The Volunteering New Zealand Conference Friday 16 October

Volunteering New Zealand invites you to join us in Rotorua on Friday 16 October for our annual conference for people leading volunteers. You will collaborate and connect with peers, be inspired with new ideas and learn new approaches.

Your conference ticket includes a closing networking event from 4pm.

Delegates at the Volunteering New Zealand Conference will:

• Network and share with colleagues
• Learn about volunteer impact via storytelling, the economics of the sector, flexible volunteering, Māori social enterprises and more
• Work together to improve the future of volunteering

Keynote speakers and facilitated discussions will focus on working with youth, flexible volunteering approaches, as well as learn about the new Volunteer Manager competencies.  

Confirmed speakers include Shamubeel Eaqub, Dr Ellen Joan Ford, Amanda Ashby, Jean Treadwell-Hoye, with more to be announced.

The Volunteering New Zealand Conference is a full day on Friday 16 October.

There is an optional 1-day Masterclass on Thursday 15 October at the same venue focussing on working with youth.

Positive Youth Development Aotearoa training

Lead and facilitated by PYDA facilitator (name TBC)

This is an additional optional full-day workshop on the 15th of October, being held at the Kauri Room, Rydges Hotel, Rotorua

Workshop Overview:

The Positive Youth Development Aotearoa (PYDA) training is practical, evidence-based professional development designed to strengthen how we work alongside young people. Grounded in bicultural Aotearoa and focused on developing the whole person and connected communities, the training builds confidence in strengths-based practice, respectful relationships, and youth ownership and empowerment. Participants leave with clear frameworks, shared language, and tools they can apply immediately in their work — supporting a more skilled, connected, and future-focused youth sector. 

This training builds participants’ understanding of the Positive Youth Development Aotearoa framework and how it applies in their everyday work. It strengthens confidence in using strengths-based, youth-centred approaches that value mana and connection, and supports reflective practice so participants can make intentional changes that contribute to a more skilled, supported, and connected youth sector.

What is Positive Youth Development?

PYD is an approach that guides communities in the way they organise programmes, people, and supports, so that young people can develop to their full potential.

What are the Workshops About?

The Positive Youth Development in Aotearoa (PYDA) framework is a practical and helpful lens to put over the way you work and help ensure we are all approaching youth development with a common language and a framework suitable for Aotearoa.

The training introduces the two overarching outcomes we are all seeking to achieve; Developing the Whole Person and Developing Connected Communities, and explores the approaches we take to achieve these outcomes; Strength-Based Practice, Developing Respectful Relationships, and Building Ownership and Empowerment.

The full day workshop takes you through an in-depth exploration of the PYDA framework and how it applies to your practice. You'll explore manaakitanga, whanaungatanga, and other key Māori concepts and how they apply to best practice youth development honouring Te Tiriti o Waitangi. And you'll practically apply the framework to your organisation or a key project/initiative you are working on.

If you work with or for young people, a PYDA workshop is a must-have in your staff training calendar.