Other voluntary work includes unpaid work for or through any organisation, group or marae. Fifteen percent of the adult population participated in voluntary work in the four weeks preceding census night.
Other voluntary work by sex
Females were more likely than males to participate in other voluntary work, with 17 percent of females and 14 percent of males doing so in the four weeks preceding census night.
Other voluntary work by age
People in the 60–64 age group were the most likely to be involved in other voluntary work in the four weeks preceding census night. Nineteen percent of those aged 60–64 years undertook other voluntary work. Rates were also high for those aged 40– 49 years and 65 years and over, with participation rates of 18 percent for these age groups.
Less than 15 percent of those within the age groups 30–34 years of age and under did other voluntary work. Overall, therefore, rates of participation in voluntary work typically increased with age.
Other voluntary work by ethnicity
People who identified as Māori and people who identified as New Zealander were most likely to undertake other voluntary work in the four weeks preceding census night. Nineteen percent of those who identified as Māori and 20 percent of those who identified as New Zealander undertook other voluntary work. This compares with 15 percent of the total population overall.
Other voluntary work by labour force status
Labour force status also had an influence on participation in other voluntary work. People employed part time were most likely to undertake other voluntary work, at 20 percent in the four weeks preceding census night. By contrast, those employed full time were the least likely to be involved in other voluntary work, with 14 percent undertaking this form of unpaid activity.
The impact of labour force status on the likelihood of undertaking voluntary work was particularly significant for women. Twenty-one percent of women employed part time volunteered compared with 14 percent of women employed full time.
Other voluntary work by status in employment
When viewed in terms of status in employment, unpaid family workers were the most likely to engage in other voluntary work. Nineteen percent of male unpaid family workers and 27 percent of female unpaid family workers volunteered for an organisation, group or marae in the four weeks preceding census night. Paid employees were the least likely to undertake other voluntary work.
Other voluntary work by religion
Identification with a religion also had an influence upon the likelihood of people undertaking other voluntary work. Nineteen percent of those who identified themselves as Christian undertook formal voluntary work compared with 11 percent of those who identified with no religion. This compared with both 21 percent of Jewish and spiritualist/new age respondents, 12 percent of Buddhists and 9 percent of both Muslim and Hindu respondents.