How Can I Get Involved with Big Brothers Big Sisters of New Zealand?

Big Brothers Big Sisters of New Zealand (BBBSNZ) offers several ways to get involved, and the right one depends on who you are: someone wanting to mentor a young person, a parent or caregiver wanting to nominate a child, an individual wanting to donate, or a business looking to partner. The organisation's site groups these paths under clear actions — Become a Mentor, Nominate a Child, Support / Donate, Individual Support, Corporate Partnerships, and Bring Back Stubbies — and also lists regional pages so you can find the branch closest to you.

Choose your path

Become a mentor

The site's central message is that "youth mentoring works" by providing taiohi (young people) with positive role models, guidance, and friendship. If that's the role you want, the Become a Mentor entry point is the place to start. The site frames mentoring as an ongoing relationship rather than a one-off event, so expect the process to involve more than a single sign-up step.

Nominate a child

If you're thinking of a specific young person rather than volunteering yourself, use Nominate a Child. This is the route for parents, caregivers, and whānau who believe a child would benefit from a mentoring relationship. The site presents mentoring as a way to ignite youth potential, so the nomination path is aimed at connecting a child with a mentor rather than at fundraising.

Support financially or in kind

Two separate entry points exist for supporters:

• Support / Donate — the general giving route.
• Individual Support — for individuals who want to contribute to the programme.

The site's framing — "Potential is universal; opportunity is not" — positions donations as a way to widen access to mentoring. Note that the available site information does not list specific amounts, payment platforms, or whether any giving option is free; check the relevant page for current details.

Corporate partnerships

Businesses can get involved through Corporate Partnerships. This is the appropriate entry point if your organisation wants to support BBBSNZ as a company rather than as an individual donor.

Campaigns: Bring Back Stubbies

Bring Back Stubbies appears as a distinct get-involved option alongside the main paths. If you're looking for a specific campaign to join rather than ongoing mentoring or giving, this is the one named on the site.

Find your region

BBBSNZ operates across multiple regions, and the site lists them so you can locate the branch relevant to you:

• National Head Office
• Auckland
• Coromandel
• Christchurch
• Wellington
• North Canterbury
• West Coast
• Gisborne Tairawhiti
• Whakatane
• Hawke's Bay
• Manawatu
• Taranaki
• Nelson-Tasman
• Rotorua

Because mentoring is delivered locally, checking your region early helps you reach the right team before committing to a path.

What the stories suggest about impact

The site highlights alumni stories, including Stef's journey from family turmoil to nursing school, and Jacqui and Emma's story of mentorship bridging "the gap between challenge and triumph." These are presented as illustrations of what mentoring can lead to. The site explicitly invites readers to "visualise your role in their success," noting that Stef's achievements "started with the support of someone like you" — a direct nudge toward the mentor and donor paths.

A practical way to decide

1. Want to give time? Go to Become a Mentor.
2. Know a child who could benefit? Go to Nominate a Child.
3. Want to give money? Choose Support / Donate or Individual Support.
4. Representing a business? Use Corporate Partnerships.
5. Want a specific campaign? Look at Bring Back Stubbies.
6. Not sure which branch covers you? Check the Regions list first.

Each path targets a different role, so picking the one that matches your situation is the fastest way to get started.