For the second weekend running, the SVA Victoria University team returned to a flood-affected Wellington community, this time joined by Green Party MP Julie-Anne Genter, clearing five tonnes of rubble and mud.

Following through on a commitment made last week, five Student Volunteer Army volunteers returned to a flood-affected Wellington property on Saturday to continue recovery work stemming from the recent severe weather event. Green Party MP Julie-Anne Genter joined the team on the tools for the full four-hour session.

The team tackled rubble and mud that had been washed behind the property during the floods, clearing an estimated five tonnes of material, much of it carried up and down a 50-step staircase by hand. The property owner worked alongside the volunteers throughout the day and thanked the team by putting on a full lunch for all the volunteers at the end of the session.

“Organisations like Student Volunteer Army are so important, not only for the practical help they offer but for the way they actually embody hope. Thanks to the young people who showed up for their community on Saturday, to Kirby Bradbury-Mills for leading them.” Julie-Anne Genter, Green Party MP

The Wellington SVA effort now spans two weekends, three properties, and an estimated 17 tonnes of silt, rubble, and waste cleared. Last weekend the team removed six tonnes of silt from one property and a truckload of damaged belongings from another, working nine hours, hours beyond what was originally planned.

The continued dedication of our Wellington Student Volunteer Army is made possible with the support of our national partners, AA Insurance and Hummingbird Coffee, whose backing ensures our teams can keep showing up, keep clearing, and keep making a difference for communities that need it most.

On-the-ground coordination has been led throughout by Kirby Bradbury-Mills, Recovery Response Lead for the Victoria University SVA division.

About the Student Volunteer Army

The Student Volunteer Army Charitable Trust (SVA) is New Zealand’s largest youth-led volunteering network, with more than 21,000 active student volunteers and 50,000+ members nationwide. Founded in 2011 in the wake of the Canterbury earthquakes, SVA mobilises students from universities and secondary schools across Aotearoa to support communities through everyday volunteering and disaster response. In 2025, SVA deployed 380+ volunteers across 115+ emergency responses. SVA operates active divisions at universities throughout New Zealand, connecting students to meaningful service through its Service Award Programme, which tracks volunteer hours aligned to the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

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