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Media Release For Immediate Release 4 December 2006 Celebrating a Cool Kiwi Million New Zealanders are being encouraged to celebrate volunteers as a way
of recognising the enormous contribution that they make to our local
communities. More than one million New Zealanders volunteer on a regular basis and
Tangata Whenua, community and voluntary sector organisations are calling on
all New Zealanders to celebrate their effort on International Volunteer Day,
Tuesday 5 December 2006. “Those one million New Zealanders form the backbone of many community
and voluntary sector organisations by delivering vital services across a huge
range of sectors. Every New Zealander
has in some way benefited from volunteer services, whether they or their
loved ones have used health and emergency services, Saturday morning sport,
or community education and cultural organisations,” says Robyn Scott,
Executive Director of Philanthropy New “The value and scope of volunteers often goes unrecognised and
International Volunteer Day is a great chance to take the time to show
appreciation for their contribution,” says Jo Lake, National Executive
Officer of Presbyterian Support New Zealand Inc. Without our volunteers, the country would come to a standstill. A 2004 study, conducted by the NZ Federation of Voluntary Welfare
Organisations and Pricewaterhouse Coopers showed that the community and
voluntary groups studied returned between $3 and $5 worth of services for
every $1 they received in funding. “It would be great if people took this opportunity to thank the
volunteers in their own networks, whether it is the referee at the local
Saturday rugby game or the person who coordinates the social club at
work. A volunteer is anyone who
donates their time and energy without pay,” says Tina Reid, Executive
Director of the New Zealand Federation of Voluntary Welfare Organisations. ENDS For more
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