Stories & Guides
Perspectives, tips, and insights from the volunteering community
The spring appeal calendar
Four national street appeals run between mid-September and the end of October, and every one of them needs collectors. Here are the verified dates and where to sign up.
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What's actually open right now
A tour of the freshest listings on the platform – food rescue, sanctuaries, op shops, visiting services – every one verified from the charity's own website.
How a national street appeal actually runs
Permits, stock boxes, area coordinators, two-hour shifts: the machinery behind a two-day appeal with thousands of collectors, from the organisers' own playbooks.
Volunteering data NZ actually has (and the gaps)
Stats NZ says 53% of us volunteered in the last four weeks, and the sector is worth billions. But the two official hour-counts don't agree, and the freshest economic data is from 2018.
Ten minutes with the numbers: what 2.1 billion volunteers means for Aotearoa
The UN's 2026 report counted the world's volunteers properly for the first time. The result rewrites the global picture – and puts New Zealand's own numbers in a new light.
Help us map how Aotearoa volunteers
We've launched a 2-minute survey on the state of volunteering in Aotearoa for IVY 2026. It's anonymous, built on the UN GIVE framework, and we'll share the national results in November.
Why volunteer in 2026?
The UN has declared 2026 the International Year of Volunteers. Here's why it matters — and what it means for Aotearoa.
A guide to team volunteering
How to organise a successful team volunteer day. Tips from coordinators across New Zealand.
Getting started as a volunteer
New to volunteering? Everything you need to know to find the right opportunity and make the most of it.
Measuring what matters: beyond counting hours
The UN's GIVE framework is changing how we think about volunteer impact. Here's what it means for you.
The art of the street appeal
Street appeals are a New Zealand tradition. Here's how they work, why they matter, and how to get involved.
Why NZ companies are investing in volunteering
Corporate volunteering isn't just CSR box-ticking. The best programmes create real value for companies, employees, and communities.
Your Year to Volunteer: making IVY 2026 count
2026 is the International Year of Volunteers, and Aotearoa marked National Volunteer Week in June. Here's how to turn the moment into a habit.
Flexible volunteering is the new normal
New Zealanders are still volunteering in huge numbers — but how they do it is changing fast. The data tells the story.
Looking outward: skills-sharing across the Pacific in 2026
The International Year of Volunteers is also a chance for New Zealanders to share skills beyond our shores — across the Pacific and Timor-Leste.
Got a volunteering story to share? Get in touch