If you’re travelling overseas, volunteering is a powerful way to give back to the community you are living in. Here’s how to volunteer in New Zealand during your visit.
New Zealand has a strong culture of volunteerism. From sports coaching to conservation, around 21.5% of New Zealanders volunteer generating an estimated value of $4 billion per year.
Volunteering has lots of benefits. Whether you are a local or a visitor, our guide can help you contribute your time and skills to the benefit of your local community. Here’s how to get involved.
Volunteering is about more than just helping others—although that’s a great reason to get involved.
Whether you’re simply moved by a desire to give back, are looking to make friends or social connections, want to learn a new skill or improve your health and well-being by being active, volunteering is a mutually beneficial experience.
Although the volunteering community in New Zealand is still strong, the COVID-19 pandemic and cost-of-living crisis have had an impact. Some organisations are now struggling to recruit or retain volunteers. By joining this community—even if it’s for a short time—you’re helping to plug this gap. If you’re travelling in New Zealand, volunteering is a great way to contribute more than just your dollars to this beautiful country.
Volunteering can teach you a lot about yourself—as can travelling to the far side of the globe. Taking on a volunteer role can teach you teamwork, communication, problem-solving and leadership skills. Volunteering experience can also enhance your career prospects. It signals to prospective employers that you are proactive, and committed to a bigger cause and ensures you don’t have a gap in employment on your resume.
New Zealand is a geographically isolated country. As a result, Kiwis tend to like meeting, talking to and connecting with people from overseas. Through volunteering, you can meet other travellers and local people in your community. No matter who you are working with you’ll connect with like-minded people. This makes it easier to form friendships and expand your network.
Helping others has been shown to boost your mental health, reduce stress and increase your happiness. What’s more, if you’re into nature and staying active, volunteering in New Zealand is a great way to stay fit. No matter what you’re doing, you can gain a sense of purpose through volunteering.
There are many ways to give back through volunteering in New Zealand. It’s simply about finding the best role for you. Here are just some of the most popular options.
New Zealand is known for stunning natural landscapes, so it’s no wonder Kiwis want to keep it protected. Protecting native flora and fauna from introduced pests and threats is a full-time job—volunteers are always needed! If you enjoy being active, learning about nature or caring for wildlife, volunteering for a role in conservation might be right for you. What’s more, there are many unique opportunities to work with some of New Zealand’s most iconic wildlife, including Kiwi.
You can volunteer with groups such as the Department of Conservation (DOC) or Predator Free New Zealand to:
Plant native trees and restore ecosystems.
Control invasive species that threaten native wildlife.
Clean up beaches, parks, rivers and waterways.
Assist in wildlife rehabilitation, such as caring for sick or injured kiwi or penguins.
Many local organisations rely on volunteers to support vulnerable people in their communities.
Charities such as City Mission and The Salvation Army provide support and resources to people affected by homelessness. Age Concern New Zealand offers support services to help older people stay connected with their family, whanau and community. Big Brothers Big Sisters of New Zealand gives young people positive role models and guidance.
You can help by:
Distributing food at soup kitchens or food banks.
Delivering food to seniors as part of Meals on Wheels.
Working at homeless shelters and community outreach programmes.
Mentoring and tutoring young people.
Helping elderly people through companionship and support programmes.
New Zealand is prone to many types of natural disasters such as floods and earthquakes—putting emergency volunteers in high demand.
Many agencies around New Zealand respond in the event of an emergency, including local councils, community agencies and emergency services. Volunteers can fulfil many roles including rescue, providing relief and welfare services.
You can help by:
Volunteering with Civil Defence to support disaster response and preparedness,
Joining a search and rescue team or rural fire service,
Helping with disaster recovery efforts after storms, earthquakes, or other emergencies
New Zealand has a rich cultural heritage—volunteers are needed to help share its message and keep it preserved. Volunteering in this space is also a great way to learn more about Aotearoa, Māori culture and our history as a nation. Many museums rely on volunteers to keep their doors open and exhibitions running. The best way to get involved is to enquire at local galleries or museums in your community.
If you’re in the capital, be sure to check out Te Papa, our National museum’s volunteer opportunities.
Opportunities can include:
Helping with visitor and engagement research at museums and galleries.
Māori culture initiatives that support language revitalisation or assisting at marae.
Helping coordinate events and organise hospitality at arts and music festivals.
If you’re an animal lover, getting involved with local animal organisations is a great way to give back. Plus, you get the added bonus of spending your days with local wildlife or rescued pets.
You can help by:
Volunteering at the SPCA or local animal shelters looking after rescued pets.
Assisting on farm sanctuaries or with horse rescue organisations.
Taking part in conservation beach patrols to protect seabirds and seals.
Keen on sharing your sports skills with other Kiwis? Many sports and community organisations rely on volunteers to coach, manage or assist their teams. As there are many clubs at a grassroots level, the best way to get involved is to email a local club in a sport that interests you.
While rugby, netball, basketball, cricket and soccer are popular in New Zealand, many smaller, niche sports are always looking for volunteers, from handball to chess clubs.
You can help by:
Coaching and assisting at local sports clubs for school kids or adults
Volunteering at local events like marathons or triathlons
Supporting adaptive sports programmes for people with disabilities
Getting involved with a good cause is easier than you think. Start by identifying your interests and skills.
Following your passion is the best way to find a volunteering opportunity.—whether that’s working outdoors, with people, or teaching others
Several platforms are dedicated to helping New Zealanders find volunteer roles:
Volunteering New Zealand —a national directory of volunteer roles
Do Good Jobs —a platform for finding work with purpose
Seek Volunteer —lists a variety of job roles for volunteer positions
WWOOF NZ (World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms)—exchange working on organic farms for food and accommodation.
Conservation Volunteers NZ —offers conservation-focused projects around the country.
Many organisations volunteer work, but may not advertise their roles online. It’s always a good idea to reach out to local charities, community centres, or your city council to ask about opportunities to volunteer with them.
Before you commit to a volunteer role, there are some things you should keep in mind:
Decide if you prefer a one-off event or a long-term commitment. Some roles require regular involvement.
Some positions, like emergency response roles, may need specific training or experience.
While most volunteering is free, some travel-based programmes may charge a fee tfor accommodation and meals—especially those designed for overseas tourists or in the conservation space.
Roles involving children or vulnerable groups may require background checks.
You can stay in New Zealand for up to six months as a visitor. Any longer, and you’ll need more than just a visitor visa.
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