Media Release
Volunteering New Zealand
22 June 2013
Volunteering New Zealand thanks volunteers around Aotearoa
This week messages of praise and appreciation for volunteers have flooded in as Aotearoa celebrates National Volunteer Week.
Community organisations, groups and initiatives that rely upon the generosity and services of volunteers have thanked them for their outstanding efforts.
Community organisations and businesses have publically thanked volunteers this week. Several Government leaders have said thank you through media statements and holding or attending events recognising volunteers, including Minister of the Community and Voluntary Sector, Jo Goodhew; Minister of Health, Tony Ryall; Minister of Police, Anne Tolley; National MPs Scott Simpson, Katrina Shanks and Labour MP Louisa Wall.
Prime Minister John Key tweeted: “It’s Volunteer Week – a chance to recognise those giving their time to help others in our communities. Thank you to all NZ’s volunteers.”
Vanisa Dhiru, Chief Executive of Volunteering New Zealand, says National Volunteer Week is all about acknowledging the work of everyone involved in volunteering – the volunteers; those that manage volunteers; and the organisations that support volunteering programmes.
“We can be very proud of our volunteer force and Volunteering New Zealand thanks every volunteer from children involved in school patrol, to businesses providing employees with supported time to volunteer, to lifelong volunteers.
“The public acknowledgement this week has been excellent - but there is no excuse to only say thanks once a year. We must continue to recognise volunteering as an important part of society,” says Vanisa.
“We should be continually grateful to people that give their time to causes they believe in.”
Volunteering New Zealand (VNZ) is an association of New Zealand organisations that have a commitment to volunteering, such as volunteer centres, national and other organisations. Their mission is to promote, support and advocate for volunteering. www.volunteeringnz.org.nz
ENDS