PremiumEditorialEditorialNZ Herald2 Sep, 2026 05:00 PM3 mins to readThe National Park Volunteer Fire Brigade after a long day helping to bring the Tongariro blaze under control. Photo / Fire and Emergency New ZealandVolunteering should never be a luxury. Yet for many Kiwis facing rising bills, fuel costs and grocery prices, helping others is becoming harder to afford.Northland organisations say they are struggling to recruit and retain volunteers, with the drop in helpers threatening the survival of many services New Zealanders need.
Editorial: The cost-of-living crisis is making volunteering harder. NZ can't afford that
OPINION: Rising living costs are making it harder for Northlanders to volunteer.
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