Volunteering is good for others and it's good for you too!
Next week is National Volunteer Week, and during the week (and in fact throughout June), it’s a chance to celebrate the power of volunteers and the work they do across Aotearoa New Zealand.
Why is volunteering important?
All around the country, community organisations are doing good things - from collecting and distributing food and clothing for those who need it, to providing support for families, to protecting our natural environment.
These organisations not only provide vital services, but they also bring their communities together.
But around 90% of community organisations are completely volunteer-run. Even bigger national organisations rely on volunteers for some of their work.
That means without volunteers, these vital services are at risk. The good news is that numbers from the Stats NZ 2023 General Social Survey (Wellbeing statistics update March 2025) show that 53% of Kiwis volunteer in some way (that’s up 50% since 2021).
There’s always room for more volunteers, though, so if you have some time to spare and are able to, we highly recommend it.
Volunteering is good for the soul
Volunteering gives you a sense of purpose
This is particularly helpful for people who have retired and are wondering how to keep up the sense of purpose they no longer get from paid work. The fact that you are giving back and helping others by donating your time also boosts your happiness.
Volunteering widens your social circle
Volunteering helps you meet other people, which is great for people who otherwise work in remote jobs or are sole traders and spend a lot of time on their own, or for retired people who may not have a wide circle of friends. And because you have all chosen to volunteer at the same place, you’ll probably share some common interests as well.
Volunteering gives you the chance to explore new things
Volunteering can give you the chance to try things you might not otherwise be able to. For example, if you can’t commit to having a pet full-time, then volunteering at an animal shelter can give you the connection to animals you might love.
Volunteering helps to improve your health outcomes
Giving back to the community boosts your happiness, and the connections you make can reduce loneliness, all of which help your mental health. Figures from the Stats NZ wellbeing survey in 2021 found that people who volunteered rated life as more worthwhile on average (8.1/10) than those who did not volunteer (7.9/10). Plus, staying active by getting out and about as a volunteer helps maintain your physical health too.
Volunteering can be good for business too
If you run an organisation, then offering volunteer time to your team members is a great idea.
#1 It opens up new opportunities - Many people would love to volunteer but can’t make the time commitment outside of work and personal commitments, or can’t afford to take time off to volunteer. Offering volunteer hours as part of an employment package gives these people the chance to volunteer without worrying so much about the impact on their lives.
#2 It can be used for team building with purpose - Many organisations have traded typical team building away days, for a team volunteer session. It might be volunteering at a food bank or planting native trees. These sessions help your team bond over a shared purpose while also helping your organisation give something back to its local community.
#3 It develops skills - Volunteering at different organisations or even in a different part of your own organisation can help employees develop new skills which they can then bring back to their paid roles.
#4 It can improve employees' impression of your organisation - Offering volunteer opportunities can help employees feel more connected with and supported by your organisation and look on it more favourably. For example, a Deloitte survey in the US found that 91% of survey respondents said volunteer opportunities can have a positive impact on their overall work experience and connection to their employer.
So this National Volunteer Week, give a big shout-out to volunteers and think about how you can get involved too.
PS - if you have some time to volunteer and are looking for a role, you can find some great ones here.