Volunteer
Mahi aroha (giving time) to help keep good food moving to people in our local communities.
Volunteers are at the heart of our work, helping us to reduce food waste and get good kai to people in our communities.
Are you interested in giving your time to help Kaibosh?
By volunteering for just a couple of hours each week, you can make a real difference in your community.
Over 300 dedicated volunteers help Kaibosh at our three sites in Te Whanganui-a-Tara (Wellington), Te Awa Kairangi (Hutt Valley), Kāpiti-Horowhenua, and within our Second Harvest programme with farms around our region. Our service couldn’t work without our volunteers, and we’re so grateful to have so many wonderful people involved.
Bring your energy and help us keep good food moving!
Volunteer vacancies
Volunteers give time at Kaibosh in many different roles, based at one of our three sites or with our Second Harvest programme.
Vacancies change regularly. See role descriptions, locations and approximate timings below.
Volunteering at Kaibosh sites is rostered once a week (or fortnight). Second Harvest volunteering is seasonal. Times and days vary depending on the role. Volunteer opportunities at Kaibosh sites are offered on weekdays between 8:30am-3pm, and on the weekend in Te Whanganui-a-Tara/Wellington. Second Harvest volunteering includes daytime and afternoon/evening activities, depending on the season.
If we don’t have a suitable vacancy, you might like to consider joining our back-up team.
All volunteering roles at Kaibosh require:
- a moderate level of fitness and lifting up to 15kg (20kg for Second Harvest)
- team collaboration and interpersonal communication
- following healthy and safety instructions
How to apply
We work with you to find a role and shift time matching your interests and availability.
If we don’t have a suitable vacancy, you might like to consider joining our backup team.
Apply via Volaby
The application process for volunteering at Kaibosh is through Volaby. There is a 2-step registration process. Once you are registered and logged in you will see current volunteer role vacancies.
Individuals
The application process for volunteering at Kaibosh is through Volaby. Volunteer applications are reviewed and responded to within 2-3 weeks.
Groups
Express your interest in group volunteering.
Please note currently these opportunities are available with our Second Harvest Programme based in the Kāpiti-Horowhenua region and Upper Hutt.
Contact our Volunteer Programme Teams:
Kaibosh Hutt Valley – Te Awa Kairangai
Kaibosh Wellington City – Te Whanganui-a-Tara
Kaibosh Kāpiti & Horowhenua
Kaibosh Second Harvest
Onboarding at Kaibosh
Following our on-boarding and health and safety induction, all volunteers are expected to be able to support our mahi unsupervised and work collaboratively with staff and volunteers in small to medium-sized teams.
Find out more about what to expect volunteering at Kaibosh in this short video.
Volunteer roles
Here are descriptions of the variety of volunteer roles. Vacancies change regularly.
All roles require a good level of base fitness as standing for several hours and lifting 15kg is often required.
Second Harvest farm-based locations
Approx. 2-4 hours, weekdays, evenings or weekends (vary depending on season and location)
Harvest locations in Kāpiti-Horowhenua region with some activities in Upper Hutt. Some shifts meet in Paraparaumu first before heading out.
Working alongside and trained by a Kaibosh staff member, you have the option to be involved in harvesting, pruning, or thinning of crops. Activities vary by season and crops available and take place on working farms and orchards.
Requirements:
- A good level of physical fitness – lifting 15-20kg and comfortable bending down regularly
- Able to follow health and safety instructions
- Work in a busy collaborative team
Due to unique hazards of the Second Harvest activities these roles don’t suit everyone. Alternative options may be possible if we can’t offer you a farm-based role.
Please note, due to harvest needs and weather changes, activities become available or are cancelled at short notice.
Food Rescue Driver Support
Approx. 3 hours, weekday mornings in Hutt Valley, Kāpiti and Wellington.
Weekend shifts available in Wellington.
Working alongside our Kaibosh driver, this is a shift for those who like to lift. Meet our Kaibosh driver at our site base, help load the van with empty crates, and be the helpful passenger traveling in our Kaibosh van to rescue food/kai from food donors around the area.
Then travel back to base to help unload the crates full of kai, ready for the food sort team.
This role requires a good level of fitness and regular lifting of boxes weighing up to 15kg.
Food Sorting
Approx. 2 hours, weekday lunchtimes/early afternoons.
Weekend shifts available in Pōneke/Wellington. Saturday 4-6pm and Sunday 4:30-6:30pm (approx.)
As part of a food sort team, you’ll help quality check our rescued kai/food sorting it into boxes for our community partners.
This is a collaborative team shift, with every volunteer’s input helping to do the mahi/work. From sorting good quality produce from mouldy and other non-edible produce (packed into boxes), to allocating and recording box weights in our computer system, to the ever-important end of shift cleaning tasks.
Everyone pitches in and the vibes, chat and laughs help the mahi/work happen.
Second Harvest Sorting - Kāpiti
Approx. 2 hours, currently Thursdays in Kāpiti.
As part of a small team of 2-3, quality check and pack produce donated from local growers and farms into boxes for distribution across our three sites.
This fresh kai is then distributed to our community partners. Produce arrives to Kāpiti site in bulk, varies by season and includes potatoes and onions.
Operation Support
Approx. 2 hours, weekday mornings.
Working alongside a Kaibosh staff member to support them with a variety of tasks onsite, including meeting and greeting our charity partners arriving to collect kai for their community, helping to load boxes of food into vehicles, cleaning the site and other ad-hoc warehouse tasks.
This role requires a good level of physical fitness and regular lifting of boxes weighing up to 15kg.
Market Rescue Support – Wellington only
Approx. 1-2 hours on weekends.
Saturday at Newtown Market; Sunday at Harbourside Market.
Working alongside our Kaibosh driver, this is a shift for those who like to lift. Meet our Kaibosh driver at our Hopper Street base or at the market location. Help to rescue food/kai from market stall holders as they finish for the day.
This is a relatively fast-paced and dynamic shift, and requires a good level of fitness and regular lifting of boxes weighting up to 15kg.
Kitchen Support
Approx. 2-3 hours, weekday mornings at Hutt and Kāpiti sites only.
Help to prep, cook and bake kai from rescued food, that is good enough to cook but may not last long in food boxes/parcels for our community partners.
Working in a team with between 2-6 people, prepping and chopping vegetables and fruit, following guidance from our team or using your own creativity and ideas.
Together, we create nourishing kai and meal bases for our community partners who are supporting individuals and whānau.
Site cleaning & upkeep
Approx. 1 hour, weekdays.
Our ‘Sparkle Squad’ volunteers join near the end of the Kaibosh Food Sorting shift as that team is finishing up, to bring an eye for detail and energy to essential cleaning and tidying jobs. This is an important role, ensuring our sites are clean, safe and ready for the next day and involves:
- Sweeping and mopping floors and behind bins
- Cleaning surfaces and sinks
- Cleaning food crates
- Other ad hoc cleaning tasks as required
From time to time, may involve some food sorting, allocating and weighing food if the regular food sorting team need extra support.
Group volunteering
We are developing this part of our volunteer programme in our region and will launch more offerings for corporates or groups later in 2026.
There are many other ways for corporates or groups to get involved supporting Kaibosh throughout the year – or you can help us to fundraise.
Volunteer stories
See our blog
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Help us achieve our vision of zero food poverty, zero food waste
Be part of a community-powered movement creating lasting change.