New Zealand Opens up to International Volunteers

New Zealand Opens up to International Volunteers

World-leader in volunteer travel launches program to recruit volunteers from abroad for environmental projects in New Zealand

International Volunteer HQ (IVHQ) today announced plans to recruit and host international volunteers on a program based in New Zealand, in partnership with award-winning conservation charity, Sustainable Coastlines.

Volunteers choosing IVHQ’s New Zealand program will support either marine or freshwater conservation projects in and around Auckland, as well as environmental education projects. The Taranaki-based volunteer travel company already places volunteers into 32 countries and the first international volunteers will start in New Zealand as early as March.

“We’ve had a big focus on placing volunteer travellers in developing countries for the last 8 years, but I’m really happy to be finally opening a program on home soil,” said Dan Radcliffe, Executive Director of IVHQ.

“New Zealand is a beautiful, unique place and we know foreign volunteers will love it here. The best part about this program is being able to support a charity like Sustainable Coastlines - they’re a young organisation making a big contribution. By working with them we can enable volunteer travellers to help look after the things that make this country special.”

Since 2007, IVHQ has placed more than 50,000 volunteers on community projects abroad. Many of these projects are in developing countries but, according to Radcliffe, the future is in opening up developed countries to volunteer travellers. “We know that there are needs in every country that could benefit from volunteers. So on top of New Zealand, we’ve also opened programs in Spain and Portugal this month, and it’s my vision that tourists will one day be supported to volunteer as part of any trip to any country, regardless of that country's level of development. The added bonus is that these experiences also help people to become more socially-conscious and active in their own communities.”

Sustainable Coastlines General Manager, Camden Howitt also welcomed the introduction of foreign volunteers saying, “We measure our success by the positive impacts we have at a grass-roots level. Receiving international volunteers who can muck-in and help out with our critical conservation and education programs will allow us to significantly scale up our work. By partnering with IVHQ, we’ll be able to deliver more, better, and wider-reaching impacts in both litter abatement and freshwater restoration, working towards our long-term vision for beautiful beaches, healthy waters and inspired people.”

IVHQ’s New Zealand volunteer program is designed for foreign travellers wishing to volunteer here. The program opens in March 2016 with durations varying from 2 weeks to 6 months. A 2 week program, including accommodation, meals, project work and in-country support costs around US$770.

ENDS

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