What is Volunteering?
Volunteering is about freely giving your time, energy, and skills to support causes you care about and help build stronger communities.
Volunteering can look different for everyone: you might support a cause you care about, lend a hand at a local event, or share your skills with a community group. No matter how you choose to volunteer, it’s a powerful way to give back, make a difference, and feel connected to your community.
In Te Ao Māori, volunteering is embraced as mahi aroha – work done out of love, compassion, and a deep sense of duty to others. Grounded in whanaungatanga (kinship) and guided by tohu aroha (acts of love and care), it reflects a commitment to collective identity, reciprocity, and responsibility. Giving back isn’t questioned, it’s simply part of who you are and what you do for your whānau and community.
Why You Should Get Involved?
Connect with New People
Meet others who share your interests and build meaningful friendships through shared volunteer experiences.
Boost Your Mental and Physical Health
Volunteering improves mood, reduces stress and loneliness, and keeps you active, supporting overall wellbeing.
Learn and Grow
Develop new skills, rekindle hobbies, and gain confidence through diverse volunteering opportunities that challenge you and keep your mind active.
Make a Difference
Contribute to a cause bigger than yourself, adding purpose and variety to your week while positively impacting your community.
Getting Started
Ready to volunteer? Explore ways to get involved and the difference you can make.
Consider the causes you care about, the time you can give, and whether you’d rather help behind the scenes or be hands on in the community.
Use our search filters to find roles that match your interests, location, and availability.
Found an opportunity you like? Complete the short form on the listing, and your details will be sent directly to the organisation. They’ll be in touch within 5–10 working days.
Tip: Share a sentence or two about why the role appeals to you, it helps make a great first impression.
If you’re unsure where to start, get in touch and our team will help you find a role that’s a great fit for you.
Volunteer Stories
Richelle’s Story: From Newcomer to Thriving Volunteer
When Richelle moved to New Zealand in July 2023 to study law at the University of Waikato, she didn’t know many people, but she did know that volunteering could help her feel at home.
Having already volunteered back in her home country, Richelle naturally turned to it again to settle into life in Hamilton. Since then, she’s given her time and skills to a range of community organisations, from offering support at the Citizens Advice Bureau to helping at the Cancer Society’s Relay for Life. On campus, she got stuck into university life as an international student coordinator and activity coordinator, making connections and finding her place.
Looking back, Richelle says volunteering was one of the best things she did when she arrived. “Volunteering helped me understand New Zealand’s work culture, where clear communication and teamwork are highly valued,” she explains. It also gave her the opportunity to build a local network and meet people from different backgrounds and industries.
Even now, after moving cities and starting full-time work, Richelle still makes time for volunteering when she can. “Since moving to a new city and starting a new job, I haven’t been able to commit to regular volunteering, but I still try to stay involved through one-off events when I can,” she says.
For Richelle, volunteering has never just been about giving back. It’s been about connection. “You meet so many different people and hear their stories. Those connections are the reason I keep going back.”
Her top tip is to find a cause you genuinely care about. “When you’re passionate about what you’re doing, you won’t need any external motivation to stay committed.”
Mirasol’s Story: Finding Belonging Through Volunteering
Mirasol generously gives her time and expertise to the accounting department at the Refugee Orientation Centre (ROC) in Hamilton. Originally from the Philippines, she began her volunteering journey with a desire to expand her social circle, immerse herself in the local culture, and learn more about New Zealand’s accounting practices.
Since arriving, Mirasol has volunteered with several community organisations. Along the way, she has not only gained valuable professional insights but also experienced personal growth and built strong connections. Her involvement has become more than just a way to give back; it has become a way to belong.
Her advice to anyone considering volunteering is simple: just do it. She admits it can feel intimidating at first, especially in a new environment, but encourages others to push past the nerves. With time, those initial fears fade, replaced by confidence, ease, and a real sense of achievement.
“Volunteering has helped me grow, both professionally and personally,” she shares. “It is a way to connect, to learn, and to be part of something bigger.”
Morgan’s Story: Helping Families Find Home
Morgan began volunteering with the Hamilton Multicultural Centre Trust’s New Kiwi Settlement Programme. This programme helps former refugee families settle into their new lives and homes in Aotearoa.
During his time volunteering with HMS, Morgan has worked with two families and plans to support a third in the coming months. He describes the experience as incredibly satisfying, noting how fulfilling it is to watch families progress from dependence to independence.
One of Morgan’s favourite memories is building relationships with the children. One family had two young children who were very shy at first. However, after about a month, they became fully comfortable with him and would greet him at the door with open arms.
Volunteers like Morgan make a world of difference. Simply teaching these families everyday tasks, like how to catch the bus or when to put the recycling out, can have a significant impact.
Tricia’s Story: Empowering Through English
Imagine teaching someone a language to the point where they can go on to study in that language. That’s exactly what Tricia did while volunteering with English Language Partners.
After hearing about English Language Partners and the programmes they offered from a neighbour, Tricia decided it was where she wanted to volunteer. With a strong interest in languages and other cultures, it felt like the perfect fit. Three and a half years have passed since then, and Tricia has worked one on one with six different learners. But through those six, she has impacted many more, as their families also benefit from their learning.
She describes the experience as a privilege. “Seeing the light in someone’s eyes when they are able to have a conversation with you is so rewarding,” she says.
Tricia’s advice to anyone thinking about volunteering with English Language Partners is that it might feel scary at first, but the support from the team is incredible. “The whole experience is so rewarding. It feeds your soul.”