Recognising volunteers during National Volunteer week

Volunteers are a big part of the vital ‘glue’ that hold small communities like Whitianga together. 

Have you thought about volunteering in Whitianga?

If you would like to give something back to the Whitianga community there are many local groups that would love a hand.

The All About Whitianga team proudly sponsor many community groups in our Community section. Take a browse and see if something catches your eye.

View the All About Whitianga Community section for a list of clubs, groups, public services and organisations that you may like to contact. The community section has  groups listed including arts, seniors, sports, youth, environmental, welfare, emergency services libraries, toy libraries and more!

Our volunteers play a vital role in strengthening our Mercury Bay communities through their tireless support. Without the personal commitment and skills contributed by so many, countless activities and services would not be the same. To all our volunteers, we extend our heartfelt thanks. Your dedication, compassion and selfless service make an extraordinary difference to our community. 

– Kim Abrahamson, Mercury Bay Community Board Acting Chair

Deciding what volunteer role may suit you

Each group or organisation will be able to provide you with what volunteer roles they have to offer. Before making contact you may also like to these things into consideration when deciding what volunteer role may suit you:

• How much time you can give
• What skills you can offer
• Your interests
• Are there any physical limitations – location or age etc.

The benefits of volunteering

We all know the warm feeling that you get from helping someone, but what are some of the other positive things that being a volunteer can bring?

• Meeting people and building a community – being a volunteer can bring you together with likeminded people, who share common values and goals. It’s a great feeling to be working with people that share the same interests and views.
• Learn something new – volunteering may bring you into contact with others in your community that perhaps you haven’t socialised or worked with before. You could have the opportunity to experience different cultures, lifestyles and ways of life. Giving you an insight into the issues that other people deal with.
• Become happier and have a purpose – researchers say that the connections you make while volunteering help increase feelings of happiness! Being able to use your skills for the community can give you a wider purpose and boost your motivation. That helps you feel happy!
• Great for self-esteem – all the above points, will help you to step outside your comfort zone, develop your pride and confidence. Volunteering is a great place to develop these skills.
• mprove your career – Taking the time to give back shows potential employers that you care about more than just yourself. Making the time to volunteer in a field that interests you or area that may benefit your job knowledge, shows your passion for your career. It can help give you a better understanding of your role, issues and even ideas for a new business.
• Health benefits – Doing something meaningful can help reduce stress. Sleeping better, getting sick less often and overall wellbeing are all benefits. ‘Doing something’ can be an excellent way to help keep calm and be an outlet for frustrations. It can help put things into perspective and encourage us to be grateful for our lives.

National Volunteer week theme

The theme for National Volunteer week 2026 is ‘Your Year to Volunteer’. With the aim of encouraging volunteer organisations to reflect, reshape and improve volunteering in New Zealand.

Our aspiration for Aotearoa New Zealand is that volunteering is valued as part of who we are as a nation.

– Volunteering New Zealand

In New Zealand more than 1 million people say they volunteer for an organization according to Volunteering New Zealand statistics. Notably volunteer numbers have decreased by approximately 200,000 volunteers over the period from 2013 to 2018.