About Us:

Kaitūao o te Taitonga | Volunteer South is a charitable trust that engages and supports both tūao volunteers and volunteer involving organisations and community groups in the Southern region of Aotearoa New Zealand.

Volunteer South promotes, supports and strengthens volunteering, creating stronger more connected communities. We are passionate about volunteering and our main aims are to:

• Increase awareness of volunteer opportunities in the region, and encourage and inspire people to volunteer.
• Increase the capacity of local organisations involving volunteers and to ensure that everyone involved; the volunteers and the beneficiaries have a positive, meaningful and rewarding experience.
• Through positive volunteering experiences the community’s health, well-being and connectedness is improved.

We strive to ensure volunteering is a positive and rewarding experience for all involved and provide a link between prospective volunteers who are willing to share their skills and energy, and organisations that involve volunteers. In addition, we provide training, networking, advice, support and resources, advocacy, sector news, promotion of volunteering and celebration of volunteer roles and volunteers.

Our team are based in and support volunteering across Ōtepoti Dunedin, Waitaki and Central Lakes. We also offer remote support to Waihōpai Invercargill and, due to demand, are exploring options to extend our work across Southland.

Our background

Kaitūao o te Taitonga | Volunteer South was formerly Volunteering Otago and Volunteering Central, both of which worked under the same board of trustees and continue to do so as Volunteer South. The change to Volunteer South occured on the 22nd of June, 2020.

The Dunedin Volunteer Resource Centre started 1986 with the aim of providing a centralised volunteering support for the wider Dunedin area and was the first volunteer centre in the country. The name was changed to Volunteering Otago in 1993 after it was recognised that there was wider support needed for the whole of Otago. In 2011 Volunteering Central was established as an initiative of Central Lakes Trust focusing on Alexandra, Cromwell, Queenstown and Wānaka. In 2020 we established a hub in Waitaki and Invercargill. Our re brand in June 2020 reflected our growth and wider reach across the lower South Island.

With a strong focus on relationships, we work hard to get to know our member organisations and their needs, and network with community based organisations to ensure we are aware of the bigger picture and avoid duplication of services.

Nationally we are a member of Volunteering New Zealand and the Volunteer Centre Network Aotearoa. Like volunteering - we are stronger when working together.

Mission Statement

Kaitūao o te Taitonga | Volunteer South seeks to celebrate, support, highlight and motivate volunteering in the Southern region of Aotearoa New Zealand. We increase the capacity of community organisations that rely on tūao volunteers by connecting them with people who are willing to offer their skills and energy. We provide training, advice, advocacy, resources and recognition for individuals and volunteer involving organisations and community groups.

Our Vision

Supportive interdependent communities where volunteering is recognised and respected, is life-enhancing for the individual, and advances the common good.

Our Values

Whakamana | Empowerment
We empower people to achieve rewarding and beneficial volunteering experiences for them and the community. We empower organisations to provide rewarding and beneficial volunteering experiences for people in the community.

Whakawhāiti | Inclusion
We recognise the diversity of volunteers and volunteer involving organisations and are open to everyone.

Matatika | Ethics
We act ethically, openly and transparently in all that we do.

Common Good
We work for the common good of our community.