Half of New Zealand’s adults are part of a multi-billion labour force, and they don’t gain a single cent from it - all by choice.
This week is National Volunteer Week, which is celebrated to “honour the collective energies and mana of all volunteers in Aotearoa”.
Many dozens of organisations in the Tasman district rely almost entirely on the generosity of their volunteers and the many annual hours that they are willing to contribute.
These hours are diverse and can mean keeping rat and stoat numbers under control in the Abel Tasman National Park, popping in to visit an elderly Motueka resident, or doing the books for the Takaka bowling club.
New Zealanders contribute 159 million hours of formal volunteer hours every year, with another 7.8 million annual hours logged as being undertaken outside of formal organisations.
On average, people volunteer for about four hours a week, and environmental volunteerism is one field that is growing in popularity. Other volunteering groupings include arts and culture, social services, religious and spiritual, and sports and recreation.
Our local volunteers say that they like to give back, give their days purpose and put their time into a cause that they believe in.
There are more than 1120 registered charities in the Nelson-Tasman region and a minority have one or two paid staff members, with the bulk of the workload completed by volunteers.
A common message is that, without the generosity of people volunteering their time, these organisations would be completely financially unsustainable.
Judith Bensen, manager of Motueka’s Hospice Shop, says that after government funding, Nelson Tasman Hospice runs at a $3.5 million shortfall, and the region’s op shops alone make up almost half of this difference.
The shop would not be able to operate without the volunteer help, she says, and the more the volunteers are able to do, the more funding that can go directly towards the nursing care of our local residents.
Almost every organisation that the Guardian spoke to mentioned that they would happily accept more volunteers onto their rosters, to spread the load and future-proof against people moving on.
Nationally, the number of volunteers is falling, even while the number of hours they are doing is increasing on average.
Ellie Young is the community coordinator for Volunteer Nelson, which operates across the Nelson and Tasman districts.
One of the organisation’s roles is to match volunteers to organisations, based on the former’s availability, interests and skills.
It is “beyond op shops”, she says, explaining that there is a huge variety of roles out there, for any personality type and time commitment.
“I like to say there’s something for everyone. Everyone belongs.”
Ellie speaks of research that points to the benefits to both the volunteer and the recipients of their time.
“It’s good for the wellbeing of the individual, it’s good for the wellbeing of the organisation, and then the whole community benefits,” she says.
“They are crucial. They are critical to the support of our organisations.”
The free NBS Volunteer Expo is being held at the Annesbrook Church, 40 Saxton Road, Stoke, on Saturday 13 July, from 10am to 2pm.
There will be 35 organisations who are looking to showcase their cause and potentially engage new volunteers, and Ellie encourages people to come along “and find out if it’s a match”.
For further information about finding a volunteer opportunity or gaining support for your charitable organisation, contact Volunteer Nelson on 03 546 7681, or email ellie@volunteernelson.org.nz
Motueka Museum
The Motueka Museum is open five days a week, and its volunteers work at the front desk to welcome and share their own stories with visitors. Faith, Fay and Shirley have all been at the museum for years, and Fay reckons this sort of volunteering “makes us feel good – we’re doing something good for someone else”. Typically of volunteers, the trio have also donated their time in many other ways, from visiting the residents at Jack Inglis Friendship Hospital to knitting blankets for Eastern European orphanages.
Friends of Flora
In the last financial year, the 71 Friends of Flora volunteers logged 5300 hours between them, surveying and controlling pests and monitoring bird life. Community engagement and advocacy officer, Chrissy Kaneen, says that they definitely could not operate without volunteers. “We are always on the lookout for new volunteers that aren’t afraid of hard work, as we work in a stunning but physically demanding environment.”
Age Concern
Age Concern Nelson Tasman has about 150 volunteers throughout the region, the majority of whom undertake weekly volunteer visits to elderly people. Manager Caroline Budge says that volunteers are a core part of the agency. “The passions, commitment, friendship and support that they bring is hugely important, and we value them and their mahi immensely,” she says.
Motueka Hospice Shop
Op shops are a particularly visible volunteering option in our communities, and Motueka Hospice Shop manager Judith Bensen says that without the store’s 18 volunteers, “we wouldn’t have a shop”. Volunteer Neville is also a delivery driver for Meals on Wheels and reckons that as a retiree, these things help to fill in his days and offer a way of giving back. Volunteer Tina is a breast cancer survivor, and so volunteering with hospice is meaningful for her too. “It’s a nice balance in my week, and I love giving back.”
Motueka District Toy Library
The Toy Library offers thousands of quality toys to hire for its 160 member families, and while the organisation has a paid toy librarian to oversee operations, the three weekly sessions are run with the assistance of volunteers. Toy Librarian Laura Lattimer welcomes people with children to volunteer, as it is the perfect space to keep the kids entertained while their parents help with toy issuing and returns. “Our wonderful volunteers help us look after our members and our toys,” she says. “They share the workload so that the Toy Library is a fun experience for everyone.”
