Nicki was born and bred in Tauranga but has been away for 30 years, working in Pukekohe in the disabled and social service sector. She worked for Blind Low Vision in Needs Assessment for the midcentral area, and for IHC.
She and her husband took off for Australia for five years, working short term and travelling around the country. Her husband, a farmer, decided to semi-retire from farming and Nicki returned to the same job with Blind Low Vision when they returned to Tauranga in November 2023.
“I’ve always been involved in the volunteer space. It’s just what we do, we’re a family of volunteers. I’m looking forward to connecting with the local community and rebuilding networks having been away so long.”
She lives at Pyes Pā, but her favourite thing to do is walk their springer spaniel on the beach at the Mount.
Reach out to Nicki on nicki@socialink.org.nz or 021 225 2994
Purposeful Posting Series (Social Media Training) A 5-part series bringing community organisations together to explore simple, effective ways to build social media presence and connect with your audience. From choosing the right platforms to creating engaging posts, short-form videos, and eye-catching visuals, this series covers the essentials of building a strong digital presence. Where
From the top down for Volunteer Managers Join us in a live webinar with Rob Jackson - a world-renowned expert in all things voluntary sector. This session is 1.5 hours of volunteering gold! Every non-profit organisation involves volunteers in some way, at the very least on its board of trustees. Yet establishing an effective volunteer engagement
MEDIA RELEASE 15th December, 2025 Tauranga City Council Builds Guardians for the City’s Natural Spaces Across Tauranga’s coastlines, wetlands, and reserves, volunteers are rolling up their sleeves to protect the city’s natural environment. Through Tauranga City Council’s (TCC) environmental initiatives, community collaboration is helping care for and restore some of Tauranga’s most valued natural
MEDIA RELEASE 8th December, 2025 Celebrating Volunteers: International Volunteer Day 2025 Volunteering Services marked International Volunteer Day on 5 December with a fun gathering that brought together volunteers and staff for pizza, kōrero, and plenty of connection, offering a meaningful pause to celebrate and reconnect outside the usual routines. The day recognised the
MEDIA RELEASE 24th November, 2025 Community Support at the Heart of Family Works Family Works, part of Presbyterian Support Northern, continues to play an essential role in supporting children, whānau and wider communities across Tauranga and Whakatāne. Area Manager, Julie Peake, says their services span counselling, social work and a range of education and
Feedback That Makes Your Volunteers Shine Feedback is one of the most effective ways to support volunteers, yet it’s often misunderstood. Many people see feedback as something used only when there’s a concern, but in practice it’s a much richer tool. Great feedback isn’t just about improving a task in the moment — it’s
MEDIA RELEASE 10th November, 2025 Emily-Kay Livick never imagined she would one day be leading Achilles Tauranga Moana, but for her, volunteering has always been about whānau. Her son, Tamahau Hicks, a Year 6 junior para-athlete, lives with a traumatic brain injury (TBI) that affects his vision and coordination. After playing rugby, specialists
MEDIA RELEASE 22nd October, 2025 Each year, One Love Charity brings colour, connection, and compassion to Tauranga through two iconic celebrations, the Holi Festival of Colours in March and the Diwali Festival of Lights in October. Both celebrations bring people from all walks of life together to share culture, food, music, and joy.
We’re facing a growing number of problems in Aotearoa – and many are deeply connected. More and more people are struggling with loneliness, even in the middle of busy lives. Our communities are seeing rising social needs – from housing and food insecurity to isolation and mental distress. At the same time, not-for-profits and
MEDIA RELEASE October 3rd, 2025 At 77 years young, Bill Webb is living proof that age is no barrier when it comes to giving back. A long-time volunteer with Good Neighbour, Bill leads the charity’s fruit-picking team, harvesting produce that might otherwise spoil in backyards and helping it reach local families who need it
Volunteering Services is a programme of SociaLink, operated by Social Sector Innovation WBOP Charitable Trust Number CC50192
