Volunteers' Reception: International Volunteer Day 2010

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I begin by greeting everyone in the languages of the realm of New Zealand, in English, Māori, Cook Island Māori, Niuean, Tokelauan and New Zealand Sign Language.

Greetings, Kia Ora, Kia Orana, Fakalofa Lahi Atu, Taloha Ni and as it is the afternoon (Sign).

To the distinguished guests here this afternoon. I trust that that term covers all those present.  It is with great pleasure that my wife Susan and I welcome you all to Government House Auckland for this reception.

At the outset, I would like to bring to mind the lives of the 29 men that were lost following the explosions at Pike River Mine. Thursday afternoon’s memorial service in Greymouth was a moving tribute to their memory and to the community’s grief.

I would like now to speak briefly on the spirit of volunteering and its importance in strengthening New Zealand communities.

This is a special day, in that it is International Volunteers Day 2010.  There is, then, no more appropriate day to celebrate the tremendous and valuable work that volunteers carry out in this country.

Since coming to the Governor-General role in August 2006, Susan and I have made a constant effort to emphasise and encourage the spirit of volunteering in the community.  We have hosted receptions at Government House in Auckland and Wellington to thank the many people who give of their time to work in the many contemporary charitable, cultural, sporting, health and social organisations.

In that regard, today is a celebration of the volunteers that keep our communities going.  It is also a celebration of the work that each of you do on the frontline.

Represented here are grassroots volunteers, from organisations which vary in texture and nature.  From the Auckland City Mission, Auckland Zoo and the Cancer Society at the beginning of the alphabet, to Kidz First, and the Manukau Urban Māori Authority in the middle, to Victim Support, Volunteering Auckland and the YMCA at the other end.

Another noteworthy mention is also due in that 5 December 2010 is a special day for Marion Cullen - a guest here today.  Today happens to be Marion’s 25th anniversary as a volunteer with Presbyterian Support and it seems appropriate to acknowledge the many years of service she has freely given. 

More generally, today is also a celebration of the generosity and dedication of the thousands of New Zealanders who volunteer their time, energy and skills to assist sporting, cultural and charitable organisations.

This spirit of volunteering helps build strong and sustainable communities, and makes a significant economic contribution to our country and what can be called its civic strength.

I am reminded of a visit Susan and I made to Canterbury in mid September where we witnessed civic strength in action.  Following the 4 September earthquake, hundreds of volunteers rushed to their posts and helped, in whatever way they could, in offering assistance to those that needed it.  Of particular note just as one example, were students from Canterbury University who volunteered time to shift silt from properties that had been affected by liquefaction.

The contribution of that volunteer army has played a large part in the region getting back on its feet so quickly. We can, as a country, take pride in the strength of our communities, particularly in times of need.

Of interest is a significant report, released in August 2008, by the Centre for Civil Studies at the John Hopkins University in the United States. The report highlighted the significance of New Zealand’s not-for-profit sector and was prepared in collaboration with the Office for the Community and Voluntary Sector in the Ministry of Social Development, and a team of researchers at Massey University.

Using criteria applied by the Centre in 41 other nations, the report compared New Zealand’s non-profit sector with the rest of the world.  The researchers found the New Zealand sector was a significant economic force, worth $9.8 billion.  This figure represented, using 2004 data, $6.5 billion of expenditure and volunteer labour worth $3.3 billion. 

The study also found New Zealand had a proportionally larger non-profit workforce than most other nations studied.  Of that workforce, 67 percent were volunteers, a proportion much higher than the average and higher than similar Western nations such as Australia.  As the authors noted in conclusion:

“New Zealand’s non-profit organisations represent a significant economic presence in addition to their social and political importance… Especially striking is the sizable volunteer workforce that these organisations mobilise.”

I understand that in 2008, an estimated 1,241,000 New Zealanders volunteered their time to not-for-profit organisations.  Furthermore, Volunteering New Zealand report that this large volunteer workforce contributes more than 270 million hours of formal, un-paid work for a vast range of not-for-profit organisations annually. 

These are creditable figures and, for a country whose population currently sits around the 4.3 million mark, we can be proud that more than a quarter of our nation’s population gives its time to contribute to their communities. 

The spirit of volunteering can be described as the “glue” that holds our society and economy together.  Many of our health, education and social service sectors would grind to a halt without the countless hours of voluntary work many people provide.

In conclusion, Susan and I offer our thanks and praise for the extraordinary work that you do in your respective organisations.  The countless hours that you have given, and the many lives that you have positively affected over your time as a volunteers, have not gone without notice.

Winston Churchill, who served as Britain’s Prime Minister during the Second World War, and is widely regarded as one of the great wartime leaders, spoke of the value of volunteering. He said:- “You make a living by what you get. You make a life by what you give.”

I hope that you will all enjoy these congenial surroundings of Government House to which Susan and I again welcome you most warmly.

And on that note of acknowledgement and thanks for your individual contributions, and in celebration of International Volunteer Day, I will close in New Zealand’s first language Māori, offering everyone greetings and wishing everyone all good health and fortitude in your endeavours.

No reira, tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou, kia ora, kia kaha, tēnā koutou katoa.