Hon Tariana Turia
Minister of Community & Voluntary Sector
14 June 2009 Media Statement

“Show your aroha” – volunteer one hour, says Turia

Volunteer Awareness Week begins today and Tariana Turia is encouraging people who have never done voluntary work to seriously consider doing so for at least one hour a month.

“The work of volunteers is so significant that many people don’t realise they are the backbone of our country and without their generosity our communities, and even our economy, would plummet,” Mrs Turia said.

“Every community has multiple volunteer organisations that do valuable work in the areas of culture, sports and recreation, education and research, arts, health, social services, environment, advocacy, politics, housing development, religion, business, professional associations and unions.

“I call on everyone who has never had the privilege of being able to help them, to lend a hand, to show their mahi aroha, their mea alofa and become immersed in the spirit of giving – even if it’s for one hour.

“The reward of course will not be monetary but I’m sure first-time volunteers will come a way with a sense of self-satisfaction and the knowledge of knowing they were able to help.

“Voluntary groups are under even more demand because of the current economic climate so if there’s an ideal time to give, it is now.”

Minister Turia said there were plenty of volunteer opportunities available through the 97,000 voluntary community organisations spread throughout the country. People who were unsure of which opportunity to take up could go online to http://www.volunteernow.org.nz/

Volunteer Awareness Week, which ends on June 21, provides an opportunity to highlight the wide range of volunteering roles, and encourage first-timers to give volunteering a go. The theme for 2009 is youth and the contribution they make.

Volunteer Facts:

* With 97,000 community organisations with over one million volunteers, the impact of New Zealand’s volunteer *sector is immense.

* Volunteers have a huge impact economically, culturally and socially in New Zealand.

* Each year more than one million New Zealanders volunteer for one or more non-profit organisations, a contribution worth more than $3 billion to our economy.

* Statistics NZ reports that 90% of community groups in New Zealand function entirely on unpaid labour.

ENDS