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National Volunteer Week A Success
NATIONAL VOLUNTEER WEEK A SUCCESS
As National Volunteer Week (19-25 June 2016) finishes today, Volunteering New Zealand would like to acknowledge the scope of this campaign. “We consider National Volunteer Week a success because the participation of volunteers and organisations all around the country has been really high all along the week”, says Scott Miller, Chief Executive of Volunteering New Zealand.
Each year New Zealand celebrates National Volunteer Week to recognise and celebrate the vital contribution of New Zealand’s approximately 1.2 million volunteers. This year, National Volunteer Week focused on 'time' through the following two sayings: Whai whā, translated as Make time and Kia ora mō tāu whai whā - Thanks for making time .
Many events have been organised during the week, such as award ceremonies, workshops, stalls at local markets, book launchings, volunteering competitions and afternoon teas in order to recognise the huge contribution of volunteers. “It is fantastic to see that volunteer organisations, no matter how big or small, made time to thank their volunteers and raise awareness on volunteering”, says Miller.
Awareness on volunteering as also been raised during the campaign through social media participation.“We are thrilled that people got engaged on Facebook and Twitter, sharing thousands of posts and pictures recognising the importance of volunteering”, says Scott Miller. During the campaign, people could share their thoughts on volunteering by using the hashtag #NVW2016.
Volunteers make a huge contribution in New Zealand's society and economy, in almost every type of activity: from sports, recreation, arts, culture and heritage to emergency and social services, health, education, conservation and the environment. Volunteer labour contribute $3.5 billion (1.7% of the total) to New Zealand’s gross domestic product (GDP).
Lack of time is the most commonly cited reason why people don’t volunteer. However, volunteering can fit into a busy schedule and there are volunteering opportunities suitable to people’s individual needs and commitments. “We believe that for volunteering to flourish, and the various benefits of volunteering to be realised, people are increasingly going to need to make time, now and into the future”, says Miller.
Volunteering New Zealand (VNZ) is an association of New Zealand organisations that have a commitment to volunteering, such as volunteer centres, national and other organisations. Their mission is to promote, support and advocate for volunteering. www.volunteeringnz.org.nz
Source: Statistics for the year ended March 2013. Statistics New Zealand (2015). Non-profit institutions satellite account: 2013. Retrieved from www.stats.govt.nz
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Volunteering New Zealand
Leaders of Volunteering
Volunteering New Zealand (VNZ) is an association of New Zealand organisations that have a commitment to volunteering, such as volunteer centres, national and other organisations.
Volunteering New Zealand's mission is to promote, support and advocate for volunteering.
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