International Volunteer Day – Celebrating the power of New Zealanders who give back in the Pacific and Timor-Leste
MEDIA RELEASE
For immediate release
Wellington, New Zealand
On this International Volunteer Day, Volunteer Service Abroad | Te Tūao Tāwāhi (VSA) warmly celebrates the extraordinary New Zealanders who share their time, skills, and compassion to support stronger, more resilient communities across the Pacific and beyond.
As a proudly New Zealand charity working in international development through volunteering, VSA partners with local organisations to create meaningful, sustainable change.
Our volunteers bring technical expertise, professional experience, and deep commitment, but equally important are the relationships they build. Their work strengthens communities, lifts local capacity, and creates long-lasting bonds of trust and friendship.
This people-to-people connection is one of the most powerful forms of public diplomacy New Zealand can offer. Every volunteer represents the very best of Aotearoa: generosity, humility, curiosity, and respect. Their presence abroad builds understanding, strengthens partnerships, and stands as a living example of New Zealand’s values in action.
“International Volunteer Day is a chance to honour the remarkable New Zealanders who choose to serve alongside our partners across the Pacific and Timor-Leste,” says VSA Chief Executive Kate Wareham. “Their willingness to share skills and build genuine relationships is what makes VSA’s work so impactful. Our volunteers don’t just contribute expertise, they strengthen communities and help create lasting change.”
Today, we extend our wholehearted thanks to every current and returned VSA volunteer. Whether supporting education, climate resilience, health systems, economic development, or governance, your service makes a profound difference.
You not only share skills — you transform lives.
We also acknowledge the support of the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT). Their long-standing partnership enables VSA’s mission and ensures New Zealand continues to play a collaborative role in the region.
As we look to the future, VSA also highlights the importance of sustained and increased investment in the international development and volunteering sector. Continued government funding, alongside the generosity of public and philanthropic donors, is essential to ensure organisations like VSA can meet growing needs and expand their impact.
On International Volunteer Day, VSA celebrates the spirit of volunteering and the collective belief that together, we can build a more equitable and resilient world.
Ngā mihi nui ki a koutou — thank you to all who serve.
For more information:
Volunteer Service Abroad – Te Tūao Tāwāhi
www.vsa.org.nz
ENDS