News

21 February, 2026 Building Belonging at Multicultural Tauranga Tucked away on the first floor of the Historic Village, above the bustle of the retail shops, you’ll find a vibrant hub where cultures connect and community thrives. Multicultural Tauranga serves as a welcoming space for migrants settling in Tauranga

By Margaret McLachlan, Volunteering NZ 16th February, 2026 Emergency Volunteering in the Bay of Plenty  Volunteers in the Bay of Plenty provided great support in the recovery from the Mauao (Mt Maunganui) and Welcome Bay storm events of late January.  A team of volunteers organised by SociaLink Volunteering Services supported the He Maimai Aroha Community Care Centre.   Volunteer team well-prepared and welcoming  “We

MEDIA RELEASE 10th February, 2026 Governance Volunteering: why serving on a board can be a win-win When people think about volunteering, they often picture hands-on roles. But serving on a board can be one of the most powerful ways to contribute to the community, while also offering personal rewards.

MEDIA RELEASE 3rd February, 2026 Volunteer Hop launches across the Western Bay A brand-new community event is hopping into Te Puke, Katikati, and Waihī Beach, inviting locals of all ages to explore volunteering in a fun, feel-good way. Walk, bike, or drive between nearby locations, meet volunteer groups in

MEDIA RELEASE 12th January, 2026 Care, Camaraderie and Community at Waipuna Hospice At Waipuna Hospice, volunteers are a driving force behind specialist palliative care, supporting patients and whānau and keeping daily operations running in the Western Bay. Shelley Atkinson, Volunteer Services Manager, says their contribution is absolutely vital. “Our

MEDIA RELEASE 15th December, 2025 Tauranga City Council Builds Guardians for the City’s Natural Spaces Across Tauranga’s coastlines, wetlands, and reserves, volunteers are rolling up their sleeves to protect the city’s natural environment. Through Tauranga City Council’s (TCC) environmental initiatives, community collaboration is helping care for and restore some

MEDIA RELEASE 8th December, 2025 Celebrating Volunteers: International Volunteer Day 2025 Volunteering Services marked International Volunteer Day on 5 December with a fun gathering that brought together volunteers and staff for pizza, kōrero, and plenty of connection, offering a meaningful pause to celebrate and reconnect outside the usual routines. 

MEDIA RELEASE 24th November, 2025 Community Support at the Heart of Family Works Family Works, part of Presbyterian Support Northern, continues to play an essential role in supporting children, whānau and wider communities across Tauranga and Whakatāne. Area Manager, Julie Peake, says their services span counselling, social work and

Feedback That Makes Your Volunteers Shine Feedback is one of the most effective ways to support volunteers, yet it’s often misunderstood. Many people see feedback as something used only when there’s a concern, but in practice it’s a much richer tool. Great feedback isn’t just about improving a task

MEDIA RELEASE 10th November, 2025 Emily-Kay Livick never imagined she would one day be leading Achilles Tauranga Moana, but for her, volunteering has always been about whānau. Her son, Tamahau Hicks, a Year 6 junior para-athlete, lives with a traumatic brain injury (TBI) that affects his vision and

MEDIA RELEASE 22nd October, 2025 Each year, One Love Charity brings colour, connection, and compassion to Tauranga through two iconic celebrations, the Holi Festival of Colours in March and the Diwali Festival of Lights in October. Both celebrations bring people from all walks of life together to share culture,

MEDIA RELEASE October 3rd, 2025 At 77 years young, Bill Webb is living proof that age is no barrier when it comes to giving back. A long-time volunteer with Good Neighbour, Bill leads the charity’s fruit-picking team, harvesting produce that might otherwise spoil in backyards and helping it reach

MEDIA RELEASE September 24th, 2025 Sea Cleaners, a national not-for-profit with six major teams across Aotearoa, has spent more than two decades pulling rubbish out of the ocean, rivers, and waterways. Since 2002, the organisation has removed almost 21 million litres of litter with the help of over 196,000