About us
Tūao Manaaki whanaungatanga e manawaroa ai.
Volunteering of care, of nurturing growth and enduring relationships.
Tūao Aotearoa Volunteering New Zealand is an association of volunteer centres, and national and regional organisations with a commitment to volunteering in Aotearoa New Zealand.
Our aspiration for Aotearoa New Zealand
Volunteering is valued as part of who we are as a nation. We thrive and are enriched by the goodwill of volunteers in every community and their contribution and impact is recognised and supported.
Our aspiration for Volunteering New Zealand
A large and diverse membership and our strong partnerships with government, iwi/Māori, communities and business enable us to transform volunteering in Aotearoa New Zealand.
Our constitution
We are an incorporated society, and a registered charity. Our constitution is a foundational document that sets out how we operate, and our membership function.
Uara | Values
To care, nurture and grow | manaakitanga. To build connections and enduring relationships | whanaungatanga. To inspire by example | tūao. To hold ourselves to the highest standard | whaiwhakaaro
Strategic plan 2022-2025
Our strategic plan sets out our strategic goals, and a road map to achieve these.
Definition of volunteering
Work done of one’s own free will, unpaid, for the common good.
"Volunteering New Zealand Tūao Aotearoa is proud to embrace te reo Māori in our name as part of our commitment to Te Tiriti o Waitangi and to deepen our connection with communities across Aotearoa."
Key moments in our history
We started in 2001, the International Year of the Volunteer. The sector, Volunteer Centres and the Department of Internal Affairs were all part of our creation, and our purpose was to be a national voice for volunteering.
1990s
People involved in volunteer centres began discussing the value of a national body for volunteering.
September 2000
The New Zealand Ministerial Reference Group for the International Year of Volunteers was established. Advocated for creation and funding of Volunteering New Zealand.
August 2001
Volunteering New Zealand was established. International Year of the Volunteer.
2002
Membership of Volunteering New Zealand had grown to 50 members, sector-wide.
2004
Website set up, providing resources on training and best practice. Criteria for a Volunteer Centre agreed by Network of NZ Volunteer Centres.
2005
Strengthening relationship between Volunteering NZ and Māori (Ngai Tahu).
2006
Promotion and providing resources for Volunteer Awareness Week.
2008
First national conference, 'Optimising the Energy of Volunteering'.
2009
Formation of the Development of Management of Volunteers Project Group.
2010
Volunteer Management research – the Managers Matter report.
2011
Launched the Employee volunteering health and safety guidelines. Large-scale volunteering throughout New Zealand for the Rugby World Cup and in the wake of the Christchurch earthquakes.
2012
Launched Best Practice Guidelines for Volunteer-involving organisations.
2013
Competencies for Managers of Volunteers released.
2015
Best Practice Guidelines v2 released, trialled by 12 ‘championing’ organisations.
2016
First State of Volunteering report.
2017
InvolveMe, online tool for volunteer self-assessment, released.
2018
LeadMe, volunteer management tool, developed.
2019
National Migrant Volunteering Strategy released.
2020
Flagship State of Volunteering Report released; sector support for the Covid-19 pandemic.
2021
Youth Working Group established; collaborated on sector-wide Time to Shine survey.
2022
Rebranded as Tūao Aotearoa / Volunteering New Zealand.
2023
Launched new Volunteer Best Practice Guidelines. Initiated new campaign The Big Shout Out.
2024
New mentoring and peer support programmes for volunteer managers.