Volunteering New Zealand’s annual conference is a key development opportunity for those leading volunteers. Volunteer managers are changemakers across communities in Aotearoa New Zealand.
The Volunteering Changemakers Hui is being held at the Grand Millennium Hotel, central Auckland, on Friday 10 October 2025.
Topics will include volunteer management and practice, valuing volunteering, and new approaches to volunteer engagement.
The Volunteering Changemakers Hui is for volunteer managers, leaders of volunteers and those who run organisations that work through a volunteer workforce.
You will:
- Be inspired by a range of practitioners and thought leaders
- Increase your capability to influence, collaborate, and lead others
- Learn how to engage effectively with volunteers using best practice
- Connect with peers, share, and learn together.
The Volunteering Changemakers Hui is a full day on Friday 10 October at the Grand Millennium Hotel. There is an optional 1-day Masterclass on Thursday 9 October at the same venue, followed by a Celebration and Networking. The Masterclass and Celebration and Networking is a separately ticketable events, with value package pricing available. Ticket pricing includes GST!
Tickets on sale from early May!
Hui Info
Why should you attend Volunteering Changemakers Hui Friday 10 October
The Volunteering Changemakers Hui will be worth attending
The community and voluntary sector is facing challenges:
- Many organisations struggle to recruit and keep volunteers
- Funding is tight, squeezing volunteer management programmes
- Many volunteers want casual opportunities rather than regular, long-term commitment
We need to come together and lead the future of volunteering for:
- Our organisations – to ensure their viability
- People and the planet – to serve others and those who need us
- Social inclusion – to create community
Delegates at the Volunteering Changemakers Hui will:
- Network and share with colleagues
- Learn about volunteer impact, best practice in action and more
- Work together to improve the future of volunteering
The Volunteering Changemakers Hui Friday 10 October
Volunteering New Zealand invites you to join us in Auckland on Friday 10 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.
Topics will include volunteer management and practice, valuing volunteering and approaches to volunteer engagement.
Your Volunteering Changemakers Hui ticket includes a closing networking event from 4pm.
Delegates at the Volunteering Changemakers Hui will:
- Network and share with colleagues
- Learn about volunteer impact, best practice in action and more
- Work together to improve the future of volunteering
Keynote speakers and facilitated discussions will focus on volunteer management and practice, valuing volunteering, and approaches to volunteer engagement. Confirmed speakers include Minister Louise Upston, The Minister for the Community and Voluntary Sector and Dr Paul Spoonley is back by popular demand.
The Volunteering Changemakers Hui is a full day on Friday 10 October. There is an optional 1-day Masterclass on Thursday 9 October at the same venue, followed by a Celebration and Networking. The Masterclass and Celebration and Networking are separately ticketable events, with value package pricing available.
Sustainable leadership: know your strengths, lead with empathy
Lead and facilitated by Rochelle Stewart Allen, The NGO Coach
This is an additional optional full-day workshop on the 9th of October, being held at the same venue. It will be followed by a celebratory networking event in the evening of the 9th.
Venue: The Aucklander Room, Grand Millennium Hotel, Auckland
Workshop Overview:
This interactive and practical one-day workshop (10am to 4pm) is designed specifically for volunteer managers, coordinators, and leaders across Aotearoa New Zealand. Drawing from lived experience and grounded in nonprofit realities, this session supports participants to:
• Discover and explore their personal leadership strengths
• Understand and develop their leadership style
• Build sustainable, values-based leadership practices
• Navigate common leadership challenges in the volunteering sector
• Lead with empathy, care, and cultural responsiveness
The main conference day is a full day on Friday 10 October at the Grand Millennium Hotel. This is an optional Masterclass on Thursday 9 October at the same venue, followed by a Celebration and Networking event. The Masterclass and Celebration and Networking is a separately ticketable events, with value package pricing available.
We want to network, connect and celebrate with you!
Join us for a special celebration. Enjoy refreshments while you network and connect with peers in a relaxed and collegial environment. This follows shortly after the Masterclass and is also at the Grand Millennium Hotel, Auckland.
Tickets: $69 inc GST.
Ticket information
- The Changemakers Hui and 9th October workshop and following celebratory networking event can be purchased separately or as part of a discounted packaged ticket
- A suite of packaged tickets are available (at the bottom of the ticket list)
- A closing networking event is included in the Changemakers Hui.
Ticketing platform
We use the ticketing platform Humanitix. Ticket prices on the Humantix platform include GST. There are additional booking fees added to the total price 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 on the following basis:
We are happy to provide a full refund for tickets purchased up to 30 June 2025. After that we will provide a partial refund on the following basis:
- Up to 31 July we can provide a 75 % refund.
- Between 1 – 31 August we can provide a 50% refund.
- Between 1 – 15 September we can provide 25 % refund
- After 15 September we are unable to provide any refund.
Tickets on sale soon!
Grand Millennium Hotel
The event is hosted at the Grand Millennium Hotel, and they have kindly offered an accommodation discount to delegates. Key information:
- Ph: 09 366 3000
- Address: 71 Mayoral Drive, Cnr Vincent Street, Auckland 1010
- Website
A 15 % delegate discount will be provided by the hotel.
Your Speakers
Curtis Tohiariki
Curtis is a leader of people, values and social endeavours. His professional life has crossed several career paths, but he has always maintained a passion for growing and learning from the people around him. He embraces change and diversity, and has used his experience in government service to shape his ability to adapt quickly, think creatively and thrive in a team environment. He is our esteemed MC.
Hon Louise Upston
Louise Upston is the Minister for the Community and Voluntary Sector, Minister for Social Development and Employment, and Minister for Child Poverty Reduction. She has served as the MP for Taupō since the 2008 election.
Louise held a number of Ministerial roles in the Fifth National Government, including the portfolios of Corrections, Education, Land Information, Local Government, Women, and Tertiary Education Skills and Employment.
Dr Paul Spoonley
A New Zealand sociologist and emeritus professor at Massey University where his specialist area is social change and demography and how this impacts policy decisions at the political level. Spoonley has led numerous externally funded research programmes, written or edited twenty-seven books and is a regular commentator in the news media. Back by popular demand after presenting at our 2023 Volunteering Leadership Hui.
Rochelle Stewart Allen
With over two decades of experience leading and advising charities, social enterprises, and community organisations, Rochelle works alongside nonprofit leaders who are trying to do good in complex, under-resourced environments.
Dr Andrew Lensen
Dr Andrew Lensen is a Senior Lecturer in Artificial Intelligence at Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington, specialising in explainable and interdisciplinary AI. His research explores AI’s social and ethical implications, with applications in ecology, legal decision-making, and more. Dr Lensen is an active science communicator, frequently contributing op-eds, interviews, and expert commentary on AI-related topics.
Michelle Kitney
Volunteering New Zealand’s Chief Executive, Michelle is a successful and experienced leader in people and organisational management, Michelle leads the staff and volunteers at Volunteering New Zealand to achieve its purpose, uphold its values, and advance its strategic priorities.
