News

MEDIA RELEASE  April 18, 2025 The voices of young people are being heard loud and clear in Tauranga through the Youth Voices Action panel - and they’ll be celebrated at next month's Youth Fest in the city. Rebecca Kit is the Programmes and Partnership manager, and she’s been actively

David Jones is our Volunteer of the Month - but he insists he’s just one member of several teams pitching in for Rotorua charities. David’s a graphic designer, running his business DJ Creative, a skill many organisations find valuable whenever they need posters, invitations, advertisements or bulletins created for

MEDIA RELEASE March 26, 2025 Young Tauranga people with disabilities are pitching in at Riding for the Disabled, keeping the grounds neat and tidy. This week four young adults from Recreate are volunteering in the sunshine weeding the Sensory Trail - but some say they would rather be in

MEDIA RELEASE   February 27, 2025 Tanea Reihana, known as Barnee, entered the Welcome Bay Community Centre in May last year drowning in debt, ashamed and terrified. She was at rock bottom. She came to fix her finances and save her family home from a mortgagee sale. But she

MEDIA RELEASE February 19, 2024 Hundreds of Tauranga people overwhelmed by dealing with bureaucracy are being helped by a free advocacy service mostly staffed by volunteers. The Free Public Advocacy Service runs regular clinics in Greerton, Arataki, Pāpāmoa, Welcome Bay and a new session is starting up in March

MEDIA RELEASE February 11, 2024 Mark Bils has been teaching English for years, but these days he says he learns just as much from his students. Mark is our Volunteer of the Month, and he teaches English to new migrants or to anyone visiting New Zealand who would like

Nationally, the NZ Red Cross coordinates over 3,000 Meals on Wheels volunteers, who deliver meals and compassion across 33 locations - a lifeline to those in need...read more here. Pam Smith has volunteered for 40 years with Meals on Wheels. After moving to Tauranga from Auckland in 1984, Pam was looking for a way to

MEDIA RELEASE Volunteers have been busy setting up racks of clothing and pricing shelves of homewares before a new Habitat for Humanity ReStore op shop opened in Mount Maunganui last week. The shop in Tawa Street officially opened last Friday, but work behind the scenes has been going on

Western Bay of Plenty Neighbourhood Support volunteers turned out in droves to help collect for the Emergency Services Food Drives in late November and December. Neighbourhood Support is a community-led charity building safe, supportive and connected communities throughout Aotearoa. In the Western Bay, there are 14,500 member families, with Street

Caio Martins is just finishing his Year 12 studies but he’s already an old hand when it comes to volunteering. He’s been volunteering for One Love Charity events - like the Tauranga Diwali Festival and Holi Colour Splash - and they can’t speak highly enough of his work ethic.

Frederick Wihongi got into teaching others to cook because he wanted to improve his own health. Now he’s won recognition from SociaLink’s Volunteering Services for his contribution for International Volunteer Day on December 5. He’s down at St John’s Church in Ōtumoetai on a Friday helping a group of

A group of young people are making the most of the holidays, sprucing up Te Puke’s cricket club with a colourful mural. Kalib Wallace, from 247 Health and Fitness, mentors rangatahi in the Te Puke area at his gym and is bringing them together to paint murals. He’s completed

For most of us, laundry is a tiresome chore, but for SPCA volunteer Lesley Marshall it’s her happy place. It’s Mental Health Awareness Week, and she’s proof that volunteering is good for your mental health, no matter the job. For 21 years, Lesley has turned up at the Tauranga

In the heart of Tauranga's city centre, something remarkable happens every week.  Under the Stars began in late 2014 with a plastic table set up outside the Tauranga City Library serving meals for the homeless.  Liz Kite, inspired by a need she saw in the community, decided to take

It’s Welcoming Week, and Jason Rigon is a prime example of a migrant who has helped make his new home in Tauranga a more friendly place for other newcomers. Filipino Jason is President of Club Filipino Tauranga Inc. (CFTI), and settled here with his family, wife Joy and three

The Breast Cancer Support Trust Papamoa Hills Night Walk, held in July 2024, was a resounding success, thanks in large part to the dedication and support of volunteers who signed up through Volunteering Services, and the promotion they did to attract volunteers. The event drew approximately 400 participants, who

Introducing Te Puna Quarry Park's Ruth Dainty, one of the top 10 Star Volunteers! "Ruth has volunteered at our Beautiful Te Puna Quarry Park for years. She works tirelessly in the gardens and organises the huge plant sales we have twice a year fundraising . She’s always positive, happy

Introducing Tina Zhang, one of the Top 10 Star Volunteers for WBOP! Tina is the President of the NZ China Friendship Society Tauranga, she runs the cultural centre at the Historic Village, organises cultural events such as the Tauranga Chinese New Year and Mid-Autumn Festival and advocates for the Chinese

Congratulations Megan Branks from Kura Kai Katikati! Megan is one of the top 10 Star Volunteer winners! We popped in to see Megan in Katikati today and give her a voucher and tote bag from Tauranga Crossing. Here's why Marie from Kura Kai NZ nominated Megan "Megan is our

Introducing Tauranga Community Foodbank's Sue Wiseman, one of the Top 10 Star Volunteers! Sue has been volunteering with Tauranga Community Foodbank since 2005, nearly 20 years! She comes in every week and will often cover shifts if she is able. "She is very reliable, very lovely, and extremely dedicated