June 2019: Volunteering New Zealand (VNZ) developed the recent migrant volunteering strategy to improve the experiences of recent migrant volunteers and promote migrant volunteering best practice across the sector. This strategy is informed by the experiences of hundreds of recent migrant volunteers shared in surveys, interviews, and during migrant volunteering workshops held around the country as part of VNZ’s broader Migrant Volunteering project.
Our vision is that: Recent migrants are able to connect to, engage with, and enrich their communities through meaningful volunteering. Recent migrants have opportunities to participate in inclusive, ethical, and impactful volunteering that is valued and supported by communities and community organisations.
A National Strategy to Support Volunteering for Recent Migrants
This strategy outlines the guiding principles and strategic initiatives for achieving the vision for recent migrant volunteering. VNZ will continue to lead the sector to champion meaningful opportunities to engage in inclusive, ethical, and impactful volunteering for recent migrants. At the heart of the strategy’s vision is the concept of whanaungatanga – kinship, connection, relationships, and reciprocity.
Strategy launched at Parliament June 2019
Minister Peeni Henare, in association with Volunteering New Zealand, hosted a National Volunteer Week celebration at Parliament in June 2019. Te Rautaki mō Whanaungatanga – A National Strategy to Support Volunteering for Recent Migrants was launched then.
Connecting through volunteering
Our Migrant Volunteering programme focused on supporting community and voluntary organisations to enhance the way they reach out to migrant communities, engage with new migrants and actively support migrants as they participate in volunteering activities.
We piloted a programme that connected recent migrants with volunteering opportunities. The picture shows graduates of Northland’s programme celebrating receiving their certificates of completion.
A pilot series of Migrant and Community workshops were also delivered throughout New Zealand.