Latest News
Baking with Heart — Meet Youth Volunteer Hannah Richards
MEDIA RELEASE August 13, 2025 Every week at Under the Stars - Homeless in Tauranga, hot meals are served with warm smiles. There’s usually something sweet to finish the night — and many of those treats come from the kitchen of 16-year-old Hannah Richards. Hannah has a gift for
From Kitchen Table to Transforming Lives – The Story of BICT
MEDIA RELEASE July 24, 2025 Volunteering Services recently had the privilege of sitting down with Shirley Wilson, CEO of the Brain Injured Children’s Trust, for an honest, moving kōrero full of heart. Over a warm cuppa (gumboot tea, to be exact!), Shirley shared how BICT walks alongside families navigating
Jacquie Ashton Leads the Charge for a Pest-Free Ōmokoroa
MEDIA RELEASE July 21, 2025 When Jacquie Ashton moved to Ōmokoroa from Wellington just over two years ago, she didn’t expect to become the driving force behind one of the town’s most active volunteer groups. But her passion for the environment — and her knack for rallying others —
30 Years of Service and Still Smiling: Shona Graham’s Gift to Katikati
MEDIA RELEASE 9/7/25 When Shona Graham first answered a newspaper ad calling for volunteers to help with Katikati’s Christmas Float Parade, she never imagined it would spark a 30-year journey in community service. “There was an ad in the paper for volunteers, and I thought that would be a
Jasper Osborne Honoured as Volunteer of the Year
MEDIA RELEASE 4/7/25 In a standout moment at the 2025 Volunteer Star Awards, Jasper Osborne was named Volunteer of the Year during Volunteering Services’ Big Shout Out Morning Tea in June. Jasper is the driving force behind Stoney Creek’s Hunt for Good, a non-profit organisation dedicated to culling wild
New Group Volunteering Coordinator
We’re delighted to have Natalie Turner-Wright join our team as Group Volunteering Coordinator. She brings 16 years’ experience as a Social Worker and a passion for community, sustainability, and the power of volunteering to create positive change. Natalie will be looking to connect businesses, schools, and community groups of
More Than Laundry: Orange Sky Brings Dignity and Connection to Tauranga
It started when two friends, Lucas and Nic, formed an idea in a suburban Brisbane garage. The vision was to become the world’s first mobile laundry dedicated to supporting those experiencing hardship and homelessness — all free of charge. While the service began with clean clothes and hot showers,
Jules finds her joy in volunteering
MEDIA RELEASE May 19, 2025 Young volunteer Jules Delaere is finding there’s a joy in volunteering to help others. She’s just completed her first volunteer sessions, first with Ōtanewainuku Kiwi Trust clearing trails, and then with COLAB in Te Puke’s Kai Resilience movement, supervising activities on last month’s Kids’
Finding her passion through volunteering
MEDIA RELEASE May 10, 2025 Sukhmani Dhillon is only 17, but she’s already committed to helping and leading others. Lately, she’s fulfilled that passion through volunteering for Recreate, an organisation that empowers young people with disabilities. Last year she decided she wanted to do more in her community, searched
Harry referees for Parafed for fun
MEDIA RELEASE May 2, 2025 Harry Jackson has been volunteering as a referee for Parafed Bay of Plenty’s games of boccia for several years now. Harry, 23, doesn’t have a disability himself, but he’s been a committed volunteer with Parafed BOP for several years. He’s grown up with a
Youth voice heard loud and clear
MEDIA RELEASE April 18, 2025 The voices of young people are being heard loud and clear in Tauranga through the Youth Voices Action panel - and they’ll be celebrated at next month's Youth Fest in the city. Rebecca Kit is the Programmes and Partnership manager, and she’s been actively
David’s just part of a team putting Rotorua on the map
David Jones is our Volunteer of the Month - but he insists he’s just one member of several teams pitching in for Rotorua charities. David’s a graphic designer, running his business DJ Creative, a skill many organisations find valuable whenever they need posters, invitations, advertisements or bulletins created for
Young people help out at Riding for the Disabled
MEDIA RELEASE March 26, 2025 Young Tauranga people with disabilities are pitching in at Riding for the Disabled, keeping the grounds neat and tidy. This week four young adults from Recreate are volunteering in the sunshine weeding the Sensory Trail - but some say they would rather be in
Tanea turns her life around through volunteering
MEDIA RELEASE February 27, 2025 Tanea Reihana, known as Barnee, entered the Welcome Bay Community Centre in May last year drowning in debt, ashamed and terrified. She was at rock bottom. She came to fix her finances and save her family home from a mortgagee sale. But she
Free advocacy service relies on volunteers
MEDIA RELEASE February 19, 2024 Hundreds of Tauranga people overwhelmed by dealing with bureaucracy are being helped by a free advocacy service mostly staffed by volunteers. The Free Public Advocacy Service runs regular clinics in Greerton, Arataki, Pāpāmoa, Welcome Bay and a new session is starting up in March
Volunteer English teacher learns from his students
MEDIA RELEASE February 11, 2024 Mark Bils has been teaching English for years, but these days he says he learns just as much from his students. Mark is our Volunteer of the Month, and he teaches English to new migrants or to anyone visiting New Zealand who would like
40 years of service with Red Cross Meals on Wheels
Nationally, the NZ Red Cross coordinates over 3,000 Meals on Wheels volunteers, who deliver meals and compassion across 33 locations - a lifeline to those in need...read more here. Pam Smith has volunteered for 40 years with Meals on Wheels. After moving to Tauranga from Auckland in 1984, Pam was looking for a way to
Volunteers staff new Habitat for Humanity op shop
MEDIA RELEASE Volunteers have been busy setting up racks of clothing and pricing shelves of homewares before a new Habitat for Humanity ReStore op shop opened in Mount Maunganui last week. The shop in Tawa Street officially opened last Friday, but work behind the scenes has been going on
Neighbourhood Support volunteers turn out for food drives
Western Bay of Plenty Neighbourhood Support volunteers turned out in droves to help collect for the Emergency Services Food Drives in late November and December. Neighbourhood Support is a community-led charity building safe, supportive and connected communities throughout Aotearoa. In the Western Bay, there are 14,500 member families, with Street
Young volunteer lends a hand at charity
Caio Martins is just finishing his Year 12 studies but he’s already an old hand when it comes to volunteering. He’s been volunteering for One Love Charity events - like the Tauranga Diwali Festival and Holi Colour Splash - and they can’t speak highly enough of his work ethic.
