New Zealand Volunteer Programs | Most Affordable & Trusted

I volunteered in New Zealand for two weeks through one of IVHQ's partners: Sustainable Coastlines.

I was one of 4 international volunteers, and we primarily interacted with two different staff members. All the volunteers were women. Two volunteers were from Canada, one was from the UK, and I am from the US. Two were around the same age (college), and we had one senior age and then myself in my late-20s.

Sustainable Coastlines is a New Zealand charity that brings people together to reduce plastic pollution and other litter to protect the moana we all love.

During my two-week volunteering program focused on coastal and waterway conservation, I gained experience and knowledge of conservation methods while providing important support for local initiatives that work to keep New Zealand beautiful and clean.

Responsibilities
• Participated in beach cleanups, litter audits, and tree growth maintenance
• Assisted in two corporate events for a local energy company and a global tech company
• Helped collect over 1,000 pieces of litter

Highlights
• beach cleanups
• corporate events
• staff was very friendly
• staff helped me learn a lot about Maori culture
• had a lot of time for activities after work and got to explore a lot of Auckland and Rotorua
• able to bond with another volunteer during the experience

Room for improvement
• if I had not gotten a room with another volunteer in the hostel, I think my experience would have felt more overwhelming, intimidating, and lonely
• sometimes, it felt like the activities were being planned a bit last minute
• most of the work was manual labor and not where you had to use your brain, but that was fine for me because there's not much you can really ramp up on without previous context in two weeks

I absolutely loved working with sustainable coastlines in Auckland. It was the adventure of a lifetime that left me feeling fulfilled. I grew as a person and went out of my comfort zone in the best way. It was an amazing time and I do not regret one second. 10/10 recommend. I got to experience working with children and working events that educate the youth on why sustainability is important. I think this program is a must especially for first time solo travelers. New Zealand is the place to go to meet new people and have an amazing experience.

Fantastic people who help you every step of the way. Each member truly cares about what they are doing. The project was fun, inclusive, and rewarding to see that you making an impact. I highly recommend for anyone interested in volunteering.
I chose Waterway Conservation in New Zealand, we tended plants and cleaned beaches. It was eye opening to see how people treat the environment so poorly. The fellow volunteers and staff I met along the way were delightful and I hope to volunteer again in the future.

The staff at ivhq helped me with anything i needed and responded quickly with any questions or concerns. Was a really easy process and connects you with a really cool organization in new zealand that teaches you a lot. When i was there i was learning a lot and felt that i impacted others which impacted me greatly. Always had fun events from tree plantings to beach cleanups to even more interesting people you meet. Got to meet really amazing people who care about the cause and want you to be the best you can be and just to have fun and enjoy the time there. They sometimes bring you on excursions that are equally fun and a great time so i highly recommend the program it really is impactful and super kind people always. the hostel atmosphere is also really interesting and sometimes it’s hard to get your own space but i always went on walks if i needed time alone but everyone is super friendly and wants to just talk and get to know you.

The trip was a truly unique experience . Right from arrival through to my last day the trip ran smoothly and nothing went wrong . The staff working with the charity there were so so friendly and passionate about what they wanted to achieve with us which was lovely and the hostel staff too were the most welcoming people ever ! I feel like I have grown as a person on this trip as have learnt not only how to cope living away from home in a country far away from my own but I’ve also gained valuable skills and life lessons like how to protect and look after the environment which is clearly a very important thing in modern day . Also seeing the beautiful scenery and wildlife of New Zealand was defiantly a highlight ! I didn’t want to come home!

Volunteering with IVHQ was an amazing experience. Everything from my research phase all the way to returning home after the program was made easy, safe, fun, and worth the price. Emphasis on the safety, I injured myself while in trip and the local staff was extremely helpful. Without them them the process would’ve been much more intimidating. IVHQ staff answers all questions and concerns promptly. Not only was the volunteer experience extremely rewarding but my program also included trips after volunteering that helped me see hidden gems I would’ve never known if if it wasn’t for the local staff at my placement. The quality of work I participated in truly made me feel like I made a difference, I made new friends, and overall had a great time. I would recommend IVHQ to anyone!

I recently spent two weeks in Auckland, New Zealand volunteering with sustainable coastlines through the IVHQ program. Traveling and volunteering abroad was amazing and I feel that I have gained so much from this experience. The other volunteers and I became fast friends and spent our evenings and weekend exploring New Zealand together. Some of the best places I visited include Hobbiton, Waiheke island and the Waitomo glowworm caves. The accommodations were comfortable, the meals provided to us were yummy and the work we did tending native plants on the Maori land and cleaning the beaches of New Zealand made a real positive impact. I would recommend that anyone interested in international volunteering and/or environmental volunteer work consider this program.

I have never been out of the United States prior to this trip. I knew that I was going to be on my own and wanted to give back and this was the best way I found how to make my dream a reality. Everyone has a background check, they provided lodging and picked me up from the airport. All of this made me feel comfortable, confident and less anxious.
While I didn’t get to do everything I wanted, I know I made a small impact on the world, small while meeting some wonderful people from all over the world.
What is really fun, there is so much to do in the city. I never got the chance to explore the rest of New Zealand due to time constraints, but I still got to see great views and get the adrenaline pumping.
So thankful for this experience and can not wait for my next adventure.