtags #D72BillboardSelfie #D72ShowUpSpeakUpShareIt and tag the District 72 Facebook page @Toastmasters NZ – Lower North and South.
What you can win:
- Entry into 3 major PR support prizes
- More selfies = higher chances of winning
- 1 entry per billboard per week
3. Club Banner + Member Photo Promotion
Post a club banner with members photo on your club Facebook page using the campaign caption + hashtags #D72ShowUpSpeakUpShareIt #D72ClubBanner and tag the District 72 Facebook page @Toastmasters NZ – Lower North and South.
What you can win:
- One of 20 New Member Packs (first 20 clubs)
4. “Your Story on a Billboard” Opportunity
By Friday, 8th of May, post a 2-minute video sharing your Toastmasters journey on your Club Facebook page + hashtags #D72ShowUpSpeakUpShareIt #D72BillboardMemberStory and tag the District 72 Facebook page @Toastmasters NZ – Lower North and South.
(Ideas may include what led you to Toastmasters, lessons learned, and the impact on your life.)
What you can win:
- Feature on one of the 8 District 72 billboards staggered over 5 weeks.
- Your Toastmasters story highlighted on District 72 Facebook and Website.
Campaign Highlights:
- Billboards are now LIVE in Petone (The Esplanade) and Christchurch (Moorhouse Ave)
- New billboard locations + weekly themes revealed every Monday
- Weekly inspirational member stories shared across the District every Monday
Final Word:
This campaign is more than prizes. It’s about:
- Clubs growing stronger
- Members stepping up
- Stories being seen and heard
So, rally your members, get creative, and start posting.
WEEKLY FACEBOOK PR CHALLENGE
WEEK 1 THEME: “THIS IS US”
Showcase your club identity and remember the club could win a Membership Pack if you’re one of the first 20x clubs to post a club banner and members photo on your Facebook club page then tag to District Facebook page.
Post ideas:
- Group photo
- Club banner moment
- Meeting vibe video
Caption prompt:
“Welcome to [Your Club Name] – where leaders are made”
Must use campaign hashtags #D72ShowUpSpeakUpShareIt #ThisIsUs #[YourClubName] #D72ClubBanner
Tag District 72 Facebook Page @Toastmasters NZ – Lower North and South
Encourage members to engage (like/comment/share) to raise awareness of your club.
District 72 … it’s time to RISE!
District Council Meeting,
Saturday 16 May 2026 @ 1:20PM, Hybrid
Club Presidents, VP Educations and District Officers are invited to attend the District Council Meeting on Saturday 16 May 2026 at 1:20pm. This will be a hybrid meeting with both in-person and online attendance available.
For those who wish to attend in person, the meeting will take place during the District 72 Annual Conference, which is being held at Caroline Bay Hall in Timaru over the weekend of 15 – 17 May 2026.
Documents for this meeting will be uploaded to the Google Folder below.
Instructions on how to register attendance will be send directly to Club Presidents, VP Educations and District Officers.
Starting In:
Annual General Meetings
It is time to start planning your club’s Annual General Meeting! The Club Constitution says that this should be held during the first meeting of May where practical.
During this meeting, the club will elect its officers for the year starting 1 July 2026. This is also an opportunity for current club officers to give reports and to pass any motions that require majority approval from members.
The AGM must have a Chairperson. For some clubs, the President fulfills this function. Other clubs ask an experienced member to do this. There should also be a secretary recording the minutes of the meeting.
Some clubs run their AGM at the end of their regular meeting, others dedicate their entire meeting to it, some even meet off-site and make it a big event. How you run your AGM is entirely up to you!
Once this meeting has been held, ensure that your Club Officer List for the 2026/2027 programme year is submitted to Toastmasters International via Club Central by 30 June 2026. This will ensure a smooth transition and is one of the points in the Distinguished Club Programme.
Talk Up Toastmasters - Membership Building Programme
With so many people feeling refreshed from the holidays, now is the best time of the year to promote your club and spread the word about Toastmasters!
To encourage this, Toastmasters International are running their annual “Talk Up Toastmasters” membership building programme. Any club that can sign up 5 or more members between 1 February and 31 March 2026 will receive a special ribbon to display on their banner and a 10% off discount code to use on the Toastmasters International online store.
Membership Renewals
Our Toastmasters International semi-annual membership fees are due by 31 March 2026. As club officers, now is the best time to check in with members to discuss their goals and renewing their membership for another six months. This is also a good time to make sure members are up to date with payments.
These fees are usually paid by the Treasurer via Club Central, but it can vary for each club. Make sure your club has a plan for paying these fees on time so that you don’t miss an easy point in the Distinguished Club Programme!
Membership Renewals Due:
District Officer News
District Executive Committee Meeting,
Sunday 10 May 2026 @ 7PM via Zoom
Area Directors, Division Directors and other District Officers are invited to attend the District Executive Meeting on Sunday 10 May 2026 at 7pm. This will be held online via Zoom.
Documents for this meeting will be uploaded to the Google Folder below.
Instructions on how to register attendance will be send directly to District Officers.
Starting In:
District Reunification 2026-2027
The Toastmasters International Board of Directors have approved the realignment of District boundaries across New Zealand & the Pacific Islands as part of their Region 8–14 District Realignment process.
From 1 July 2026, members and clubs across New Zealand and Fiji will be aligned as a reunited District 72. New Zealand is currently administered by two seperate districts – 72 and 112.
While the reunited District will span a broader area, club operations and the day-to-day member experience will continue as normal. District Leaders remain focused on supporting clubs, leaders, and members to achieve their 2025–2026 goals, while the Transition Team works to ensure a smooth transition and to position the District for long-term success.
If you have any questions about this reunification, please contact District Director Kayleen Gilder at director.d72@toastmasters.org.nz
Learn more about these changes on the District 72 & 112 Transition Page.
District Trio 2026-2027
We are excited to announce the election of our the District Trio for the 2026 – 2027 Toastmasters year! These people will serve as the inaugural leaders of the reunited District 72:
- Mark Tweedale, District Director
- Sandeep Kinge, Program Quality Director
- Steve Vale, Club Growth Director
Many hands make light work and the Trio cannot run the District by themselves. If you are able to spare some time to helping Toastmasters thrive as an organisation, please fill out the forms in Mark Tweedale’s letter (pinned to the top of this page). Even just one to two hours per week can make a big difference!
Club Visit Reports
Club Visit Reports Due:
District Calendar
2025 - 2026 Programme Year
1 May 2026:
“Beat The Clock” membership building programme begins.
Clubs to hold their AGMs.
15 – 17 May 2026:
District 72 Conference in Timaru.
31 May 2026:
Club Visit Reports are due.
1 June 2026:
Round 1 of Club Officer Training for the 2026/2027 programme year begins. Training dates to be confirmed.
30 June 2026:
Club Officer Lists for 2026/2027 to be summited in Club Central.
“Beat The Clock” membership building programme ends.
Programme year ends.
2026 - 2027 Programme Year
1 July 2026:
Programme year begins.
Area Directors will contact Club Officers to discuss contests and other key events.
Club Officers begin working on Club Success Plan.
1 August 2026:
“Smedley Award” membership building programme begins.
19 – 22 August 2026:
Toastmasters International Convention in Vancouver, Canada.
31 August 2026:
Round 1 of Club Officer Training ends.
30 September 2026:
Club Success Plans are due.
Semi-annual membership fees are due.
“Smedley Award” membership building programme ends.
1 November 2026:
Round 2 of Club Officer Training for the 2026/2027 programme year begins. Training dates to be confirmed.
30 November 2026
Club Visit Reports are due.
1 February 2027:
“Talk Up Toastmasters” membership building programme begins.
28 February 2027:
Round 2 of Club Officer Training ends.
31 March 2027:
Semi-annual membership fees are due.
“Talk Up Toastmasters” membership building programme ends.
1 May 2027:
“Beat The Clock” membership building programme begins.
Clubs to hold their AGMs.
31 May 2027:
Club Visit Reports are due.
1 June 2027:
Round 1 of Club Officer Training for the 2027/2028 programme year begins. Training dates to be confirmed.
30 June 2027:
Club Officer Lists for 2027/2028 to be summited in Club Central.
“Beat The Clock” membership building programme ends.
Programme year ends.
Club
Mission
“We provide a supportive and positive learning experience in which members are empowered to develop communication and leadership skills, resulting in greater self-confidence and personal growth.”
District
Mission
“We build new clubs and support all clubs in achieving excellence.”
Toastmasters International Mission
“We empower individuals to become more effective communicators and leaders.”
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