The Volunteering New Zealand Conference will be held at the Rydges Hotel, Rotorua, on Friday 16 October 2026
Step into International Volunteer Year with the conference built for leaders who are changemakers. Powered by fresh research, bold ideas, and the real stories shaping volunteering in Aotearoa, this is where insight becomes action.
Discover what’s next. Strengthen your practice. Champion the future of volunteering.
Join us — and lead the change.
Buy tickets here
Hui Info
Why attend?
The Volunteering New Zealand conference is for volunteer managers, leaders of volunteers and those who run organisations that work through a volunteer workforce.
Delegates at the Volunteering New Zealand Conference will:
- Network and share with colleagues
- Learn about the new volunteer manager competencies, storytelling, the economics of the sector, Māori social enterprise, flexible volunteering and more
- Work together to influence the future of volunteering
Sessions include topics on:
- Storytelling – volunteer impact
- The economics of the sector
- Flexible volunteering in action
- Working effectively with youth
- Māori social enterprises
- New Volunteer Manager competencies
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.
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, 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
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.
Networking
Come along and network with other delegates, reflecting on the day. This event has always proven popular, so get in quick as tickets will sell fast!
This networking event is separately ticketed. It runs from 5pm to 7pm at the Rydges Hotel.
Enjoy a glass of bubbles and chat over canapes. There's a cash bar if you wish to purchase further drinks.
Ticket information
- The Volunteering New Zealand Conference and 15th October workshop can be purchased separately or as part of a package.
- A suite of packaged tickets are available (at the bottom of the ticket list in Humanitix).
- A closing networking event is ticketed separately.
Ticketing platform
We use the ticketing platform Humanitix. Ticket prices on the Humanitix platform include GST. There are additional booking fees added to the total prices of tickets..
Ticket cancellation refund policy
We are a small organisation providing accessibly priced professional development for leaders and managers of volunteers.
We know that sometimes circumstances can change, and we therefore offer ticket refunds on cancelled tickets in certain circumstances.
We will provide a partial refund on the following basis:
- Up to 31 August we can provide a 50% refund.
- Between 1 - 15 September we can provide a 25% refund.
- After 15 September we are unable to provide any refunds. .
Buy tickets here
The Rydges Hotel
The event is hosted at the Rydges Hotel, and they have offered a 25% accommodation discount to delegates. Key information:
- Ph: 07 348 1189
- Address: 10 Tryon Street, Whakarewarewa, Rotorua 3010
- Website
The discounted rate of 25% off the Best Available Flexible Rate via the dedicated booking code below. Follow the instructions to secure the discount.
- Select your dates and number of people and click ‘GO’
- Click ‘I have a code’
- In the ‘Corporate ID’ field enter your booking code: CONF25
- Click ‘UPDATE’
Please note that from time to time, Rydges runs nationwide promotions (such as the current “Slow Down Sale”), which may offer even better rates. We recommend comparing both options at the time of booking to ensure the best value. Once any promotional sales end, your 25% discount code will remain available.
To access your special rates please visit https://www.rydges.com/accommodation/new-zealand/rotorua/
Dates available: No date restrictions.
Other reasonably priced hotels nearby:
This property is right next to Distinction, about an 8-minute walk from Rydges. It is a motel style option but they have a few family style rooms. They also have apartment style rooms with cooking facilities.
Other options include:
Novotel Rotorua Lakeside
Located right on the lakefront opposite ‘Eat Streat’ and our Lakefront precinct, offering 4.5 star accommodation
ibis Rotorua
Adjacent to the Novotel, the ibis offers 3.5 star accommodation with twin share and king room types
Your Speakers
More to be announced soon
Alison Marshall is about helping others build capability through learning and development. Ali has over 25 years’ experience in learning and development at a senior level. She has worked for large global organisations, start-ups and government. Her talent is being able to build relationships across all levels of an organisation.
Jane Treadwell-Hoye is a strategic leader, connector, and champion of purpose-driven work. She leads Good Bitches Baking as General Manager and runs her consultancy, Necto, helping businesses and charities to do good, well. Jane brings creativity and strategic insight to building inclusive, connected communities.
Shamubeel Eaqub makes economics easy and fun. Shamubeel is the Chief Economist at Simplicity. He is also an author, media commentator and a thought leading public speaker. He balances a portfolio of economics, consulting, public speaking, governance and family duties.
Penny Prescott is a trainer for the Youth Development Champions Project. She has been a Restorative Justice Facilitator since 2009, specialising in cases that involve young people or whānau Māori. She uses the outcomes and approaches of Positive Youth Development, whether working with young people or adults.
Angelina Tivalu has worked in youth development in both faith-based and education settings, focusing on positive outcomes for Māori and Pasifika, and grassroots community development. Angelina founded a Christchurch youth organisation Strengthening Linwood Youth Trust/Kāwai Rangatahi.
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