Whānau Ora Research

The State of Volunteering 2024 report marks the sixth edition in Volunteering New Zealand’s ongoing series. We surveyed volunteers and volunteer-involving organisations. The state of volunteering is fairly positive, though…

In an online survey of New Zealand’s early childhood education services, schools and kura in late 2021/early 2022, over 83% of respondents involve volunteers, with volunteers most important in primary…

The research looked into the SVA Service Award, a national framework for advancing secondary school student volunteering, to provide an in-depth insight into the benefits of youth volunteering, service and…

This report provides an update on the status of the volunteering sector as at May 2021. Our work draws on data collected via stakeholder feedback, a focus group with Volunteer…

Volunteering New Zealand recently surveyed more than 3,000 people across the community and voluntary sector. They include community leaders, researchers and thought leaders, managers of voluntary organisations, and frontline volunteers.…

While still fragile, the community and voluntary sector is generally more stable and viable than it was two years ago. The survey of 129 community and voluntary organisations shows that…

This 2020 State of the Sector Survey is the fourth biennial snapshot of the community and voluntary sector undertaken by ComVoices. Its findings reinforce those of previous surveys and other…

For the third year running, Volunteering NZ has undertaken a survey with all registered charities nationwide, to create a general view of the volunteer landscape. The report had 1,584 responses…

This monograph reviews the state of the third sector in both Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand, and is the first comprehensive overview of the research that has studied and documented…

Volunteering is central to the social development, economy, and environment of New Zealanders. Between 2004 and 2013, Statistics NZ data shows there was a 21% increase in the number of…

This report presents the results of a small scale process and outcomes evaluation of jigsaw Whanganui’s White Water Years Parenting Programme carried out during 2014 and funded through a Lottery…

Not-for-profits, community-based organisations and social enterprises have volunteerism at its roots, and for many at its heart. The ‘Third Sector’ is still commonly known to many as the ‘Voluntary Sector’.…

There is little information in Aotearoa New Zealand about how women are represented in the Community and Voluntary Sector, despite the fact that the the sector’s voluntary and paid workforce…

The important role of community and voluntary sector organisations to democratic debate and policy development is widely acknowledged by governments, academics, and the sector itself. However, our survey of 153…

While the value added by voluntary organisations is widely accepted by government and other funders, there has been increased pressure for the voluntary sector to measure the difference they make…

Address to “Our Future Community and Voluntary Sector Forum”, Hosted by Council of Social Services Christchurch and Te Runaka ki Otautahi Kai Tahu, Christchurch, 28 July 2011. Drawing on lessons…

Quarterly giving and volunteering data, published by the Department of Internal Affairs

Giving and Volunteering statistics for the June quarter 2010

New quarterly data on giving and volunteering in New Zealand

Volunteer managers/coordinators’ roles are of central importance to promoting and enhancing volunteerism, yet little is known about these workers: who they are, what they do, or how their effectiveness could…

This summary report provides baseline data for understanding the sector and the role and importance of those managing volunteers. It is a snapshot. It tells us who are managing volunteers,…

This paper examines the benefits that stem from generosity for givers, receivers and the community as a whole. This paper is the second of a series to stimulate discussion between…

An overview of civil society organisations and the concepts of ‘civil society’ and ‘social capital’ in Australia and New Zealand research, politics and wider usage. Similarities and differences between the…

A growing awareness of giving, volunteering and acts of kindness in all their forms offers many opportunities to promote greater generosity throughout Aotearoa New Zealand. The philanthropic and voluntary sectors,…

This paper builds a picture of what we know about how people currently give in New Zealand, identifies gaps in information and the challenges for the future of generosity. This…

This paper considers challenges to giving and opportunities for promoting generosity in New Zealand. It sets out proposals from the Generosity Hub for a strategic plan, objectives and initiatives. It…

Financial and accounting. This powerpoint file contains slides presented at the ANZTSR workshop held on 25th November 2008.

This paper reports on one aspect of a survey of New Zealand volunteers undertaken in 2007 to develop a broad understanding of active volunteers’ expenses and organisational reimbursement patterns. In…

This paper asks the core questions: what is generosity, and what does it have to do with the way we live our lives or run our businesses? This paper is…

Qualitataive research (depth interviews with 52 emergency services volunteers and other stakeholders) to identify how to lift training participation of emergency services volunteers, and the impact of training on service…

Literature review to identify barriers to training for volunteers in emergency services, and volunteers in general, and how to overcome those barriers

On 1 November 2007 the Minister of Finance and the Minister of Revenue asked for submissions on ways to simplify the law on the taxation of reimbursement and honoraria paid…

Research into who gives time and money to different parts of the community and voluntary sector. It draws on market research data collected through the Panorama Survey, which is run…

Sustainable Management Practices in the Voluntary Sector

Volunteering for Maori is based on the notion of whanaungatanga (kinship) and the benefits derived from contributing to the common good. Within Maori culture, conceptions of self are linked to…

This report investigates the fund-seeking experiences of community organisations in Waitakere.

The importance of volunteers manning social organisations and their contribution to the Common Good

Counting for More is focused on a pilot study of outputs and outcomes and is a major milestone for the VAVA (Value Added by Voluntary Agencies) project initiated in 2002…

A stock-take of community organisations and their social services in Waitakere as part of the Local Services Mapping Initiative co-ordinated by Family and Community Services.

This report examines some factors that literature suggests are likely to impact on the way funding is distributed among community organisations.

This research uses organisational information from a stock-take of social service community organisations in Waitakere. It seeks to develop a snapshot of funding information.

Seeing the unseen activities that contribute to sustaining our communities is vital in determining how to live more sustainably. This initiative arose out of concern that the data available for…

This evaluation follows a broad-ranging evaluation of the Voluntary Agency Support Scheme (VASS) in 1998 that focused on rationale, purpose, structure, management and ‘place’ of VASS in relation to international…

During the last 20 years, citizens have been taught to behave as autonomous, self-interested, utility-maximising individuals, in a culture based on individual property rights where stealing of property is illegal.

My basic assertion is that Leadership in Volunteering, from my Pakeha (those of European ancestry) understanding, requires attention to the “Big Picture”. A dozen facets of the Big Picture are…

Nothing less than a re-definition of what we call ‘work’ will respond to the way in which our society is changing. Much of what people contribute to society is neither…

Purchase-of-service contracting with voluntary organisations for social services in Aotearoa New Zealand is examined, in the context of international trends and as a part of the long run historical evolution…

Governments around the world are making increasing use of contracting “technologies” to purchase services from voluntary organizations – both in privatising (contracting out) previously government-provided services and in reining in…

One of the real challenges of educational work is how to get into peoples’ consciousness and not just remain talking to the converted. It is my analysis that experts must…

This paper explores the case for a move away from the current individual rights system of social relationships. The goal is to put in place a community ethics-based system which…

What is happening to government funding of voluntary organisations in Aotearoa/New Zealand? Where is it heading? What does it mean for voluntary organisations?

Employment, employees, employers, self-employed, unemployed, voluntary work

As more and more activities – housework, childcare, looking after the sick and the old – become monetised and institutionalised, the values that allow people to provide services to one…