2 December 2010
Media Release
Poignant TV images a message for International Volunteer Day 5 December
TV images of Greymouth students giving their time to prepare for the national memorial service for the 29 miners lost at
Pike Creek give special poignancy to this year’s marking of International Volunteer Day, Sunday 5 December, said Gillian
Peacock, chairperson of Volunteering New Zealand.
The very significant contribution which volunteers have made both in Canterbury after the earthquake and on the West
Coast in the Pike River coalmine tragedy has demonstrated very publicly how New Zealanders are prepared to volunteer to
help and support others in special need.
“This Sunday, 5 December, on International Volunteer Day, we all have the opportunity to publicly fully acknowledge and
thank them for what they have contributed,” said Ms Peacock
“At the same time, it is equally important to recognise the day-to-day, year round contribution made by more than one
million New Zealanders who volunteer across all sectors of society. They are the lifeblood of so many parts of our
community.”
Recent data shows that volunteers are involved in all non-profit sectors. The 2007 Report on the Non-profit sector
highlighted just how dramatically this is so when it stated that 90% of the 97,000 non-profit organisations have no paid
staff – they are operated entirely by volunteers. The largest group of volunteers are in the sports, arts and recreation
sector, followed by the education sector and then health and the social services sectors.
In addition several national government agencies are directly involved in volunteering, organising and managing their
own volunteer programmes – the Department of Conservation, the Corrections Department, NZ Fire Service and Police are
prime examples. Local councils also have volunteer programmes and have responsibility for recruiting, training and
managing their volunteer civil defence teams.
“We should also acknowledge the contribution being made by groups and individuals from businesses who contribute their
time, skills and energy in their local communities”, said Ms Peacock.
“Volunteering permeates every facet of our society and on Sunday the whole New Zealand community has the chance to
acknowledge that,’ she said.
There will be events taking place throughout New Zealand to mark International Volunteer Day. Many organisations are
having special gathering to thank their own volunteer teams. Other events will include a forum on emergency services
volunteers and recognition awards events. More details are available on the Events Calendar on www.volunteeringnz.org.nz
ENDS