Government support for volunteering
Current activity
Employer Supported Volunteering: A Guide for the New Zealand Public Service
Established in 2002, the Support for Volunteering Fund is the permanent Crown funded scheme to support and promote volunteering within Aotearoa New Zealand. It is administered by the Local Government & Community branch of the Department of Internal Affairs. More than $400,000 is provided each year for volunteer centres, Volunteering New Zealand, and initiatives for tangata whenua, Pacific peoples and ethnic communities.
Progress
In 2008, government progress was summarised and reported to Cabinet in the document Government Support for Volunteering 2002–2008.
Achievements included:
- Interest-free student loans and superannuation have been extended to New Zealanders volunteering overseas for charitable organisations (2005/06).
» Approved charitable organisations are listed in the regulations to the Student Loan Scheme Act 1992. - In 2005, Government allocated $6.5 million to be spent over four years to assist sport and recreational organisations with recruitment, training and retaining volunteers.
The work of the Generosity Hub sits alongside tax changes to provide incentives for giving and volunteering. The Generosity Hub is a collaborative project including the community and private sectors and government - it looks at giving in all forms.
Origins
The International Year of Volunteers 2001 marked a turning point in the recognition of volunteering in New Zealand.
» Download the Report of the Ministerial Reference Group for International Year of Volunteers 2001 (PDF, 673KB).
In May 2001, the Minister responsible for the Community and Voluntary Sector agreed to the introduction of a Volunteers and Volunteering Policy Project. The Project identified how the government could assist and support volunteering within New Zealand.
This Project generated two key Cabinet papers in December 2002:
- Paper One: Recognition and Valuing of Volunteering
This paper suggested that the government introduced a Government Policy on Volunteerin g to ensure greater recognition and valuing of volunteering.
- Paper Two: Key Issues Impacting on Volunteering
This paper recommended actions that formed the basis of the Volunteering Work Programme.
» Download these Cabinet Papers on Volunteering
» Download the Government Policy on Volunteering - For more information go to the Sport and Recreation NZ (SPARC) website.
- Volunteers are now covered in the Health and Safety in Employment Amendment Act 2002.
» Find out more from the Department of Labour.
» View the Government Support for Volunteering 2002-2008 report to Cabinet
