To give up one’s time to help others is an amazing thing. It demonstrates not only how passionate people are, but the importance of their mahi too.
At any one-time Presbyterian Support Northern (PSN) has dozens of volunteers and community helpers giving up their time to work for us.
This National Volunteer Week (June 14 – 20) PSN recognises and expresses our gratitude to those that help us.
The theme for this year’s National Volunteer Week is Your Year to Volunteer – Tōu tau ki te tūao, which has been chosen to mark the International Year of the Volunteer 2026.
It both recognises those who are volunteering, and prompts others to start. Volunteering strengthens the fabric of our communities, connecting individuals, whānau, and organisations across Aotearoa New Zealand.
Volunteers are certainly essential to the fabric of PSN.
We have volunteers helping on a regular basis across Enliven Day Services, Lifeline and Community Feeding Communities (CFC).
They enhance the quality of the services we provide to clients and their families – they are our gold, our treasure.
One such long-term volunteer is Olivia (Liv) Roberts who helps at PSN’s CFC site in Mt Roskill. In her own words, she describes her passion and the joy she receives from helping others.
I have been volunteering at Communities Feeding Communities for three-and-a-half years.
My tasks are greeting people, giving them their food parcels, helping with the vegetables and general duties.
My favourite thing about Communities Feeding Communities is the people. I love helping people. I get a good feeling helping people that can't afford to go to the supermarket. Without us they might go hungry. They often have children and if it's the school holidays the food support is more important.
The social workers who come in always let us know how much our work is appreciated. That feels good!
I'm happy on Tuesdays when I know I'm coming into CFC to help people.
I take two buses to get there. I don’t like to be rushed in the morning. The staff are great at CFC; we always have a laugh together.
To Liv and every volunteer and community helper, we say whakawhetai ki a koe mo to awhina, thank you so very much for your help.
For more on National Volunteer Week, visit National Volunteer Week | Tūao Aotearoa Volunteering New Zealand