International Volunteer Day Reception

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Introduction and acknowledgements
E nga mana, e nga reo, e nga iwi o te motu. E huihui nei, Tēnei aku mihi māhana ki a koutou, Kia ora tātou katoa. Distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen, warm greetings to you all.

It is a great pleasure for Janine and me to welcome you all to Government House this evening.

Today we celebrate the 25th International Volunteers Day . Today we also celebrate the 10th Anniversary of International Year of Volunteers 2001. And most importantly, today we turn to thank the many thousands of New Zealanders who work as volunteers.

When I reflected on what I might say today, the four pillars of the International Year of Volunteers - recognition, facilitation, networking and promotion - seemed appropriate.

Recognition
As to recognition – today we acknowledge and celebrate the value of volunteering to society in New Zealand, and all over the world.

In 2004 it was estimated that more than 1 million people, aged 12 years and over, were engaged in some kind of volunteer work for a not-for-profit organisation in New Zealand. There are no new statistics released since then, but I can only imagine that number has increased, following the significant number of New Zealanders who volunteered in association with the Rugby World Cup!

Of the more than 97,000 not-for-profit organisations that exist in our country, 90 percent of them do not employ paid staff.  These are incredible numbers which are brought to life by incredible people who deserve to be recognised.

Facilitation
As to facilitation - ensuring that the greatest number of people from the broadest range of backgrounds have access to volunteer opportunities is an essential part of our country’s volunteer strength. Volunteering New Zealand, whom we have worked with to get you here today, are a great example of the benefits of collaboration and co-operation.  With a primary objective to be the leader in ‘all things’ volunteering in our country, Volunteering New Zealand creates an environment that supports, promotes, values and encourages effective volunteering.

That leadership led to the establishment of VolunteerNet, a website which allows people wanting to volunteer, and people seeking volunteers, to connect. This neat resource, created in July 2010 in response to the need for a huge number of volunteers for the recent Rugby World Cup, is a tool that brings people together.

Networking
The third pillar, networking, is about fostering the exchange of experience, and strengthening partnerships, an essential part of relationship building. The importance of networking is captured with VolunteerNet which is a simple and effective platform to connect the dots, to connect the pixels.

You may not know many of those here this evening. What you do share, however, is a passion for giving generously of your time and expertise to the organisations you represent. Those organisations have the same collective and overarching goal – to make our country, our society in New Zealand, better for all of us.  

In that sense, you have a common bond, and volunteering give you the opportunity to meet new people – good people who believe in helping others, in giving of their time, and their talents, for good. Take this opportunity to connect with others to your mutual benefit.

Promotion
And this is where the promotion of volunteering is so vital. With the thousands of not-for-profit organisations that exist in our country, there are a similar number of varying and useful roles that need to be filled. This calls for a wide range of talents, backgrounds and passions. It also provides an opportunity for volunteer representatives from the many diverse groups in our society. 

Although volunteering as a “cause” is 24/7 and needed every day of every year, International Volunteer Day is a great way of promoting volunteering both nationally and internationally. The promotion of the good of volunteering should be ubiquitous – constant. It is a need that never stops, and is never appeased.

Conclusion
Volunteering empowers people to take an active part in shaping their community and our society. It empowers people to take responsibility for the needs of others, and it empowers people to make an impact in their own lives.
 
As Nelson Mandela once said: - “There can be no greater gift than that of giving one’s time and energy to help others without expecting anything in return.” 

As Governor-General, on behalf of all New Zealanders, I want to thank you all for the important contribution you make to our country. Thank you for giving your time and energy – your most precious taonga.

Kia ora huihui tātou katoa.