International Volunteer Day - 5 December Celebrating New Zealand’s 1.1 million volunteers
This special day is marked around the world to celebrate and acknowledge the immense contribution made by volunteers
across many sectors and activities including emergency services, health, welfare, education, faith communities, sport
and recreation, conservation, arts and culture, special interests and advocacy
This could provide a range of interesting story opportunities. These might include, for instance:
A profile of a special volunteer or a voluntary organisation
Exploring the motivations for volunteering
Covering one of the many International Volunteer Day events occurring around the country (they include Award presentations, exhibitions, etc)
Interviewing key personalities from the voluntary sector
Highlighting a key policy issue affecting volunteering such as the current Inland Revenue paper on tax and
reimbursement payments to volunteers
A useful first contact for a local lead would be the nearest Volunteer Centre, which can be contacted through phoning
0800 865 268. Each Centre will have a range of activities planned for the week or may know about events planned by
community organisations in your district. Alternatively contact could be made with one of New Zealand’s 60,000 community
and voluntary organisations.
ENDS