News

Our survey on the impact of the fuel cost crisis on the voluntary sector received 90 responses in two weeks.

This is an issue affecting many organisations and impacting on their ability to maintain and deliver services. See the Summary Survey Results.

Affect of rising fuel prices
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85%of respondents said the rising fuel prices were affecting their organisation’s activities in some way; and 87% have no contingency for rising fuel prices.

The main effects were: reducing volunteer hours, reducing service provision, and putting programmes on hold.

70.5% said in the event of fuel shortage, their ability to provide services would be compromised. 68.5% of respondents said their organisation had a plan, or one was in progress.

“Our centre is open to the public and if volunteers are unavailable then we can’t open.”

“We support community organisations over a large geographic area but we are not able to travel for events and collaborations as travel is too expensive and our finances are strained.”

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What organisations are doing to mitigate the impact

Organisations are adapting to the impact of the rising fuel costs. Respondents said they were:

• Working from home where possible, and using online tools for meetings etc
• Reducing the amount of travel distances e.g. through less frequent deliveries, or matching volunteers closer to the service locations
• Some were offering financial support to volunteers such as petrol vouchers, and mileage reimbursement
• Sometimes it was necessary to cut, reduce or pause non-essential services and programmes.

What response was needed

The overwhelming majority want Volunteering New Zealand to lobby the government for:

• Financial support or fuel price controls
• Recognition that the not-for-profit sector provides essential services
• Tax relief for charities
• Contact MPs directly about the impacts on the volunteer sector

Other ideas included:

• Support in accessing additional funding for increased travel costs
• Include volunteer sector in fuel rationing priority plans
• Access to fuel discounts for volunteer organisations
• Prioritise fuel access for critical volunteer services (e.g., Meals on Wheels, hospital transport)

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“Advocate for VIOs to Government - funding is tight already and high fuel costs may be the proverbial straw that breaks the camel's back for some struggling organisations. A plan is needed - including the for-purpose sector to enable us to continue to deliver services and support our clients(who are also struggling).” 

 Thank you to everyone who responded to this survey. We'll use your responses to advocate to government and funders for support for the voluntary sector.

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Purpose

Volunteering New Zealand is looking to collaborate with volunteer involving organisations across New Zealand planning to run a local event or activity which recognises and thanks volunteers during International Volunteer Year 2026 (IVY26). Support can be financial or non-financial.

We invite organisations who will deliver events that strengthen community connections, celebrate diversity, encourage participation and enhance wellbeing to apply.

The initiatives we seek to support will need to demonstrate contribution to one of the following:

• Capability, capacity and self-reliance are enhanced,
• Cultural wellbeing is enriched through arts, culture, heritage and national identity,
• Collective health, safety and wellbeing are advanced, or
• Connection, collaboration and inclusion are supported.

Additionally, we have identified that initiatives will also need to demonstrate:

• Deliver immediate community benefit
• Strengthen the volunteering ecosystem
• Increase recognition, support and valuing of volunteers
• Improve sector capability and national visibility of volunteering

We encourage all of our member organisations to apply, as well as those who are member organisations of regional volunteer centres, but particularly want to hear from people who haven't engaged with us before.

Eligibility Criteria:

To be eligible, your organisation must:

• Be a Not-For-Profit organisation
• Be a volunteer-involving organisation
• Operate in New Zealand
• Be a registered charity or have an NZBN
• Have a bank account in the organisation's name

Eligible events - regional and community events celebrating International Volunteer Year 2026, and that celebrate volunteers and volunteering. This may be:

• Events that are free or low cost for the community to attend
• Events that profile, celebrate or recognise volunteers
• Volunteering events that benefit the local community
• Volunteer Centre significant milestone celebration events

Ineligible events - we are unable to provide any support towards:

• Profit-making or private events
• Political or religious proselytising events
• Events aleady fully funded by another source
• Events that pose safety or environmental risks

What sort of events can we cover

There are many ways to celebrate your volunteers, and we encourage you to be as creative as possible! We would love to see you do something for IVY26 that you might otherwise not do.

Popular events and activities include:

• Community/volunteer breakfast, morning tea or afternoon tea
• Barbecues and dinners
• Volunteer stories, campaigns or celebrations
• Volunteer recognition gifts such as lapel pins, cupcakes and memorabilia

What collaboration with us could support: 

• Event venue hire
• Event related equipment, materials, supplies
• Event catering
• Event promotion and marketing

We are unable to support

• Alcohol
• Gifts or prizes
• Salaries
• Retrospective events or costs (events already held)
• Annual events (events that you hold every year)

Indicative collaboration support

Organisations are invited to submit one expression of interest for an IVY event or celebration.

Our support may contribute in whole or in part to a project.

Additional funding from other sources and in-kind contributions are encouraged.

We anticipate event support contribution being available for up to $1,500.

Where there is a greater need, multi-organisation collaboration or special circumstances we may be able to provide additional support at our discretion.

Key Details

Applications open: 4 May

Read the Guidelines and Terms and Conditions here.

Complete our online application form here.

Applications close: 15 June

Decisions announced: we will assess applications as they come in, however response times may vary. All applicants can expect to hear from us no later than two weeks after the application period closes.

Events must occur between 1 June - 31 December 2026

Post-event requirements are due within 30 days of event being held.

AK Sanjeewa writes that giving back has rewarded him with friendships, meaning and belonging.

 Eight years ago, I arrived in New Zealand as an international student, full of hope and excitement. From the very beginning, I carried a simple yet meaningful dream: to give back to the community I was going to call home. This beautiful country has given me world‑class education, valuable life lessons, and the warmth of Kiwi culture - contributions I wanted to honour through community service.

That dream became reality when Volunteer Canterbury organised a workshop for immigrants. Through this initiative, I was introduced to volunteering opportunities and soon began my journey with Community Patrols of New Zealand (CPNZ). I must take a moment to acknowledge the incredible team at Volunteer Canterbury for creating such a powerful platform - connecting volunteers with non‑profit organisations that truly need support. Through this network, I’ve been fortunate to volunteer with nearly five major community organisations over the years.

Seven Years of Service with CPNZ

My connection with CPNZ grew stronger day by day. I am proud to say that for the past seven years, I have served as a volunteer community patroller with the Christchurch City Park Central Patrol Team, working toward a shared goal: making our city a safer place for everyone.

Although my professional background is in retail business management, I never hesitated to step into this role. The experience I have gained, from community patrols to working closely with the New Zealand Police, has been nothing short of remarkable. It has strengthened my sense of responsibility, leadership, and community awareness.

As community patrollers, we serve as role models for safety while providing an added layer of support to local businesses by helping keep their premises secure. Knowing that our presence contributes to peace of mind for residents and business owners alike makes every patrol worthwhile.

Volunteering with an Open Heart

One message I truly want to share is this: don’t approach volunteering with a selfish mindset. Volunteering isn’t just about gaining work experience or adding a reference to your CV; it’s about contributing openly and meaningfully to the community. Every volunteer role has value and identity, and every effort matters.

The lessons learned through community interaction become lifelong memories. Through volunteering, I’ve experienced the kindness of Kiwi culture and built lasting friendships that continue to support and inspire me.

Commitment Through Every Challenge

My journey with CPNZ has been both enjoyable and challenging. Whether patrolling during the day or late at night, in cold or wet weather, we remain committed and vigilant. These challenges strengthen us personally and remind us of the responsibility we carry as volunteers.

There is a unique joy in seeing happy faces and secure public spaces within our community. That sense of achievement is deeply fulfilling and cannot be compared to any routine or paid job. Volunteering is not “just another role”, it is a truly inspiring opportunity to make a difference.

Gratitude and Looking Ahead

I would not be able to do this work without the unwavering support of my family. As an immigrant, the time I dedicate to volunteering sometimes comes at the expense of time with my loved ones. I am deeply grateful to my wife and my lovely little daughter for their constant support and understanding as I contribute to community wellbeing.

Volunteering is respected, valued, and, now more than ever, essential for our nation. I am proud of my commitment, grateful for the journey so far, and excited for what lies ahead with CPNZ.

Together, through shared responsibility and open hearts, we can continue to make our communities a welcoming place for everyone.

Bev Giles is the Manager of Volunteering Northland, but her volunteer journey has lasted a lifetime.

While Hospice is the main organisation I currently volunteer for, my volunteering journey began long before that - when I was just 18 years old.

As a teenager, I was quite shy and struggled to find my confidence and sense of belonging in the world. One day, I heard a radio advertisement calling for volunteer telephone counsellors at Youthline. Something about it resonated with me, and I decided to apply. After completing the training programme, I volunteered as a Youthline phone counsellor for around two years before heading off on my OE.

That experience marked the beginning of what would become a lifelong journey of volunteering. It gave me my first taste of how powerful and rewarding it feels to give back and support others during challenging times.

Finding My Place with Hospice

For the past six years, I have volunteered as a retail assistant in various Hospice shops. I chose Hospice because of the incredible work they do and because their values so closely align with my own. I also happen to love meeting new people — and, let’s be honest, I love shopping!

I began volunteering with Hospice after resigning from a 25-year career in the corporate world to start my own life coaching business. While I was building my client base, I found myself with some spare time and decided to volunteer once a week. What I didn’t expect was how quickly volunteering would become such a meaningful part of my life.

I met wonderful people, built genuine friendships, and found a strong sense of connection — especially valuable as I had recently moved to the area. When we relocated further north 18 months ago, I naturally sought out anew Hospice shop and was warmly welcomed into the team.

More Than I Ever Gave

What I’ve gained through volunteering is difficult to measure, but it has given me so much more than the time and energy I’ve invested.

Starting out as a Youthline counsellor helped me develop skills that built confidence and shaped my future career. Those early experiences laid the foundations for coaching, mentoring, and leading otherslater in life.

Over the years, my volunteer journey has included mentoring at-risk youth, serving as an adviser for Citizens Advice, being a board member for a low-decile school and a women’s support centre, helping at local galas and community events — and many other roles along the way.

The Joy of Volunteering

I haven’t encountered any major challenges throughout my volunteering journey. Like anywhere, there have been moments where I haven’t seen eye to eye with someone, but I’ve never let that deter me.

Today, I volunteer at Hospice every second Friday, and I absolutely love it. It’s my happy place — a space where I can be myself, connect with a diverse range of people, and occasionally discover some incredible additions to my wardrobe. My friends now affectionately refer to me as “the Op Shop Queen!”

When Passion Meets Purpose

Landing my current paid role as Manager of Volunteering Northland felt like the icing on the cake. It brought together everything I’m passionate about — community, connection, and supporting others through volunteering.

Volunteering is part of my DNA and always will be. It has shaped who I am, enriched my life beyond measure, and continues to remind me of the power of giving back.

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Our latest report State of the Decade of Volunteering provides a comprehensive review of volunteering in Aotearoa New Zealand over the past ten years.

It was launched on Tuesday 24th of March by Minister Louise Upston at the BNZ Partners Centre, Wellington. The event included a panel discussion facilitated by Steven Moe – ParryField Lawyers with:

• Amanda Reid, BERL
• Matthew Williams , JBWere
• Professor Karen Smith , Te Herenga Waka – Victoria University of Wellington
• Ethan Tauevihi‑Kahika, Volunteering New Zealand Board member.

The report author Dr Johann Go will be giving webinars about the report next month:

• 7 May, online launch and highlights of the report
• 19 May, deep dive and insights about youth volunteering.

Michelle Kitney, VNZ Chief Executive says, “Quality data and insights are crucial for understanding how people are volunteering, and how organisations are responding. With the pressures on the community and voluntary sector, we must adapt to remain vital and relevant.”

Misty Sansom, VNZ Board Chair says. "Here's the thing I keep coming back to: we have good data now. We know what's happening. The question that matters is whether we're ready to act on what the data tells us - particularly around funding for volunteering infrastructure, protecting volunteering data in the census changes, and adjusting to the changing nature of volunteering.

Call to Action for the Future of Volunteering

"It's also the International Year of the Volunteer, and we're using it to build our advocacy goals. If you work with volunteers or care about the infrastructure that supports them, we'd love to hear what you think matters most," Misty says.

A survey about a Call to Action for the Future of Volunteering, which went live at the report launch, has already had 70 responses.

Volunteers, leaders of volunteers, and organisation leaders are all contributing their ideas through the survey.

Some ideas to improve volunteering include:

• Make volunteer vetting processes more joined up e.g. a volunteer passport
• Funding for organisations to reimburse volunteers e.g. for petrol
• A way to record volunteer efforts that they can use e.g. hours, qualifications, achievements
• More data/research to show the value of volunteering in NZ

 “We welcome all ideas to enable us to better advocate for greater recognition of volunteering. Government, funders, community organisations and volunteers can all help shape the future for volunteering,” Michelle says.

Find out more on The State of the Decade of Volunteering report page.

This opinion article is one in a series of responses by thought leaders in response to our State of the Decade of Volunteering report. Tania Jones is the the Atom Innovation Space Coordinator at Victoria University of Wellington.

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I want to begin by congratulating Tūao Aotearoa Volunteering New Zealand and the author team on the State of the Decade of Volunteering report. This is a thoughtful, rigorous and generous piece of work that captures both the complexity of the sector and the deep commitment of those within it. It offers invaluable clarity on the state of the sector over time.

Volunteering is evolving

Reading the report through a youth empowerment lens, I was struck by the disconnect it surfaces between national statistics and the lived perceptions of many volunteer-involving organisations. While participation remains strong, the experience on the ground often feels like decline. I see this not as a contradiction, but as clear evidence that volunteering is evolving in healthy ways — becoming more flexible, more informal, and more closely woven into everyday life.

One of the most under-recognised forms of this is volunteering connected to schools. Parents remain one of our largest and most consistent volunteer cohorts, yet their contribution is often invisible, informal, and unevenly supported. These moments of contribution matter not only to schools, but to children themselves. When young people see parents role-modelling volunteering as normal, valued and purposeful, they begin forming their own civic identities long before they begin their own path as volunteers. This is also where early seeds of social entrepreneurship are often planted, as young people observe adults identifying needs, mobilising others, and creating practical responses within their communities.

The power of digital tools to support volunteering

The report’s focus on limited technology uptake is also critical here. Digital tools have enormous potential to support schools and other VIOs to make volunteering easier, more equitable, and more visible, especially for time-poor families. Better systems and further research can help close the perception gap by capturing the full picture of who is contributing and how.

What stayed with me most is the sector’s quiet optimism. Despite structural pressures, the resilience and care remain strong. The opportunity before us is to invest in the systems, practices, and pathways that reflect modern life, and to recognise that the future of volunteering is already taking shape, often closer to home than we realise.

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This opinion article is one in a series of responses by thought leaders in response to our State of the Decade of Volunteering report.

Amanda Reid is the Chief Executive Officer/ Tumu Whakarae of BERL. She has expertise in the Māori economy, indigenous trade, workforce development, diversity, and evaluation and impact measurement.

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There have been clear shifts in volunteering participation for many organisations since the 1970s.

From my research, what we’re seeing is that  motivations for both unpaid volunteering and paid work are shifting generationally.

Younger people tend to be more strongly motivated by values, so they're looking for values alignment between their personal values and the organisation or cause. For older people, motivation tends be around community and belonging, and about contribution to where they are at.

I think it's not that motivation is disappearing. I think it's just diversifying. What that means is that we need to change how we organise and recruit volunteers. Our systems and maps for engagement were designed for a different era and no longer fit modern lives. Some of the research I've looked at shows that younger age groups are more likely to volunteer for one-off kind of events than to do an afternoon on an ongoing basis.

Need for flexibility for recruitment

Which makes it challenging when you have complicated induction processes for training and on boarding. There may be really good reasons, like some places need a lot of health and safety and support wrapped around, and there are genuine duty-of-care requirements. Those requirements still matter, but they can also create friction if not designed flexibly.

One-size fits-all recruitment doesn't work. It doesn’t work in employment, and it doesn’t work in volunteering. We need segmented, culturally relevant pathways that fit different age groups, different people's availability. All this takes resource, and no one’s paying organisations for this to take an approach in a different way. When motivation matches opportunity, then people don’t need persuading - they need enabling. Motivation is not the issue; fit is [the issue].

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Volunteering in New Zealand is under strain as people have less time to volunteer and organisations are being asked to deliver more.

This is according to a State of the Decade of Volunteering report, released today by Volunteering New Zealand.

“Although the overall volunteer rates show a small increase, fewer people are volunteering with community organisations and for less time. This is putting pressure on organisations and the communities they serve,” says Volunteering New Zealand Chief Executive Michelle Kitney.

53% of New Zealanders volunteer (Stats NZ 2025 update), an increase of 2.3% since 2021 when 50.7% volunteered. However, those volunteering through an organisation has decreased from 30.2% in 2021 to 27.6% in 2025.

“It has been a decade of transformation in volunteering practices with a clear shift toward flexible, episodic, and shorter-term roles,” Michelle says.

Rather than a ‘civic core’ of volunteers doing most of the work, there is a wider pool of people offering what time they have. Volunteers, particularly younger people, are increasingly motivated by personal values, skills development and alignment with causes they care about.

Victoria Davy, head of Volunteering at Blind Low Vision New Zealand says the State of the Decade report raises opportunities for the sector.

“I was particularly encouraged by the sections on the next generation of volunteers and what they are looking for.

“I am already reflecting on the elements of our own volunteering function that I will intentionally rebuild to attract these volunteers in ways that suit them, while also ensuring continuity of services delivered by volunteers for our clients.”

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International Year of the Volunteer (IVY26)

2026 is the International Year of the Volunteer – an opportunity to recognise volunteering and improve the infrastructure around volunteering.

Michelle Kitney says, “Volunteering doesn’t just happen, it requires good management, strategic planning and investment to enable volunteer engagement.”

Volunteering New Zealand is encouraging anyone with an interest in volunteering to respond to a survey about a Call to Action for the Future of Volunteering.

“Your ideas are crucial to enable us to formulate our Call to Action. Government, funders, community organisations and volunteers can all help shape the future for volunteering,” Michelle says.

The State of the Decade of Volunteering report and the Call to Action survey are here.

ENDS

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Additional quotes from thought leaders

What will improve volunteering?

“The younger generation of volunteers are seeking new ways to contribute...There is urgency for the sector to address the professionalism of volunteer recruitment, management, support, and recognition if we are to continue delivering vital services to New Zealanders. ”

- Victoria Davy, Head of Volunteering, Blind Low Vision NZ

“We must take people on a journey, one they are controlling, allowing them to adapt their commitment over time as we create and curate meaningful ways for people to engage with the causes they are passionate about. ”

- Rob Jackson, UK Consultant

“There are clear pressures and structural tensions in the sector... there’s an opportunity: not to reassure, but to rally stronger government recognition, resourcing, and attention to the cumulative strain being absorbed by committed volunteers. ”

- Dr Blake Bennett, University of Auckland

“How are our practices becoming more flexible, responsive, and welcoming for people who are time-poor, mobile, digitally savvy, and keen to contribute in purposeful ways?...The task ahead is not to recreate volunteering as it once was, but to recognise and support what it is becoming.”

-         Angela Wallace, SociaLink (Bay of Plenty)

The full opinion pieces from these thought leaders are here.

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It's International Year of the Volunteer! We want to use this to call for change to improve volunteering in New Zealand.

What do you think would make the most difference?

Please share your views in this survey.

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Volunteer management is not a solo project – it needs a whole organisation to engage volunteers, Rob Jackson said at a recent webinar on influencing.

Volunteer managers need to be proactive about involving others and realising the value of volunteers.

The webinar, From the Top Down – Influencing, on 18 February, was attended by people from a wide variety of organisations.

What Volunteers Bring

Rob posed the question: Why involve volunteers at all?

Participants gave many responses to what volunteers contribute and why organisations value them.

Impact Statements

To influence others – stakeholders inside and outside your organisation – Rob noted the importance of setting goals. “What change do you want to see and what will things be like if this change happens?”

One participant had previously posed this question to her wider team and came up with a volunteer impact statement, vis: “volunteers with their freely given time, empathy, and experience enrich our culture, strengthen our connections, and enhance the support we provide ...”

Organisational Reflections

If hypothetically given unlimited money, participants would:

• Invest directly in volunteers, reimburse expenses, develop capability and     strengthen community connection.
• Support volunteers more effectively and intentionally.

Participants came away with ideas to map stakeholders and how to influence them, as well as setting goals for volunteer engagement.

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See more from Rob Jackson: https://linktr.ee/robjconsulting

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Volunteers in the Bay of Plenty provided great support in the recovery from the Mauao (Mt Maunganui) and Welcome Bay storm events of late January.

A team of volunteers organised by SociaLink Volunteering Services supported the He Maimai Aroha Community Care Centre.

Volunteer team well-prepared and welcoming

“We want to say how amazing our emergency volunteer team has been. They welcomed people, cared for the space and created a welcoming environment for people to reflect on our community loss,” says Liz Davies, Chief Executive of SociaLink.

Heather Chander, an emergency volunteer, has had a role welcoming people as they arrive.

“It is very touching that so many have come to reflect, pay their respects, or, through their feelings, create a tribute to those who have been so tragically taken. The outpouring of love has been truly humbling.”

Jo Veale, Chairperson, Mount Business Association says the volunteers were well-prepared to meet the diverse needs of our community members and contributed their time freely and with goodwill.

“Volunteering Services has played a pivotal role in the successful staffing of our community care centre, He Maimai Aroha. Their dedicated efforts have significantly enhanced our ability to provide comprehensive care and support to those in need.”  

Volunteer Co-ordination behind the scenes

Volunteering Services provided the volunteer co-ordination to mobilise volunteers at short notice.

Volunteering Services is supporting Tauranga City Council and Western Bay of Plenty District Council with emergency volunteers. The councils in turn partially funded Volunteering Services to establish an emergency volunteering database and Volunteer Management System.

“Our preparedness work has proved invaluable, resulting in solid relationships, agreed ways of working and a volunteer management system that could be activated at short notice.

“The system was tailored to support volunteering in an emergency, and a team of over 100 standby emergency volunteers were onboarded,” Liz Davies says.

The online Volunteer Management System meant that volunteers could register to help, view volunteer opportunities and self-assign to tasks –a sustainable way to ensure ongoing volunteer support and to enable the Volunteering Services team to be responsive to emerging needs and new requests for help.

Volunteering Services is also collaborating with Student Volunteer Army (Waikato) to provide volunteer support across the storm-affected region in Western Bay of Plenty.

With more severe weather events likely, it’s vital to be prepared for involving volunteers after an emergency.

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What's your story?

Find out how to tell your volunteer story. Let's make 2026 a year of volunteer storytelling.

Have you ever wondered what Volunteer Journey Mapping looks like? About 20 volunteer managers from across the motu experienced this in a workshop with volunteer engagement expert Tobi Johnson at the end of January in Wellington.

This was no talk-fest but a hands-on workshop which saw us sharing and debating as we wrote ideas on large murals.

About volunteer journey mapping

Tobi says, “Mapping the volunteer journey from first touch to fond farewell is an excellent way to better understand changing volunteer motivations and needs as they move through your organisation from joiner, to learner, to doer to potential leader.”

The key steps were:

1. Identify key touchpoints in the volunteer journey
2. Analyse current volunteer needs & barriers
3. Brainstorm possible upgrades and team tasks
4. Identify potential challenges to implementing changes
5. Prioritise and choose next steps

There were three murals, covering different phases of the volunteering lifecycle, in-line with Volunteering New Zealand’s Best Practice Guidelines:

• Recruit, engage, welcome and onboard
• Support, leadership, train and grow
• Feedback, recognition, impact and exit.

What we learnt

This process meant we had to think of the volunteer’s needs – both informational and emotional – at each step. We were putting ourselves in the volunteer’s shoes which informed what changes we would recommend.

As one post-event respondent said to the question, What did you enjoy most about the workshop? “Getting a comprehensive idea of the volunteer journey from start to finish - and how much work it takes! It was also lovely to share experiences with other groups. Really enjoyed being on our feet and interactive.”

A large amount of information was captured on the murals. Volunteering New Zealand is considering how we use this knowledge to inform our Guidelines work.

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Useful resources

Tobi Johnson has shared some of her most useful resources:

Improve the volunteer experience with a journey map (podcast)

Volunteer management progress report

Volunteer return on investment calculator

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It’s International Volunteer Year, and one of the ways to mark that is to tell impactful volunteer stories. We encourage you to make 2026 a year of storytelling!

We are making it easy with:

·       Social media tiles “What’s your story?” Get Canva template

·       A tag: #IVY26stories

·       A form template in Microsoft Forms (adjust as you like).
Note: requires users to sign in to Microsoft

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Celebrate volunteering: Your stories show the power and diversity of volunteering across Aotearoa New Zealand.

Why participate: Help us showcase the impact of volunteers during International Volunteer Year. Boost support for your community organisation. Read our blog: Why Storytelling is a Powerful Way to Recognise and Celebrate Volunteers

How to get involved: Collect, share, and submit your best volunteer stories. Here's a great article on Collecting Volunteer Impact Stories.

You can send us your completed stories on this form 

Volunteering New Zealand will share some of the stories each month. We’ll select some of the most impactful stories of volunteers to attend a special event later in the year.

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2026 Sample questions/ template

Use these questions to build your own form:

1.      What is your name

2.      What is your email address?      

3.      Which organisation(s) do you volunteer for?

4.      What inspired you to start volunteering?

5.      Describe your volunteering journey

6.      What do you gain from volunteering?

7.      Are there any challenges or barriers to volunteering, and what could help overcome them?

8.      Is there anything else you’d like to add to your volunteering story?

9.      Please consent for your story to be used by us on our channels (Y/ N)

10.  Upload photos or video

11.  Social media handles (Optional)

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By Michelle Kitney

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Mahi Tahi, Mahi Wātea was developed to give community groups greater confidence to engage disabled people as volunteers.

It is an excellent resource, providing clear and straightforward, practical tools that help organisations reflect on curren tpractice, identify barriers, and take action, from role design and onboarding, to retention strategies. It is an excellent tool to start from or strengthen your inclusion journey.

The Guide and Framework are here: https://volunteeringauckland.org.nz/nonprofits/resources

Volunteering is constant and also evolving

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Volunteering remains a constant and key enablerof community life and our collective wellbeing. Voluntary participation ratescontinue to increase, but how we want to give our time is changing.

We know time, cost-of-living pressures and digital barriers can make participation uneven.

At the same time, there is a clear opportunity: communities are asking for flexible, purpose-driven roles and for inclusive practice that welcomes everyone, including disabled people and our super diversecommunities.

Approximately a quarter of New Zealanders identify as disabled, so inclusion cannot be an ‘add‑on’. It must be built into how we design and deliver volunteering.

Inclusive volunteering built into practice

Inclusive volunteering doesn’t happen by chance; it is a programme design and leadership choice.

The Enabling Good Lives approach reinforces self‑determination,person‑centredsupports, ordinary life outcomes, and ‘mainstream first’ all of which can translatedirectly into how we recruit, onboard and support volunteers.

Practically, enabling volunteers meansremoving barriers: designing flexible roles, providing accessible materials and spaces, buddy systems and peer support,asking about access needs rather than medical details, and building feedbackloops so volunteers can shape their experience. But most importantly it meansbeing person and volunteer centric.

Accessibility and inclusion are at the heart the 2023 Volunteering NZ Best Practice Guidelines. Co-designed by the community sector and volunteers and provide a mandate and framework for all organisations to engage with volunteers from a people first approach.

Mahi Tahi, Mahi Wātea gives leaders the roadmap to make inclusion the norm.

I encourage you to download the guide, use it to review your volunteering engagement and programmes.

One or two small changes can make a difference. If we each make small, deliberate shifts, we will collectively strengthen volunteering accessibility and inclusion practice nationwide.

My congratulations to Cheryll Martin and her team at Volunteering Auckland, the contributors and partners who have brought Mahi Tahi, Mahi Wātea to life, and all those working every day to make volunteering in Aotearoa inclusive and strong.

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Volunteering New Zealand supports the global Call to Action for the future of volunteering, issued on International Volunteer Day, 5 December.

Volunteers and volunteer managers in New Zealand were among those who responded to the global consultation which led to the Call To Action.

Volunteering New Zealand Chief Executive Michelle Kitney says: “New Zealand’s voluntary sector proudly participated in the co-design of the Global Call To Action which aims to improve the conditions for volunteering.”

25 years of volunteering action

The Universal Declaration on Volunteering in 2001 described volunteers as fundamental building blocks of community and civic life. Volunteers are our first responders during disasters, the hands and hearts behind food banks, the voices leading campaigns, and the neighbours lending a hand when it’s needed the most.

Twenty-five years later the world is getting ready to celebrate, elevate, recognise and support volunteers, with the United Nations General Assembly declaring 2026 as the International Year of Volunteers for Sustainable Development. This is a vehicle to enable all stakeholders to work together to promote the vital role that volunteers play in ensuring just and sustainable societies.

Two years of preparations globally to mark the International Volunteer Year 2026 (IVY 2026) brought together the voices of close to 14,000 people from 164 countries to respond to the question: to better harness the power of volunteering towards sustainable development, what needs to change – and who has the power to change it?

Launched on December 5 2025, the Global Call To Action

The challenge is clear: for volunteering to realise its full potential, we need to collectively identify the key actions needed, across diverse contexts and stakeholder groups, to unlock greater investment and create enabling environments for volunteering to thrive.

This Call to Action represents the collective voices of volunteer-involving organisations, national leadership for volunteering organisations, the private sector, funders and governments gathered in 2025 through surveys, local dialogues, and global discussions. From their perspectives, this call sets out the key actions needed for volunteering to realise its full potential.

In response to the Global Challenge Paper, Volunteering New Zealand convened with regional volunteer centres, member organisations and the wider sector, collated shared feedback and insights and synthesised and submitted this into the Global Call To Action process.

“We elevated sector voices directly by sharing key quotes and feedback. This fed into the insights paper and into the final Call To Action,” Michelle Kitney says.

Three action areas

This Call to Action outlines three action areas: Recognition, Support and Safeguarding. Each has an underlying principle and key actions addressed to specific stakeholders. Across all areas, volunteers themselves play a central role as advocates and partners in driving this agenda forward.

1 Call to Action: Recognition

Volunteers should be systematically recognised, valued, and celebrated, shifting from symbolic appreciation to systemic recognition through policies, funding, and integration of volunteering into relevant strategies.

2 Call to Action: Support

Volunteering is not always cost free, nor does it always happen automatically. It requires an enabling environment to support participation and maximize its impact, while adapting to evolving social and ecological conditions.

3 Call to Action: Safeguarding

Together, we can build a future where volunteering is recognized, supported, and protected everywhere, for everyone.

It is now more urgent than ever to create safe environments where volunteering can thrive. The safety, rights, wellbeing and dignity of volunteers, and the people with whom they engage with, across all contexts, are paramount to ensure they contribute without fear of harm or exploitation.

How to get involved

Get involved in recognising, supporting and protecting volunteers and volunteering. What you can do now:

·      Share the Call to Action statement within your organisation and your networks. Use your social media channels to show your support for the Call to Action using the hashtag #futureofvolunteering

·      Say ‘Yes’ to being part of the Call to Action movement and get involved by registering your details at iave.org/calltoaction and forum-ids.org/ international-volunteer-year-2026.

·      Use IVY 2026 as the year to take action on one or more of the commitments.

Learn more

Learn more about the movement by reading the Call to Action for the Future of Volunteering Challenge Paper and Insights Paper.

·      Call To Action

·      Insights Paper

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Together, we can build a future where volunteering is recognised, supported, and protected everywhere, for everyone.

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2026 will be International Volunteer Year (IVY26) – as declared by the UN General Assembly. Volunteering New Zealand and the Volunteer Centres throughout the motu have begun planning for this significant event.

The previous International Year of the Volunteer was in 2001, 25 years ago, when Volunteering New Zealand was created.

Significant changes ushered in

The International Year of Volunteers 2001 was a catalyst for enhanced recognition, policy change, capacity building, and research into volunteering, with a lasting impact on government and civil society practices worldwide. See the IVYGlobal Evaluation Report 2002.

In New Zealand, there were a range of initiatives to promote volunteering. Government provided funding support for Volunteering New Zealand and Volunteer Centres; and a policy project looked at barriers to volunteering in government legislation and policy. See the Report of the Ministerial Reference Group for International Year of Volunteers 2001.

Long-lasting effect

Global volunteer involvement after IYV 2001 was marked by greater recognition and institutional support, but formal participation rates fell in many regions even as volunteer hours and impact increased. Also, policy environments broadened to support volunteerism’s evolving role.

In New Zealand, there has been promotion and recognition of volunteering through National Volunteer Week and other campaigns; continued government funding support for Volunteering New Zealand Volunteer Centres; research, through Statistics New Zealand, on the uptake of volunteering.

Bucking the international trend of declining volunteering rates, volunteering in New Zealand has increased. In 1996, 41% of adults undertook unpaid work, by 2023 that was 53%.

Plans for IVY 2026

IVY 2026 is an opportunity to emphasise the power of volunteering, encourage greater investment in volunteering, and secure commitments from governments and others to support volunteering.

IAVE has been gathering insights from around the world into Call to Action on the Future of Volunteering. Find out more from IAVE.

Volunteering New Zealand also has plans underway to leverage IVY26, including:

·       A decade of State of Volunteering reports analysis

·       Reflective piece on the decade’s learnings

·       Policy recommendations for the Government

·       Thought-leader consultation (12 contributors)

At the Volunteering Changemakers Hui on 10 October, we held an interactive session for delegates to:

·      consider the opportunities and challenges for the future of volunteering, and

·      Ideas to Celebrate IVY26.

We welcome your feedback on these notes.

See our International Volunteer Year campaign page and resources.

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