Summary

• The first section of the report provides an overview of the volunteering landscape in New Zealand. Data presented in this section demonstrates that volunteering makes a significant contribution to the New Zealand economy, with the financial value of volunteering for organizations estimated at $4 billion per year. If the output of not-for-profits was counted towards gross domestic product, volunteers would have contributed $8.1 billion. 

• The second section discusses volunteering in relation to the Covid-19 response and presents opportunities that have emerged from the Covid-19 crisis.  

• The third section provides a stock-take of government support to volunteering, based on a DIA desk review and information supplied by 30 agencies whose work involves volunteering, across most government sectors.  

• The fourth section presents volunteering data from Ireland, the UK, Scotland (treated separately from the UK), Australia and Canada. The countries were selected as they have high volunteering rates, and New Zealand commonly compares itself to them. The section discusses the different forms of government support for volunteering in those countries. It also draws out similarities and differences in approach to New Zealand. 

• The fifth section identifies opportunities to strengthen government support to volunteering to address gaps identified in section three. It builds on lessons from international practice reviewed in section four.