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Selwyn's community organisations continue to make a significant contribution to community wellbeing and are supported by a large network of dedicated volunteers.

These community organisations provide a wide range of services, activities and opportunities, that those in the private sector or public sectors cannot or will not provide, that help our people connect and participate in their communities.

In a new survey commissioned by Selwyn District Council on the community sector, it shows that many of these organisations are generally coping well in the face of the growth and sector reforms, but there are signs of tension.

The research shows that the pace of growth in Selwyn is creating additional demands for community organisations to continue to meet the growing communities demands.

Many groups report increasing pressure on volunteer capacity, access to funding, and the availability of suitable community facilities to keep pace with population growth and changing community needs.

“Community organisations play an important role in making Selwyn a great place to live,” says Denise Kidd, Executive Director Community Services and Facilities at Selwyn District Council.

“The survey shows the strength of Selwyn's volunteer-led community sector, while also highlighting some of the challenges organisations face around volunteer capacity, funding and access to facilities. It provides valuable insights to help community organisations, supporters, funders and Council plan for future growth and changing community needs,” says Kidd.

The survey of Selwyn’s community sector revealed a large, active and diverse array of clubs, groups and organisations across the district.

The 252 groups responding to the survey represented a range of sports, social, health and cultural sectors and include an estimated 3900 volunteers across all responding groups.

While most Selwyn community organisations remain financially resilient, around one in four report feeling financially stretched, and a small number consider themselves financially fragile.

Community organisations in Selwyn rely heavily on volunteers, with 67% operating entirely without paid staff.

Among Selwyn-based community organisations, 42% expect their space or facility needs to increase over the next three to five years, with 26% anticipating somewhat more space and 16% expecting to need significantly more.

Around half of Selwyn-based community organisations are managing demand through waitlists, capped numbers, turning people away or referring people elsewhere. The findings highlight the potential for growing demand to place further pressure on volunteer and service capacity.

Selwyn District Council Chief Executive Steve Gibling says that volunteers are the backbone of Selwyn’s community sector and the wider community, with finding and retaining volunteers identified as the most widespread challenge in the survey.

“We all know that many community organisations rely on a core group of volunteers that hold the place together, but those folks also have time pressures, other commitments or are just getting older, so there is a growing need to find replacements.”

The chief executive hopes that the growing population in Selwyn will join community groups to create new connections and support their new community.

“It can be a bit intimidating to join a new club or a group when you have just arrived in a new town, but it is also a wonderful opportunity to meet new people and build your own community,” says Gibling.

While Selwyn benefits from a strong volunteer-led community sector, many specialist services accessed by residents are delivered by community organisations based in Christchurch that employ paid staff and professional management.

As the community needs become more complex, these professionally delivered services play an increasingly important role alongside locally based volunteer organisations.

The findings highlight the importance of both a resilient volunteer sector and continued access to specialist community services to meet the needs of a growing district.

Gibling hopes that those services with paid staff and more resourcing will be working more in Selwyn and even be based in Selwyn soon.

“Selwyn has one of the biggest populations in the South Island but does not have the physical presence of specialist professional services other towns have, so we really hope more services will set up shop here to meet the growing need in our community.”

Full report here.

Last modified: 01 Oct 2026 11:18am