EMPLOYEE VOLUNTEERING - VOLUNTEER WELLINGTON n TE PUNA TAUTOKO n YOUR COMMUNITY CONNECTOR
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EMPLOYEE VOLUNTEERING
VOLUNTEER WELLINGTON n TE PUNA TAUTOKO n YOUR COMMUNITY CONNECTOR
ISSUE 38 n DECEMBER 2019
Wellington Electricity joins up Wishing you all a happy and
restful festive season. I am looking
Why did you join the EV people to talk to each other about it
forward to another productive
programme? and hype it up.
year in 2020, as we build on our
For a large part of this year, our com How did you get the information marvelous partnership with Victoria
pany took part in a health and out to people and how did you University of Wellington who have
wellbeing program, getting people to turn enthusiasm into actual implemented an EV programme.
engage with each other and our com It has been a great pleasure to
teams taking action with
munities in different ways. Part of the welcome many new Employee
volunteering?
program was about the act of giving Volunteering Partners into the
Word of mouth plus our internal comms stable this year and to see the
(time, money etc.) and when we looked
system, as well as emails and our great benefits your volunteering
around for opportunities to do some
monthly company catch-up meetings. brings to our Community Member
shared voluntary work as a company, Organisations. Lyne Pringle
Before we decided on what activities
Volunteer Wellington was one of the
to do, we asked for people to indicate
first organisations that came up!
if they were interested in taking part.
last few months. Many people found
How did you go about Once we had decided on the particular
the activities very enjoyable, both in
generating enthusiasm for activities, it was just a matter of
terms of it being a social occasion with
team volunteering? allocating people into different groups.
In the end, we had more volunteers workmates and in learning about the
To be honest, we haven’t had to try
than we originally thought, which was organisations we were helping.
very hard! Many people in the company
are very keen to take part in the great! How do you think it impacts on
volunteering, especially if it’s doing How did you make decisions your workplace?
something very different from our about the kinds of projects to We think it has a number of positive
normal day jobs. take on? impacts on our workplace:
We are a small company in terms of n people interact with each other in
n finding the gaps in calendars
people numbers, with everyone in the a non-work environment, which
n different abilities and preferences of
same open plan office. This makes it benefits their working relationships
the volunteers (i.e. provide an option
relatively easy to keep people informed n it helps add to a more upbeat social
of a physical activity like planting and
about volunteering activities, and for environment in the office
a less physical one like sorting items
in a warehouse) n employees have an increased
n making sure the location of the investment in the company, in the
activity wasn’t too far from our office, knowledge that it wants to engage
so it was easy to get to and back from with the community in meaningful
n picking activities that piqued the ways
interest of volunteers n it opens people’s eyes to identifying
other opportunities to volunteer in
What feedback have you had the future
from you colleagues about the n it can change our perspective on
experience? our own work, or spark different
We have had some great feedback, approaches to dealing with problems
with a few different stories and photos that we might not have thought of
RECYCLING MAGIC IN WINGATE published in our internal comms in the before
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Employee Volunteering Programme 2019 – A BUMPER YEAR!
As the year draws to a close we are celebrating! By the time we break for
Xmas we will have brokered 117 projects involving 1107 corporate and
public servant volunteers. The Victoria University Corporate Challenge
for 2020 is well under way. The awards during National Volunteer week
in June next year will celebrate projects that have contributed to two
UN Sustainable Development Goals: Reduced Inequalities and Life on
Land.
Bringing the paint
Pynenberg and Collins Architects
not only volunteered a working day
to paint the external fence of the Te
Omanga Hospice they also organized
sponsorship for the paint from Resene.
The joy of planting World Poverty Day
AJ Park and ANZ were introduced to Big ups to this team from Mercer who
restoration efforts at the Bring Back returned again this year to help set up
the Natives site. for the World Poverty Day initiative led
by St Vincent de Paul.
Marvellous Makara
Inner City Haven
Friends of Makara Peak – a wonderful
A team from Vinlink came from
community project. For every metre of
Marlborough and spent part of their
track a native is planted. The porokapa
day volunteering at Upstream/Central
project takes off in 2020 to restore
Park. Time was spent preparing the
the podocarp canopy. ANZ recently
park for summer conditions.
contributed.
Recycle Recycle Recycle
Kiwi Community Assistance in
Grenada hosted a team from AJ Park.
They helped to bring order to their
phenomenal warehouse where goods Employee Volunteering Partners:
are disseminated. CC; AJ Park Ltd; ANZ National Bank;
Going Bush AsureQuality; IAG New Zealand; IBM
ACC and Wellington Electricity New Zealand; KPMG; Massey University
relished the opportunity to work hard College of Creative Arts; Mercer
in the beautiful Remutaka Forest Ltd; Ministry of Business Innovation
Park which is full of native birds and and Employment -Legal; Ministry of
Business Innovation and Employment
regenerating forest.
– Capability Services; Ministry of
Foreign Affairs and Trade; Ministry
of Justice; Parliamentary Counsel
Office; Parliamentary Services; NZ Post
Group; Pynenberg & Collins Architects;
The Treasury, Victoria University of
Wellington; Vocus Group; Wellington
Electricity Corporation; Z Energy.
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❝ Thanks to you and your team for your GREAT effort today at KCA!
I can’t wait to see the Thursday warehouse team’s face tomorrow when they
arrive to see that the bins are 95% empty in the Incoming Bay.
❞
TRACY WELLINGTON KIWI COMMUNITY ASSISTANCE TO AJ PARK VOLUNTEERS
2020 Victoria University
Corporate Challenge!
Join up!
Become volunteering heroes.
For more info email
ev@volunteerwellington.nz
5 MINS WITH
Protecting the Stream PIP LEECH
Wellington Electricity volunteered for
Team Coordinator
the Friends of Waiwhetu Stream. AJ Park Ltd
They did some valuable tending to the How long have you been in your
meandering stream banks. current role?
I have been involved with the
Wellington Office Community Volunteer
To the Island
Team since we began a work volunteer
The rangers on Matiu/Somes Island programme in 2018.
are passionate about their conservation
Tell us a fun fact about yourself?
work and they are excellent hosts
I enjoy endurance sport and have
passing on their knowledge to
completed the Taupo Ironman, a
volunteers. Recently Vocus Group
In the Gorge number of cycling events and a number
spent a worthwhile day helping out on
of open water swim events.
Trelissick Park in the Ngaio Gorge is the island.
another of Wellington’s lovely streams What is your background?
looked after by a dedicated bunch I have been a PA at AJ Park for very long
of community members headed by time!
Peter Reiman. MBIE-Legal spent What is your take on the interface
an enthusiastic and energetic day between businesses and the
community?
volunteering.
Businesses are increasingly aware of
the communities in which they operate
Fabulous Zealandia and are taking part in broader-based
This is another extremely popular community activities.
option for teams. Vocus Group recently Why do you think volunteering is
spent an energetic day in the field important?
Baking Treats A lot of community projects would not
doing valuable maintenance work. They
were on the look-out for the recently Vocus Group spent their volunteer day be possible without volunteers.
introduced rifleman/titipounamu. cooking and baking for families who What other volunteering do you do?
stay at Ronald McDonald House whilst (if applicable)
supporting their sick children. I am a swim coach for Special Olympics
Wellington.
❝ The best team building activity
I have ever done!
❞
MEMBER OF MBIE-LEGAL TEAM ON
THEIR VOLUNTEER DAY ON MATIU
SOMES ISLAND
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Kaitiakitanga – taking care of people and the land
TAPU TE RANGA MARAE FIRE MBIE-LEGAL AT MANAWA KARIOI
Manawa Karioi is a community driven, manage the project. grazed land to today’s flourishing
ecological restoration and community According to Manawa canopy of pioneer species such
recreation project in Island Bay. This Karioi, “this restoration as flax, ngaio, mahoe, taupata
green jewel is part of the Tapu Te Ranga project is one of the and pittosporums. They provide
Marae where fire recently destroyed oldest such projects in shelter to the next phase which
Pare Waaka, the iconic main whare. It Wellington and many will see the climax species such
was a tragic loss for the community. hands have planted as podocarps emerging in the
Founder Bruce Stewart, acquired the the trees, weeded the coming decades. The kaupapa of
land from the Home of Compassion to gorse, cut the scrub, the valley includes a commitment
fulfill his vision for an urban Marae. He cleared the tracks, to providing a place where
welcomed everyone and anyone that nurtured the seedlings people, and especially children,
needed a place to belong. Kaitiakitanga and most importantly can develop their relationship
or stewardship over the taiao enjoyed seeing the with nature.
(environment) is part of the Marae’s forest and birds return Volunteers play a crucial role
ethos. In 1987 the Sisters of the Home over these years.” in the project. The Tapu Te Ranga
of Compassion asked Bruce if he would Over 100,000 native CHRIS LIVESEY Trust is keen for Manawa Karioi to
like to add the hillside and surrounding trees have been be used by the community and
land to the Marae: Bruce saw this as an planted across the hilly landscape today the MBIE volunteers are putting
opportunity to create a “bush and bird On the day that I visit a PD group are in posts for track signage.
reserve”. working on the grounds of the marae. The vision is alive and well at Manawa
In 1990 a public meeting was held The sounds of finches and weed-eaters Karioi which is part of a chain of
to generate community support for reverberate around the valley. Two inspirational community led ecological
the “bush and bird reserve” and the Ministers of the Crown are discussing restoration projects across the city.
Manawa Karioi Society was formed to the future of the marae with Bruce To donate visit:
Stewart’s son James Stewart. They https://givealittle.co.nz/cause/rebuild-
express a commitment to keep the tapu-te-ranga-marae
Ko Tawatawa te Maunga
kaupapa alive. https://givealittle.co.nz/org/
Ko ngā waka o ngā hau e whā Ngā
Waka I catch up with Chris Livesey who manawakarioiproject
Ko te Manawa Karioi te Puna is one of the kaiwhakahaere of the
Ko Ūkaipo nō Mahinārangi me Pare restoration group and today is hosting
Waaka ngā Whare Tīpuna a group of lawyers volunteering from
Ko Hirini te Tangata MBIE.
Ko Tapu Te Ranga te Marae Chris in a former life was an
Tawatawa is the mountain ecological economist. A passionate
The people of the four winds are the climber and tramper he holds a great
waka love of the natural world. Since 1991 he
Manawa Karioi is the spring has been involved in Manawa Karioi, as Volunteer Wellington
Ūkaipo of Mahinārangi and Pare part of the original crew. Level 7, 186 Willis Street, Wellington
Waaka are the ancestoral houses Over the years there have been many
Hirini is the Rangatira
Tel 499 4572
changes to the ecosystem: from gorse, Email ev@volunteerwellington.nz
Tapu Te Ranga is the Marae
broom and blackberry on the formerly
Website www.volunteerwellington.nz
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