International Year of the Volunteer - NS Members Celebrated!
- Neighbourhood Support NZ
- Jun 18
- 5 min read
Updated: Jun 28
18 June 2026 – New Zealand
This year marks the International Year of the Volunteer, offering a valuable opportunity to recognise the many hidden ‘Gems’ within our Neighbourhood Support networks.
We’re referring to the quiet champions across our network who volunteer their time, energy, and care to support their communities outside Neighbourhood Support.
These contributions span a wide range of areas, from emergency response and community initiatives to sport, welfare, arts, youth, environment, advocacy and more, collectively strengthening connection, wellbeing, impact and opportunity.
We’re a humble bunch and not always comfortable with fanfare or trumpet blowing, however, whether it’s a small initiative or a larger community project, these contributions and the people behind them deserve to be recognised and celebrated. 🥳🎉
Check out our carousel slideshow on our website's homepage, showcasing just a small selection of our many members who volunteer and have a read of some of our member's volunteering stories and nominations below.
Elizabeth Mortland: Part time Coordinator for Taihape NS - Awarded a King’s Service Medal (KSM) in this year’s King’s Birthday Honours list for services to the Taihape community over the past 40 years! She has initiated more than 20 groups or services in and around Taihape, dating back to 1985. Some of the many groups she has been involved with/initiated include: Taihape Civil Defence Community Response Group*, Taihape FoodBank, Taihape Victim Support*, Rangitikei Rural Community Service*, Taihape Neighbourhood Support, Taihape St John Area Committee, National Rape Crisis & Related Groups*, Taihape Women’s Centre*, Taihape Youth Centre* and of course the New Zealand Boot-throwing Association!* 👢
(Initiator/Founding member indicated by *)
Kathy Webb: Chairwoman of NS Western Bay of Plenty - Awarded a King’s Service Medal for services to the Tauranga community! 🎉🏅 For more than 35 years, Webb has strengthened volunteer networks and connected thousands of people across the Bay of Plenty. Webb leads a network connecting around 14,500 homes across the region through Neighbourhood Support. Webb encourages others to get involved in community service, and said people often gain as much as they give.
“Oh, you always win. You always come out winning.” - Read the Bay of Plenty Times article about Kathy's win here.
Margaret Faed: Coordinator of Rodney Neighbourhood Support - At 82 years young, Margaret is an active member of her community. An exhaustive list of Margaret’s contributions to the community began with a stint as assistant Brownie leader in the early 1960s, followed by numerous leadership roles in cub scouts over three decades. She launched Snells Beach Neighbourhood Support in 2007, chaired Snells Beach Ratepayers & Residents Association from 2008-2014, and has been with Neighbourhood Support Rodney since 2014. Margaret has also been a volunteer at Springboard since 2012, the community organisation working with at-risk youth. Margaret is also on the Mahurangi East Emergency Community Network, but actively attends all Rodney district events, including Police events, who she works closely with. She also participates in all training events, as well is hands on looking after disadvantaged people.
"We would like to nominate Margaret Faed for special mention, in recognition of her long and dedicated service to the Neighbourhood Support organisation. Margaret has generously given countless hours of her own time, attending every event she possibly can." - Jeff & Gail Stratton, Rodney NS
Michael Andrews: Committee Member of Taihape NS - "Michael is a dedicated member of the Taihape community who volunteers for around 55 hours per week and is always available to provide help or support to people who need it. He is an integral part of our community and helps ensure that projects and events run smoothly. He often helps out at Taihape Area School too. He has assisted several young men into employment through the One Step Project." - Elizabeth Mortland, Taihape NS
Jenny Bartlett: Volunteer for Rodney NS - "On top of her volunteer work for Neighbourhood Support, Mahurangi East Community Emergency Network, Toy Library, Womens Centre, Scrabble Group, and a Stich & Yarn Group, Jenny also sews for Gift Bags and other similar Products for Christmas Presents. Jenny also fundraises for Shave for a Cure and Pink Ribbon, and often sits in our Cafe at our Four Square Shop and talks to many people. This is great for many of us who live on our own." - Margaret Faed, Rodney NS
Constable Bryan Ward: NSNZ Ambassador - Rangitoto College is my old high school and I have been coaching girls rugby at a number of schools since the early 2000's . I am lucky enough to have coached 2-3 black ferns and kiwi ferns (rugby league) in that coaching journey and more importantly seen many of the players go on to be some great members of the community incl roles such as nurses/police officers/uni students and mums! You can't ask for better than that. #fullcircle
Alesi Draunimasi: Waitaki / Otago NS Board Member - Supporting others is something that comes naturally to me. Outside of my work, I enjoy helping individuals and families who are new to the Waitaki community by sharing information, connecting them with services, and helping them build local connections. Having experienced the challenges of settling into a new country myself, I understand how valuable a helping hand can be. Seeing people feel welcomed, supported, and connected is what makes volunteering meaningful to me.
John Rudduck: Waitaki / Otago NS Board Member & Street Contact - John is a Neighbourhood Support Contact for an area of houses with mainly older widows. John is the on-call helper, doing things like removing rubbish, digging out trees, taking recycling away and much more. The women know that they can ask for help with any issue and John will be there. A great neighbour!
Christine Dorsey: Waitaki / Otago NS Coordinator - Lay Minister and People's warden for St Mary's Church - This involves looking after the people in the congregation and keeping everyone informed. For the Rotary Club in Oamaru, the club's main fund raiser is the Bookarama, where over $40,000 is raised each year to be returned to the Waitaki Community.
Lois Scott-Muir: Waitaki / Otago NS Board Member - I am hugely proud to serve as Trustee of Otago Neighbourhood Support - Waitaki. I have enjoyed supporting our Oamaru based Coordinator Christine Dorsey, who established our very successful Oamaru branch after the closure of the Dunedin office. Christine has provided opportunities for neighbours to connect with one another while giving them and the wider Waitaki community, relevant programmes from first aid to scam savvy sessions and social events. This exciting organisation partners with NZ Police, FENZ, Civil Defence, St John, Schools, businesses, Safer Waitaki, Multi Ethnic communities and our volunteer members. This vibrant organisation is a wonderful community asset.
Dalice Stewart: Manager of North Canterbury NS & NSNZ Board Member - My Dad got awarded the mayoral award for all his volunteering hours he's done over the last 40 years in his community, and along with going to my first NSNZ board meeting and realising that everyone on the board does a lot of volunteering I felt I wanted to do more for my community too. So I reached out and got involved and now regularly volunteer for a number of organisations - all because of those 2 events. I now feel fantastic and feel like I'm really adding value to them all!
ENDS
About Neighbourhood Support New Zealand
Neighbourhood Support is a nationwide community led movement that brings people and neighbourhoods together to create safe, resilient, and connected communities. Over 220,000 households are part of our growing network. Neighbourhood Support work alongside NZ Police and other partners to equip neighbourhoods to improve safety, be prepared for emergencies and support one another so that our communities are great places to live.
Address (appointment only)
C/O Police National Headquarters
180 Molesworth Street
Thorndon, Wellington, 6011
New Zealand
Email - info@neighbourhoodsupport.co.nz
Phone - 0800 4 NEIGHBOURS (0800 463 444)
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