South Pacific Animal Welfare

13/04/2026

Dr Geoff Neal - volunteer extraordinaire - 13 years, 25 trips and 4 planned for 2026.

In May, Geoff will participate on his 26th SPAW field clinic and today we had to do a special shoutout to the legend himself.

Geoff has been part of SPAW since it’s early days and last year he celebrated 25 clinics to the islands. This year he’ll be part of a further four – he’ll be in Tongatapu in May, October and December and also in Vava’u in October.

SPAW Founder Karen Schade says: “It would be hard to find someone as dedicated as Geoff. By the end of this year, he will have tallied up 29 clinics, which is remarkable. Even when he’s not on island, Geoff is consulting with telemedicine cases, rounding up donations and sending supplies off to the islands.

“Geoff is extremely committed and gives his time so generously. He is also a relentless optimist! We are very privileged to have him as part of our team.”

Geoff says a lot has changed during his time with SPAW and over the last 13 years, he’s seen first-hand the incredible impact SPAW and local organisations are having.

“Over the years as word has spread, more and more people have been wanting to come to the clinics. So much so, that these days it’s not uncommon for demand to exceed what we can deliver,” Geoff says.

“The local community are seeing and understanding the value and importance of what SPAW provides them and their animals. That speaks volumes and we are proud to be able to make a difference.”

Geoff is one of many SPAW “frequent flyers”, the amazing volunteers who return year after year to provide their skills and expertise for free where it is needed most.

Our database includes more than 45 repeat volunteers who we rely on and who we are hugely grateful for.

12/04/2026

Thank you Nick for sharing insights into your volunteer experience with us and our supporters.

"My first volunteer trip was to Tonga in 2025 and it was a truly memorable experience. The team was exceptional — supportive, hardworking, and a pleasure to spend time with.

Geoff’s leadership set the tone for a smooth, well organised clinic, and the small moments, like returning pets to grateful owners, were real highlights. The days were hot and busy, as expected, but preparation made all the difference.

Next time, I’d love to coordinate travel with the group so I can see a bit more of Tonga. The clinic facility exceeded expectations (the air con was a gift!), and the whole experience reminded me why this work matters".

Nick Palin, NZ

22/03/2026

Community Events Lead (Third Party Fundraising)

We’re looking for a motivated volunteer to join us as our Community Events Lead, with a focus on third party fundraising events. Our goal is to generate $10-$20,000 a year through community led activities — events hosted by individuals, businesses, and groups who choose to support our work.

As a small, resource stretched organisation, third party events are one of the most effective and sustainable ways we can raise funds. They allow supporters to take the lead, while we provide guidance, encouragement, and the tools they need to run a successful event.
This volunteer role will work closely with the SPAW board to:

• Build relationships with community members and groups interested in hosting events
• Provide support, resources, and clear guidelines to ensure events are safe and aligned with our values
• Help us grow a pipeline of supporters who want to make a difference
• Track outcomes and celebrate the impact of every event

If you’re organised, people focused, and excited by the idea of helping others raise money for a cause that matters, we’d love to hear from you. We anticipate 5 hours a week. You need to be able to work efficiently in your own capacity in this important volunteer position. Email [email protected], or call Karen o 027 527 3642.

19/03/2026

Hello to all of our amazing supporters. I write to you today, with a genuine need. We need your help.

This year, being our 16th year of activity, our organisation has set one of its most ambitious goals yet: delivering seven field clinics across Tongatapu, Vava’u, Upolu and Savai’i. These clinics will bring essential veterinary care to thousands of animals who would otherwise go without. Our volunteers give freely their time, their skills and their energy so we can continue our important missions, but the costs to deliver our programme means that we are in a constant state of financial need. Sadly, there is no magical money tree and we humbly ask for your support.

We receive no government funding, and the rising costs of freight, supplies and logistics over the past two years have placed real pressure on our ability to deliver this vital work. We rely entirely on the generosity of people who believe in what we do.

Many individuals and businesses already support us, and we are deeply grateful. But the reality is that it’s not enough to meet the scale of need ahead of us. If you are in a position to help, we are asking you to please consider making a donation. Any amount helps.

Your gift does not pay salaries. Instead, every dollar goes directly toward running our field clinics - supporting our teams on the ground, providing medical supplies and equipment, parasite care, and ensuring animals who visit our field clinics receive the care they deserve.

You can donate online or directly into our bank account - South Pacific Animal Welfare - 03-0195-0679497-00.

https://givealittle.co.nz/donate/org/spawnz

Thank you for all that you do to help us continue our important work.

Karen & the SPAW Board

11/03/2026

WE NEED YOU!

We have the following spaces to fill on our 2026 SPAW teams:

16-23 May Tongatapu - 1 vet nurse
15-22 Aug Tongatapu - 2 vets

We are so grateful for the influx of volunteer applications this year and look forward to filling these last available positions asap.

Please click/copy the link below for more information and to submit your application:

https://spaw.org.nz/volunteer-application-form/

Volunteering changes lives - yours and theirs!

Together we can make a a difference in the lives of the animals of the South Pacific islands ❤️

09/02/2026

We're looking forward to another great year with seven clinics in The Kingdom of Tonga and Samoa. Hear from our Founder Karen Schade about the year in store.

With seven clinics confirmed for 2026, South Pacific Animal Welfare (SPAW) is gearing up for another busy year. Founder Karen Schade says the SPAW team are well underway with planning for the clinics, which are spread throughout the year in Samoa and The Kingdom of Tonga. “This will be our 16th y...

02/02/2026

Huge gratitude for Provet New Zealand for the donation of headlights like this one here, ahead of our 2026 clinics. We are lucky to have such a generous network of supporters, partners and donors. 😍

18/01/2026

Getting ready for 2026! Ahead of this year's clinics, Lead Vet Geoff Neal has been getting the scrubs ready, servicing and updating instruments, autoclaving, preparing surgical drapes and collecting donations. Looking forward to another great year 🐾🐾🐾

07/01/2026

Happy New Year everyone. We are pleased to have finalised the 2025 Vava'u Clinic Impact Report.

Thanks to Host a Vet Vava'u, our amazing clinical volunteer team - Geoff, Bubbles, Olivia, Sarah and Wendy, our volunteer admin team in NZ, the local MAFF team and everyone who helped make this clinic a huge success. Thank you to Zoetis, we distributed over 800 parasite treatments and 190 parvovirus vaccines. A total of 289 animals received free veterinary care across 48 hours of clinic.

Host a Vet- Vava'u, Tonga

https://spaw.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/SPAW-Vavau-Impact-Report-2025.pdf

29/12/2025

Awesome to see the great mahi of our legendary volunteers in the nzherald.co.nz. Thank you Mariska!!! 👏👏👏👏

Tauranga vet Mariska Chalmers led a team of eight Kiwi volunteers running a free clinic.

22/12/2025

Season’s Greetings - from everyone at SPAW, to all our supporters around the world!

Please note our Our SPAW board and admin volunteers will be taking a well- deserved break from 23 Dec to 12 Jan.

If you would like to volunteer please see our volunteer information and complete the online application form on our website at
https://spaw.org.nz/volunteer-application-form/

Teams are filling up quickly so we recommend applying over the festive season to ensure your application is first in line when we open in Jan.

Ministry of Agriculture Food and Forest- Tonga
Tonga Animal Welfare Society
Host a Vet- Vava'u, Tonga
Kingdom Travel Centre - Tonga
Happy Sailor Tattoo Tonga
APS Samoa