Photo Gallery

2 Oct 2025

Preparing for 2026 International Volunteer Year!

Today we were joined by Rose, from the Christchurch City Council community engagement team, and Lindie, Kayla, Isabela and Mikayla who have been working withus through the University of Canterbury's PACE (Professional and Community Engagement) programme to come up with some ideas and a 'plan' to celebrate 2026 International Volunteer Year, as designated by the United Nations in 2023! We're excited to see what this team comes up with... watch this space!

Six individuals stand around a screen displaying a presentation that reads "Volunteering Canterbury: 2026 United Nations International Volunteer Year
5 Aug 2025

Annual Volunteer Expo with UC

Our annual Volunteering Expo with UC returned for 2025 and once again provided staff and students on campus the opportunity to find out more about what's involved when they volunteer, and how they can give back to their community while gaining valuable skills. Thank you to the incredible community organisations and charities who participated, and to all those who stopped by to find a place to make their mahi have meaning.

The Undercroft at University of Canterbury, full of students visiting the stalls of community organisations, to talk about volunteering The Undercroft at University of Canterbury, full of students visiting the stalls of community organisations, to talk about volunteering The VolCan stall The Conservation Volunteers of NZ stall The TechMate stall
16 Jun 2025

Volunteer Recognition Awards 2025

Every year we present Volunteer Recognition Awards to outstanding volunteers across Christchurch and Canterbury, and this year was no different! Congratulations to each and every recipient, and thank you for the incredible contributions you make to our communities.

2025 Award recipients standing together on the stage with their certificates Musicians, Amy McMurdo and Andrew Robinson, Christchurch School of Music, performing on stage Guest Speaker, Keran Tsering, Salvation Army Driver Programmes, on stage Mayor Phil Mauger, on stage addressing the audience Pam McQuillan, Age Concern Canterbury, with her Award Pam McQuillan, Age Concern Canterbury, with her Award Potters Kitchen Volunteers, Belfast Community Network, with their Award Potters Kitchen Volunteers, Belfast Community Network, with their Award Martin Jefferson, Blind Low Vision NZ, with his Award Martin Jefferson, Blind Low Vision NZ, with his Award Martin Jefferson, Blind Low Vision NZ, reciving his Citation and plant Jenny Yee, Bone Marrow Cancer Trust, with her Award Jenny Yee, Bone Marrow Cancer Trust, with her Award Johnny Gosling, Bromley Community Centre, with his Award Johnny Gosling, Bromley Community Centre, with his Award Rugby Club Committee Members and Administrators, Canterbury Rugby Football Union, with their Award Rugby Club Committee Members and Administrators, Canterbury Rugby Football Union, with their Award Kerry Turner, Cholmondeley Children's Centre, with his Award Kerry Turner, Cholmondeley Children's Centre, with his Award Lawrence Watson, Christchurch City Mission, with his Award Lawrence Watson, Christchurch City Mission, with his Award Kathy and Alae Tuu'u, Christchurch Kidney Society, with their Award Kathy and Alae Tuu'u, Christchurch Kidney Society, with their Award Josh Tabley, Christchurch South Community Patrol, with his Award Josh Tabley, Christchurch South Community Patrol, with his Award Julie Andrews, Christchurch Transitional Cathedral, with her Award Julie Andrews, Christchurch Transitional Cathedral, with her Award Lynda Cameron, City Park Community Patrol, Christchurch, with her Award Lynda Cameron, City Park Community Patrol, Christchurch, with her Award Volunteer Couriers, Clothed in Love, with their Award Volunteer Couriers, Clothed in Love, with their Award Andy Thornton, Coastguard Tautiaki Moana, with his Award Andy Thornton, Coastguard Tautiaki Moana, with his Award Toy Library Committee, Darfield Toy Library, with their Award Toy Library Committee, Darfield Toy Library, with their Award Delta Inn Community Cafe Team, Delta Community Support Trust, with their Award Delta Inn Community Cafe Team, Delta Community Support Trust, with their Award Madeleine Price, Family Drug Support Aotearoa New Zealand, with her Award Madeleine Price, Family Drug Support Aotearoa New Zealand, with her Award Charlotte Cook, Fertility New Zealand, with her Award Charlotte Cook, Fertility New Zealand, with her Award Jessica Lamb, Forest and Bird Youth, with her Award Helen Youngman, GirlGuiding NZ, with her Award Helen Youngman, GirlGuiding NZ, with her Award Muriel Hill, Girls Brigade 29th Christchurch Company, with her Award Muriel Hill, Girls Brigade 29th Christchurch Company, with her Award Sue Greenwood, Graffiti Program, Christchurch City Council, with her Award Sue Greenwood, Graffiti Program, Christchurch City Council, with her Award Wendy Nuthall, Grandees, with her Award Wendy Nuthall, Grandees, with her Award Charlotte Mowlem, Hohepa Canterbury, with her Award Charlotte Mowlem, Hohepa Canterbury, with her Award Management Team, Hunters4Hope, with their Award Management Team, Hunters4Hope, with their Award Learning Assistants, Imagination Station, with their Award Learning Assistants, Imagination Station, with their Award Ronnie Dunbar, Kaiapoi Food Forest, with his Award Ronnie Dunbar, Kaiapoi Food Forest, with his Award Ronnie Dunbar, Kaiapoi Food Forest, with his Award Brian Temple, Kaiapoi Rugby Football Club, with his Award Brian Temple, Kaiapoi Rugby Football Club, with his Award Stephen McLean, Kairos Food Rescue, with his Award Stephen McLean, Kairos Food Rescue, with his Award Andrew Harris, Living Springs, with his Award Andrew Harris, Living Springs, with his Award Jeremy Benton, Motor Neurone Disease NZ, with his Award Jeremy Benton, Motor Neurone Disease NZ, with his Award Op Shop Supporters, Julie & Jayne, Nurture Trust, with their Award Op Shop Supporters, Julie & Jayne, Nurture Trust, with their Award Op Shop Supporters, Julie & Jayne, Nurture Trust, with their Award Volunteer Team, NZ Gifts of Love and Strength, with their Award Volunteer Team, NZ Gifts of Love and Strength, with their Award Note Writing Team, One Mother to Another, with their Award Note Writing Team, One Mother to Another, with their Award Hilary Kidd, Packe Street Park and Community Garden, with her Award Vicki Hamilton, Presbyterian Support Upper South Island, with her Award Bridget Manson, Radio Lollipop Christchurch, with her Award Bridget Manson, Radio Lollipop Christchurch, with her Award Leigh Herdman, Recreate NZ, with her Award Leigh Herdman, Recreate NZ, with her Award Chang Chun Mui (Mei), Rural Youth and Adult Literacy Trust, with her Award Chang Chun Mui (Mei), Rural Youth and Adult Literacy Trust, with her Award David Birch, Silverstream Reserve, with his Award David Birch, Silverstream Reserve, with his Award David Birch, Silverstream Reserve, with his Award Dugald Wilson, Sister Eveleen Retreat House, with his Award Dugald Wilson, Sister Eveleen Retreat House, with his Award Andrew Johnson, Smith Street Community Farm, with his Award Andrew Johnson, Smith Street Community Farm, with his Award Wendy Kington, St Barnabas Church, Fendalton, with her Award Wendy Kington, St Barnabas Church, Fendalton, with her Award Jean Little, The Salvation Army Driver Programmes, Christchurch, with her Award Jean Little, The Salvation Army Driver Programmes, Christchurch, with her Award Jean Little, The Salvation Army Driver Programmes, Christchurch, with her Award Stew Presnall, WanderSearch Canterbury, with his Award Stew Presnall, WanderSearch Canterbury, with his Award Murray James, We Are Richmond, with his Award Murray James, We Are Richmond, with his Award Janette Morris, Whareora House of Life, with her Award Janette Morris, Whareora House of Life, with her Award Rachel Austin, Woolston Development Project, with her Award Rachel Austin, Woolston Development Project, with her Award Dugald Wilson and company, with his Award Potters Kitchen Volunteers, Belfast Community Network, with their Award Volunteer Team, NZ Gifts of Love and Strength, with their Award Charlotte Cook and company, with her Award Murray James and company, with this Award Delta Inn Community Cafe Team with their Award Chang Chun Mui (Mei) and company, with her Award Volunteer Couriers, Clothed in Love, with their Award Muriel Hill and company, with her Award Lynda Cameron and company, with her Award
11 Mar 2025

Volunteer Centre Network Hui

Managers and Coordinators from Volunteer Centres around Aotearoa met in Taupo for an energetic 2-day hui on 6-7 March. The Volunteer Centre Network Aotearoa (VCNA) is a collective of all Volunteer Centres across New Zealand. The hui was a fantastic opportunity to swap ideas, share resources and be inspired by what other Centres are doing. Thanks to Volunteer Great Lake Taupo for hosting and Megan from Exult for facilitating.

Representatives of the VCNA stand together in the foyer at the 2025 Hui Representatives of the VCNA sitting at tables around a room, for the 2025 Hui A large board printed with a graphic of NZ, showing location points for each Volunteer Centre. The VCNA Logo.
15 Feb 2025

Newcomers Volunteer Expo 2025

On 15 February, we held our Newcomers Volunteer Expo, aimed at helping newcomers make connections, gain valuable skills, and settle in to their new community. What a fantastic turnout on the day, thank you to all involved!

General Manager, Glenda Martin, standing at the Volunteering Canterbury stall A team from Lyttelton Harbour Information Centre at their stall A representative from Hagley Adult Centre at their stall A representative from the Multicultural Recreation and Community Centre, at their stall A representative from Christchurch City Council Graffiiti Removal Programme, at their stall A team from Asian Family Services, speaking to a newcomer at their stall A representative from Conservation Volunteers NZ speaking to a newcomer, at their stall A representative from Delta Community Support Trust, at their stall A team from International Inner Wheel, at their stall A team from Electoral Commission, at their stall A team from Pōwhiri, speaking to a newcomer at their stall A representative from Stoddart Cottage Trust, speaking to newcomers at their stall