It’s Volunteer Week, so let’s take the opportunity to celebrate the contribution of volunteers across our region.

I want to acknowledge and recognise those who share their time, their talent, and their energy because they make Southland a much better place to live.

National Volunteer Week runs from June 16-22 and is an annual celebration that honours the volunteers in New Zealand. This year’s theme is “Weaving the people together.”

I will be attending a special celebration this Saturday where I’m looking forward to acknowledging IHC volunteers, particularly the ‘friendship volunteers,’ who play a significant role in the lives of people with intellectual disabilities.

Volunteers across Southland are crucial in supporting a huge range of services, agencies and activities in our community.

Just a few examples of volunteering include Hospice Southland, St John NZ, Volunteer Firefighters, Rotary, Youthline, Foodbank, the SPCA, Women’s Refuge, the Cancer Society, Foster Care NZ, Meals on Wheels, Riding for the Disabled and Girl Guides.

Then there are the hundreds of Southlanders, who coach, manage and support sports teams and volunteer at schools, clubs and community groups around Southland.

These are good people, generous people, who take time away from their own busy lives and families, to ensure that others in our community benefit from their skills, knowledge, compassion and time.

We need the contribution of volunteers in our community.

Statistically, 58.6 percent of people in rural areas volunteer, compared to the national average of 50.7 percent, and 47.5 percent for major urban centres like Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch.

The turnover rates of volunteering are lower in the smaller towns and cities compared to the main centres. In Southland the turnover rate is just 6.2 percent, compared to 21 percent in Christchurch and 26 percent in Dunedin.

I recently met a woman in rural Southland, who turns 80 this week, who has spent the past 20 years volunteering for Victim Support. A great effort.

So, let’s celebrate the collective power of volunteering and the wonderful people who do it.

They are Southland’s unsung heroes and I want to say thank you.

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