John Tuki gives back to the community, volunteering with Disability Sport Auckland as a para table tennis coach and event organiser.
"It's rewarding to see people playing that thought they could never do this... it's fulfilled me so much."
Volunteers like John make community sport a reality for Auckland’s tamariki and rangatahi.
It was the desire to give something back that led to Paul putting his hand up to volunteer.
“While playing tennis is the main motivation for being part of the club, you get far more satisfaction out of being a member if you’re doing something around the place to help out.”
Thanks to the efforts of volunteers like Boston Aiturau, Kī o Rahi is increasing in popularity, and bringing people from across Auckland together to learn the game.
“Helping other people, that was a real driving factor for me to volunteer,” says Boston. “I love teaching the game, and playing the game as well."
What do you enjoy most about volunteering in sport in Auckland?
The range of opportunities, really. There's so much going on in Auckland that you can find something that fits every interest. I'm in a fortunate position where I'm not currently in paid employment, so I've really been able to ramp up the time that I can devote to volunteering. But even if you only did something once a year, there's so many things in Auckland that you can be involved in. You can keep it local; you don't have to go far to find clubs that need help.
Stephen West volunteers as the Chairman of Otahuhu United AFC – which he proudly describes as “the smallest football club in Auckland” – who can be found doing any and everything he can to get kids up and active.
Read Steven’s volunteering story
For Donna Kahaki, it’s the looks on the faces of the kids who play for Glenfield Rugby Club that make volunteering all worth it.
Since signing up as a volunteer 13 years ago after her sons joined Glenfield on Auckland’s North Shore, Donna has become an integral part of club life. And while her own kids’ time at Glenfield has finished, she’s stayed on to help a new generation of players, while wearing a number of different volunteering hats.
"I've worked at Vodafone for 24 years. They provide volunteer days which I’ve used for club events. We've got a really good culture here too. I've got all the tools I need to work remotely, so I can go into the club and work there if I've got to open up for someone to repair something. I can do what I need to do."
Read Donna's volunteering story
