Volunteer to find your superpower and make a difference; the bonus is you’ll feel great too!
We can help you find your perfect volunteer opportunity.
Speak up for rangatahi in Whakatū! Join the Nelson Youth Council.
Are you aged 14–19 and passionate about making Nelson a better place for young people? The Nelson Youth Council is looking for motivated rangatahi to represent youth voices in our city.
Applications for the 2026 Nelson Youth Council are now open and close 14 September 2025. We aim to have representatives from every secondary school in the region, as well as NMIT and community members.
Learn more or apply via the Nelson Youth Council page
Come to one of our volunteering drop-in sessions at the library!
Every Wednesday 10am-1pm, alternating between Stoke and Elma Turner Libraries. Check the library website for upcoming dates: What’s On – Nelson Public Libraries
Chat with our friendly coordinators, explore local volunteering opportunities, and discover the perfect match for your skills and interests.
Are you still looking for the right opportunity?
Contact us via this form or QR code, and we will be in touch!
Find new interests and connections through community groups as well as events in the
ARE YOU A STUDENT?
Why not check out the Student Volunteer Army (SVA)?
With the SVA Service Award, you can log your hours, which count towards different Award pins, and you can print out a Summary of Service to complement your CV!
Check out this short video here.
SVA also mobilise people to help out in the recovery of a crisis,
such as flooding events. You don’t need to be a volunteer to put your hand up!
GET NOTIFICATIONS OF NEW OPPORTUNITIES!
Once you leave Volunteer Nelson’s webpage through the SEEK Volunteer portal, you can save a search and receive new opportunities by email – apply the filters that suit you! (see image below)
Check out opportunities on our Facebook and Instagram for one-off and other opportunities, like events. Consider following our page!
Please contact us if you can’t find what you are looking for, or check in again soon. We are happy to help you find something that meets your needs. Phone our friendly team on 03 546 7681 or email us at
We are interested in hearing from people seeking Workplace Volunteer Day opportunities.
You can also look at environmental and conservation opportunities listed on our local council websites:
Nelson Tasman Climate Forum – volunteer
Nelson City Council Volunteers – Nelson City Council
Department of Conservation Nelson Tasman (DOC) – volunteer
Tasman District Council Volunteering | Tasman District Council
Tasman Environment Trust Volunteers
If you offer skilled pro bono services, you can register with
Help Tank (now powered by ZEIL)
If you have communications experience, you can also register with
The Community Comms Collective.
Why volunteer? There are many reasons to volunteer!
Some people volunteer for the fun of it, some for a sense of purpose and some to positively impact the community.
Here are just a few more reasons!
Meet new people, make new friends
Learn new skills
Look after your mental health
Have new experiences
Add to your CV
Have an impact on causes you care about!
Watch this short video for inspiration
Volunteering can help you with the Five Ways to Wellbeing!
Whatever your ‘why’, Volunteer Nelson is here to support your next step in finding your ‘how’ through volunteering!
Start browsing volunteering roles or join one of our programmes below.
While some opportunities are available remotely or online, most require you to be in Nelson Tasman. Organisations are generally not able to support people with visa applications.
Get connected, get active, have impact
Volunteering can be a great step on your pathway to paid employment, meeting people with a shared impact and meeting new people – why not check it out today?
Check out this short video of people talking about their volunteering.
Browse the opportunities on our online volunteer referral site – see link below!
Youth into Governance
Are you interested in learning what it takes to become a community leader? Would you like to join the governing board of a community organisation for a year to learn how everything works, how decisions are made etc? You will have an assigned mentor from the board you are a part of, you will be able to participate in board meeting and there will be four learning forums throughout the year that all participants and mentors can attend