What is Big Brothers Big Sisters of New Zealand?

Updated

Big Brothers Big Sisters of New Zealand (bigbrothersbigsisters.org.nz) is a New Zealand youth mentoring organisation. It matches taiohi (young people) with positive role models who provide guidance and friendship, with the stated aim of "igniting youth potential." If you are a parent or caregiver considering mentoring for a child, someone interested in becoming a mentor, or a person or business looking to donate or partner, this site is the national entry point for those pathways.

What the organisation does

The core service is youth mentoring: pairing a young person with a mentor who offers consistent support, guidance, and friendship. The site frames this around a simple idea — "Potential is universal; opportunity is not" — positioning mentoring as the way that opportunity is extended to young people facing adversity.

The organisation describes itself as changing lives and "redefining futures" through mentorship, support, and resilience, and publishes success stories to illustrate outcomes. One featured story, "Rising Above," follows Stef, who navigated family turmoil and went on to nursing school while raising a family. Another, "From New Beginnings to Empowered Futures," follows Jacqui and Emma through challenges such as changing schools and into community impact. These are individual narratives rather than programme-wide statistics; the site also has an "Our Impact" section and "News and Reports" for anyone who wants broader evidence.

Ways to get involved

The homepage presents three primary calls to action, which map to three different audiences:

Action Who it's for What it leads to
Nominate a child Parents, caregivers, whānau, or others referring a young person Starting the process to have a child considered for a mentor
Mentor a child / Become a mentor Adults wanting to volunteer as a mentor The mentor application pathway
Support a child / Donate Individuals, businesses, and funders Donations, corporate partnerships, and other giving

Beyond these, the site lists "Individual Support," "Corporate Partnerships," and "Bring Back Stubbies" under Get Involved, plus an Alumni section and Success Stories for those who want to see what mentoring has looked like for past participants.

Where it operates

The organisation has a national head office and regional presence. Regions named on the site include:

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

Because coverage is regional rather than a single nationwide service point, the practical next step for anyone enquiring is to check whether their area appears in the regions list and then use the relevant local contact or the national enquiry route.

How to decide if this is the right fit

  • If you want mentoring for a young person: the "Nominate a Child" pathway is the starting point. Expect the process to involve more than a form — mentoring organisations typically assess suitability and match carefully, so treat the nomination as the beginning of a conversation, not an instant match.
  • If you want to become a mentor: use "Become a Mentor." The site does not publish detailed eligibility criteria, time commitments, or training requirements on the pages reviewed here, so confirm those with the organisation directly before committing.
  • If you want to give or partner: "Support a Child," "Donate," "Individual Support," and "Corporate Partnerships" cover the main routes. No pricing, donation amounts, or payment details are stated in the material reviewed, so check the donation pages for current options.

One thing the site does not provide in the content reviewed is a clear statement of programme cost to families, waiting times, or age ranges served. If any of those matter to your decision, ask before proceeding.