"The time is right for our club to do a big push.
"We have the manpower and enthusiastic people behind the scenes.
"Club members have been fundraising through donations and selling club apparel with a casino night planned for later in the year.
"The passion has always been there, it's now time to walk the talk."
The NZCT grant is vital to the club completing this longed-for project.
"The support from NZCT is extremely important.
"Without their funding, a project like our clubrooms wouldn't come to fruition."
However, it's not just Whiti Te Ra that will benefit from the new clubrooms.
The renovated facilities will be available to the wider community and provide further access to changing rooms, toilets and hosting facilities for groups visiting the Otaki Domain.
"Whiti Te Ra is a community club.
"It will be rewarding to be able to give back to our community."
Whiti Te Ra is a proud club with 160 members and last year their senior men's team won the Wellington Rugby League Final.
The number of junior players has steadily increased over the last couple of years and people connected with the club are confident of its long-term future.
Kelly-Anne said it was overwhelming receiving the news from NZCT advising that the club had been successful with their funding application.
"It has been a pleasure working with NZCT and sharing our dreams and aspirations for Whiti Te Ra with them.
"Communications with NZCT have been extremely clear and their processes very transparent," she said.
"I can't thank them enough for their support."
