Congratulations to all of our 2026 Volunteer Recognition Award recipients! It was a privilege to celebrate the incredible mahi of Canterbury volunteers during National Volunteer Week 2026.
These award recipients have been recognised for their outstanding contributions, achievements, and dedication to their communities. Representing all ages and a wide range of sectors, they demonstrate the remarkable impact volunteers make across Waitaha.
Ngā mihi nui for your service and commitment.
Please see the Gallery below, for a full selection of photos from this event.
| David Callis | Age Concern Canterbury |
| Cookathon Logistics Leads | Bellyful Christchurch |
| Susan Rogers | Blind Low Vision NZ |
| Graham Colley | Bone Marrow Cancer Trust |
| Kay Wallace | BrainTree Wellness Centre |
| The Bromley Volunteer Heroes | Bromley Community Centre |
| Michael Turner | Burwood Hospital Volunteers |
| Tessa McLauchlan | CanInspire |
| David Adams | Canterbury Horticultural Society |
| Match Day Officials | Canterbury Rugby Union |
| We Are Books Team | Canterbury Workers Educational Association |
| Kathleen Anderson | Cashmere Presbyterian Church |
| Aotearoa Cultural Volunteer Exchange Volunteers | Cholmondeley Children’s Centre |
| Peter Dawe | Christchurch Cathedral |
| Tuesday Breakfast Team | Christchurch Collective for the Homeless |
| Stephen McLean | Christchurch Community House |
| Charlotte Curry | Christchurch Envirohub |
| Wendy Cox | Christchurch Hospital Volunteers |
| Gerard Murnane | Christchurch Multicultural Recreation and Community Centre |
| Learning & Development Team | Citizens Advice Bureau Christchurch Area |
| Sorting & Packing Leaders | Clothed in Love |
| Anthony Honeybone | Coastguard New Zealand |
| Norman Holloway | Compassion Trust Community Care Programs |
| Shirley Poppelwell | English Language Partners |
| Julie Warwick | Family Drug Support Aotearoa New Zealand |
| Robin Humphreys | Fertility New Zealand |
| Bill Cranshaw | Flourish Op Shop |
| Chloe Hyland | GirlGuiding New Zealand |
| Volunteer Bakers and Deliverers | Good Bitches Baking Ōtautahi Christchurch |
| Hong Lip Chan | Hagley Learning Centre |
| Hetal Patel | Handmade Studio Charitable Trust |
| Doug Jenkinson | Harbour Co-op |
| Rod Frewen | Hōhepa Canterbury |
| Alison Loffhagen | Hornby Community Patrol |
| Driver Mentors | Hurunui Community Driver Mentor Programme |
| Parminder Kaur | IndianNZ Association of Christchurch |
| The Committee | Kaiapoi Toy Library |
| Alexandra Davids | Keep Christchurch Beautiful |
| Financial Mentors | Kingdom Resources |
| Tina Hartley | Kitty Kingdom |
| James Dyer | Laura Fergusson Brain Injury Trust |
| Jack Cameron | Lincoln Envirotown Trust |
| Girls Group Volunteers | Linwood Avenue Community Corner Trust |
| Jimmy Wells | Linwood Rugby Football Club |
| Max Lang | Mikimiki Conservation Trust |
| Group Exercise Volunteers | Multiple Sclerosis & Parkinson’s Canterbury |
| Glenda Harrison | Neighbourhood Trust |
| Casey King | New Brighton Project |
| Jane Ryder | Ngaio Marsh House and Heritage Trust |
| Michael Neason | North Canterbury Mini Bus Trust |
| Yvonne Moffat | One Mother to Another |
| Ōtautahi Māori Wardens | Ōtautahi Māori Wardens Association 2006 Incorporated |
| Kathy Anderson | Oxford Gallery |
| Anna Leach | Parklands Rugby Football Club |
| Navigate Initiative Faith Support Group | Pathway Trust |
| Christine Green | Perinatal Wellbeing Canterbury |
| Vic Edwards-Brown | Pregnancy Infancy Parenting Support (PIPS) |
| Totora Day Programme Van Assistants | Presbyterian Support Upper South Island |
| Taura Allen | Prisoners Aid Canterbury |
| Andrew Blumberg | Rolleston Community Patrol |
| Club Members | Rotary Ōtautahi Passport |
| Fabriani Putri | SHE (Support, Heal, Empower) |
| Vera Kahu | Shirley Community Trust |
| Silverstream Reserve Volunteer Group | Silverstream Reserve |
| Sepulona Patepak | Smith Street Community Farm |
| Jos de Leijer | Southern Cancer Society |
| Volunteer Coaches and Peer Volunteers | Speed Freaks Charitable Trust |
| Meg Devane | St John of God Hauora Trust |
| Glenda Fraser | St Nicholas Church |
| Antony Shadbolt | Styx Living Laboratory Trust |
| Robyn Peers | Te Pūtahi Centre for Architecture and City Making |
| Waltham Cottage Volunteers | Te Whare Roopu o Oterepo Waltham Community Cottage |
| Ushers of The Piano | The Piano |
| Shireen Spaull | Trade Aid |
| Christine Brennan | WanderSearch Canterbury |
| Norma Hampton | Whareora House of Life |
| Joanna Hopkinson | Woolston Development Project |
| Kinjal Hirapara | Youthline Central South Island |
