Rotorua Girls' High School Z Club formalised

The formalisation of a student community service group three years after it started has given the group renewed vigour.

Z Clubs are service clubs for youth dedicated to providing career guidance and promoting leadership skills. They are associated with Zonta clubs.

On Thursday Rotorua Girls' High School officially became the sixth Z Club in the country, but they've been working hard for a while.

Barbara Stewart, the teacher in charge of the club, said it had been student-focused with the girls driving the direction.

"We're in our third year but we're finally getting it chartered. Because it's part of Zonta and Zonta is in America, it's taken ages to get to this point," Stewart said.

"It's a really good opportunity to let these girls experience what service is all about."

Z Club president Geraldine Atchico, 16, has been involved in the club for three years.

"I heard it was for people who wanted to create change in the world. That interested me because I like helping people," Geraldine said.

The Year 12 student said she enjoyed doing fundraisers and charity work, including knitting clothing for premature babies.

"It's the feeling that you get when you're helping people and you know you're making a difference in the world."

Anipatene Williams, 15, said she joined because she wanted to make a change and impact in the community.

"I like how we're making a difference for Rotorua for children that need to have food or people that are in need."

Worldwide there are more than 30,000 Zonta members and 1200 clubs in 66 countries.

Z Clubs undertake service projects to benefit the school and community.

Before being officially chartered, the Girls' High group had knitted for premature babies, made and filled toilet bags for Women's Refuge and held a bake sale for breast cancer charities, among other things.

The Zonta Club of Rotorua acts in an advisory manner to the club.

The New Zealand Zonta District Governor Janet Hope and the chairwoman for Z Clubs, Gay Gallagher, both attended the chartering.