Good Deed and Feeds

A simple recipe for social impact

We organise to take a bus full of students to do some good work of some kind in Dunedin. After the mahi, we enjoy a shared lunch.

GDAF provides students a chance for you to dip your toes into the volunteering pool as well as painting the bigger picture around volunteering. GDAF’s are about getting the work done but also to understand and appreciate the place and the people connected to the work. It’s an excellent way to build community and grow connections. We are all about centering connection and relationships in our mahi. All of these community groups have incredible stories, your small contribution to that is epic!

We’ve loved working with groups like the Department of Conservation, Araiteuru Marae and Halo Project for past Good Deed and Feeds. Make sure you’ve joined UniCrew Volunteers and follow us on Instagram to find out when our next event is coming up!

Previous GDAFs

Want an idea of what the GDAF awesomeness looks like? Check out the amazing Ōtepoti community groups we’ve previously connected with.

Good Deed and Feed X HALO Project

On Saturday 23 March 2024 a GDAF fav, The HALO Project, hosted a bus load of students to help out at their beautiful planting site at Warauwerawera/Wharewerawera (Long Beach). 50 students did some serious stomping of the grasses and weeds growing up around the seedlings at the site, followed by the always classic sausage sizzle!

Feedback from students:

• “Today was great in both the opportunity to give back to the land and the community, and experience more of Dunedin. I got to see new beautiful sites and get more in touch with nature.“

• “It was really nice to get out of the city and do something fun in the sun, while helping out the community. I really enjoyed it, I will definitely be coming on more trips with UniCrew!“

• “It was quiet therapeutic! Made new friends! Loved being out in the sun (I am usually cooped up in my room/lectures) so it was a really nice break away from all worries and stresses :)“

Good Deed and Feed X Save The Otago Peninsula

UniCrew teamed up Save the Otago Peninsula (STOP) doing awesome work planting trees in vital areas around the peninsula to protect the environment and improve habitats of native species. It was a physical challenge, with amazing people, and some pretty scrummy falafel.

Words from STOP:

What is the story of STOP? Why was it established?

Save The Otago Peninsula was established 40 years ago to protest the possible siting of an aluminium smelter at Aramoana or as an alternative at Okia Flats (the Pyramids). Hence the acronym, S.T.O.P.  When that threat receded, STOP objected to the possibility of open cast gold mining based around Hereweka Harbour Cone.  When that was also decided at the time to not be economically viable (although it could be now) STOP members turned their attention to protecting - by fencing - and enhancing - by revegetating and removing pest plants - the small remaining remnants of native bush on the Peninsula.  Because the understorey of these was being grazed, there was no natural regeneration and eventually as the older trees died so the remaining bush would be lost.  

Why is STOP so passionate about its work?

If we don't act urgently we will lose even more of the native biodiversity and the unique wildlife it shelters - reptiles, insects, fish, penguins. Not just the bush remnants but also the freshwater catchments, the wetlands, and the dunes.  Nowadays climate change makes us also aware of how important it is to be planting trees, not just to slow erosion, reduce pollution, and provide shade but also to offset our carbon use.  It is exciting to be able to walk through forest which is now well above my head, that I helped to plant and maintain until it became independent.     

What will the small piece of mahi our students do contribute to this larger story?

Each tree they plant or release (and maintenance is just as important if we are to maximise the survival rate), as a volunteer, will help to offset their personal travel induced carbon, enhance the environment of a range of wildlife thus reducing the likelihood of extinction, as well as contributing to their personal fitness and cutting the cost of labour and allowing us to speed up the time to carry out this mahi.  

Good Deed and Feed X Quarantine Island

UniCrew teamed up with Quarantine Island/Kamau Taurua - A unique spot in the Otago Harbour whose heart beats for ecological restoration, heritage, sustainability and social justice. We channelled our student power into plant care - releasing young plants and giving invasive species the boot. Students also took the opportunity to relax and enjoy the the island, from the land and the sea. And, don't forget the kai!