Volunteer

Here at EcoMatters, we’re all about bringing people together to work in and for our local environment for the good of all. This kaitiakitanga (guardianship) of the land takes many shapes and forms but all will connect you to like-minded people, get you closer to nature and teach you how to take action for a good cause. Sound like something you’d like to try? 

Could you be a volunteer? 

A good first step to understanding the many ways you can help nourish our beautiful whenua (land) is to join EcoMatters Volunteers Facebook group. You’ll get a great overview of events and projects that might interest you and see what others are saying about it. 

You can also register on our database as a volunteer, by completing the form on this page. Once registered, you’ll receive our EcoMatters newsletter, with more about upcoming volunteering opportunities. You can unsubscribe at any time.

Where we need you most

Any new volunteers joining any of our sessions are asked to show proof of full Covid-19 vaccination, either printed or digitally, to the person leading the volunteer session. Please also follow their guidance around Covid-19 protocols.

Planting and gardening

Native Plant Nursery, 1 Olympic Place, New Lynn (Currently at capacity)
Mondays and Thursdays, 10am-2pm
Confirm with Chrissy: text 0274 810 688 or email [email protected]

Get on your outdoor clothing and a pair of gloves if you have them, and join in the growing of thousands of plants for local restoration and community projects. This involves potting and caring for baby plants as well as learning about our native plants. 

Hope Garden Volunteering, 8 Riverbank Road, New Lynn (Open for new volunteers)
Confirm with Richard: richard@ecomatters.org.nz

Join us at Hope Garden where we’ll be preparing the garden beds, tending to seedlings, planting and other activities in this inspiring community space. 

Organic Gardening Sessions, 1 Olympic Place, New Lynn (Currently at capacity)
Fridays, 10am-2pm
Confirm with Meg: [email protected]

Dress for any weather, including your gardening gloves and gumboots, to get involved with myriad seasonal organic gardening activities. Bring a pair of sharp secateurs if you have them. You’ll learn about seed sowing and collection, propagation growing veggies and herbs managing a pollinator garden pruning an established food forest and building healthy soil. You can even share in the harvest. Internship enquiries also welcome.

Love Your Stream Days, multiple locations (Open for new volunteers)
Wednesdays and Thursdays, 9am-3pm
Confirm with Alanah: [email protected]

As well as learning about the environmental restoration of our native streams and monitoring of surrounding flora and fauna, you’ll be working alongside other people who care about the health of our awa (streams). This is a great way to make community connections in nature. You can come for as long as you like.

Recycling and educating

Resource Recovery and Recycling, The Depot, Unit E, 489 Rosebank Road, Avondale (Open for new volunteers)
Wednesdays and Thursdays, 10am-2pm
Confirm with Shannon: [email protected]

Sorting materials for reuse and recycling keeps waste out of landfill and plays a huge part in cleaning up the environment and tackling the climate crisis. When you join us at our depot, you’ll be mixing with our friendly zero waste team and may even become a bit of a waste guru in the process.

EcoMatters Bike Hubs (Currently at capacity)
1 Olympic Place, New Lynn: Thursday to Sunday, 10am-2pm
Maybury Reserve (off Taniwha St Glen Innes), Thursday to Sunday, 10am-2pm
The Falls carpark, 22 Alderman Drive, Henderson, Friday to Sunday 10am-4pm
Confirm with the Bikes team: [email protected]

Our Bike Hubs offer free advice for people wanting to learn more about cycling. We recondition unwanted bikes and offer them to the community at affordable prices. If you have an interest in bikes, we’re keen to meet you. 

Other valuable options

We love working with corporate groups. Email [email protected] to find out how we partner with businesses and other organisations.

We often need hands on deck to help with admin, marketing, research or events. If you’re interested in volunteering with a particular set of skills, email [email protected] so we can match you with a project.

Find out more about current job vacancies and internships here.