Celebrating Our Volunteers This National Volunteer Week

National Volunteer Week (14-20 June) is a time to recognise and celebrate the people who generously give their time, skills, experience, and care to support others in their communities.

At Blind Low Vision NZ, volunteers play a vital role in helping make independence, inclusion, and connection possible for people who are blind, deafblind, or have low vision. Across Aotearoa New Zealand, our volunteers contribute in many different ways. They provide practical support, share specialist skills, help build community connections, support our Guide Dog programme, and create opportunities for people to participate fully in everyday life.

From 15-19 June, we will be sharing a volunteer spotlight stories. Each story offers a glimpse into the experiences, motivations, and impact of the remarkable people who volunteer with Blind Low Vision NZ. We invite you to read their stories, learn more about the many ways volunteers contribute, and join us in thanking them for everything they do.

Read Francesca’s Story

This year’s National Volunteer Week is especially significant as it falls within the United Nations’ International Year of Volunteers for Sustainable Development (IVY 2026), a global celebration of the contribution volunteers make to stronger, more inclusive, and more resilient communities.

Ngā mihi nui to all our volunteers. Your contribution helps strengthen communities and change lives every day.