VOLUNTEER WITH EWNZ
Muddy boots and horses
who are glad to see you
EWNZ is run entirely by volunteers. There are no paid staff, so every feed, every fence repair, and every horse that finds a new home happens because someone gave their time.
Most of our volunteers work hands on with the horses at our Dairy Flat and Kaukapakapa properties. There are shifts every morning and afternoon, seven days a week, and volunteers pick the ones that suit them. Others help behind the scenes with fundraising, events, design and admin.
Everyone brings something different. Some of our team grew up with horses. Others had never been near one before they joined. Some are happiest mucking out, others prefer working behind the scenes. If you've got time to give, there's a job here for you.
HELP WITH THE HORSES
Get stuck in at the yard
Our horses are currently based at two Auckland properties, in Dairy Flat and Kaukapakapa. Volunteers join regular morning and afternoon shifts, seven days a week, helping with feeding, mucking out, paddock work, horse care and plenty more. We'll show you how everything's done.
HELP BEHIND THE SCENES
Put your skills to work
Not everything happens in the paddock. We need people who can help with fundraising, events, design, writing and admin, and much of this can be done from anywhere in New Zealand. If you've got a skill we haven't mentioned, tell us. There's a good chance we can use it.
HELP WITH HORSES
Start where you're comfortable
Many of our horses arrive needing time, patience and care. Volunteers see the whole journey, from unsettled first days to the point a horse is ready for a new home. There's a job for every level of confidence, and few things beat seeing a horse you've helped look settled and content. Some of our best volunteers arrived with little or no horse experience.
IT'S NOT ALL CUDDLING HORSES
What to expect
FEEDING
Preparing feeds, hay, supplements and helping with feeding rounds.
MUCKING OUT
Cleaning stables, yards, shelters and paddocks. There will be poo. Lots of poo.
PADDOCK WORK
Cleaning troughs, checking water, moving hay and helping keep paddocks safe and tidy.
HORSE CARE
Depending on your experience, helping with grooming, rugging, handling, basic care and moving horses.
PROPERTY MAINTENANCE
Fencing, weed control, gardening, cleaning, painting, tidying, maintenance and general repairs.
SUPPLIES
Unloading deliveries, stacking hay and feed, organising equipment and keeping storage areas under control.
CLEANING & ORGANISING
Washing rugs and gear, sweeping, cleaning facilities and tackling the never-ending rescue laundry.
ANYTHING AND EVERYTHING
Whatever the day brings. Helping with events, new arrivals, transport preparation, donations, emergency jobs and the unexpected things that inevitably happen.
WHO CAN VOLUNTEER?
What we ask of you
Yard work is physical and sometimes messy. We ask that volunteers are comfortable with that, follow instructions and take safety seriously.
Our greatest need is for people who can join the regular roster. A reliable team across every shift means the horses get consistent care and no one carries the workload alone.
HELP BEHIND THE SCENES
The work you
don't see
Running a charity takes more than horse care. Someone plans the events, writes the stories, designs the posters and keeps the records straight, and at EWNZ that's all done by volunteers.
Got a skill or an idea you think could help us reach more horses and owners? Tell us. We're always open to fresh thinking.
NO MUCKING OUT REQUIRED
What we need help with
FOSTER COORDINATION
Supporting our foster carers and helping match horses with the right foster homes.
ADOPTIONS COORDINATION
Guiding adopters through the process and helping each horse find the right home.
VOLUNTEER COORDINATION
Rostering, welcoming, induction and supporting our volunteer team.
SOCIAL MEDIA CONTENT
Sharing our horses' stories and creating content across our channels.
ADMIN
Managing our horse database, responding to enquiries and keeping records up to date.
FINANCE
Reconciling payments and helping keep our accounts in order.
EDUCATION
Delivering education programmes that help owners give their horses the best care.
FUNDRAISING AND EVENTS
Planning and coordinating fundraisers, and helping run events on the day.
Have a skill we haven't listed? Tell us. Some of these roles can be done from home, others work best if you're near our Auckland bases. We'll talk it through with you.
Join the team.
Tell us a little about yourself and when you're available. We'll be in touch to talk through current opportunities and what volunteering with EWNZ could look like for you.
Submitting an expression of interest doesn't commit you to a shift or guarantee an immediate volunteer placement. We'll be in touch to discuss current needs, availability and the next steps.
COMMON QUESTIONS
Do I need horse experience?
No. Some of our volunteers grew up with horses, others had never been near one. There's a job for every level of confidence, and we'll show you how things are done.
How old do I need to be to help with the horses?
Volunteers aged 18 and over can join our shifts on their own once inducted. Under 18s are welcome, but must have a responsible adult supervising them at all times.
Can I volunteer if I don't live near Auckland?
Yes. Much of our behind the scenes work, like fundraising, design, writing and admin, can be done from anywhere in New Zealand.
CAN'T GIVE TIME?
Our volunteers give their time.
You can help cover the rest.
Because we have no paid staff, donations go towards the things volunteers can't provide,
like vet care, feed and farriers. A regular gift of $5 a week helps keep our horses cared for all year round.
Equine Welfare NZ Registered Charitable Trust Building on the work of Rodney Animal Rescue
Charity Registration CC63890