Orange Sky Aotearoa

23/06/2026

Where are the orange birthday hats when you need them? It’s officially been one year since we launched our Laundry Pod at Under The Stars - Homeless in Tauranga, 'Moana', right here in Tauranga!

While clean clothes and warm showers are the practical support we provide, the real magic happens on our iconic orange chairs. It's there that our volunteers and friends connect for genuine, non-judgmental conversations, and slowly but surely, become one united, caring community.

Over the past 12 months, thanks to our incredible community, we’ve:
Been nominated for a community collaboration award with Under The Stars
Washed and dried nearly 700 hundreds of loads of laundry
Had over 800 hours of kōrero (conversation)
Fostered a safe space that breaks down social isolation

A massive thank you to our amazing tūao who show up rain or shine, our generous donors, and the Tauranga community for welcoming us with open arms.

21/06/2026

Greg and Kat might come from different paths, but every Friday night in Hamilton - they show up in the Orange Sky van, ready to share kōrero, care and connection with locals doing it tough.

They both agree that Orange Sky is more than just a service that provides laundry and showers to those in need - it's a community that brings friends together.

“When we don’t see someone here, we worry about them,” Greg says. “They’re part of the family.”

“Not just the volunteers, but friends and whānau too. They truly become people that you care about,” Kat adds.

Ngā mihi nui to all the wonderful tūao (volunteers) for their mahi tahi (teamwork) across Aotearoa 🧡 Join us and celebrate Te Wiki Tūao ā-Motu, National Volunteer Week.
https://orangesky.org.nz/volunteer

19/06/2026

PS: If you're feeling the cost of living pinch and could use a free wash or just someone to kōrero with, we're always here 🧡 Head to https://orangesky.org.nz/our-locations/ to find where we are, no need to RSVP - we'll be ready to welcome you.

16/06/2026

"We are all one."

It's Te Wiki Tūao ā-Motu, National Volunteer Week, and we're so grateful to the incredible tūao (volunteers) going above and beyond to deliver our kaupapa across the motu each week, helping friends and whānau experiencing hardship through free laundry, showers and kōrero.

Volunteering for two hours each week or fortnight brings the magic that truly makes the heartfelt difference - a familiar face, a good kōrero and creating a space where everyone feels welcome.

You can make such a difference in others' lives - and you may find you get back as much as you give 🧡 Please, register your interest to join the Orange Sky tūao team today! https://orangesky.org.nz/volunteer

11/06/2026

We’re in the news 🗞️ Ngā mihi, thank you to all the incredible tūao (volunteers) like wonderful Debbie and Jane who power our kaupapa - and help us spread the word too!

'It’s about making them feel seen,' says helper at service for people sleeping rough.

10/06/2026

Shy at first, Hugo really opens up (his doors) once you get to know him. He's just had a fresh signage wrap and is ready to hit the town. He's on the lookout for someone in Te Whanganui-a-Tara Wellington who’s keen to take the wheel, show up regularly, and help him get to and from shift. All it takes is an Aotearoa driver’s licence, a few hours a fortnight, and a willingness to be part of something that genuinely helps people doing it tough.

No experience needed. No pressure to perform. Just you, the road, and a van that makes space for clean clothes, warm kōrero, and connection.

Sound like you? Register to volunteer today, or contact us with your interest to become a van driver - you might be Hugo's perfect match 🧡

Link:
https://orangesky.org.nz/volunteer-contact-us-page/

08/06/2026

Our service may be simple, but its impact is profound.

We recently celebrated four years of service in Ōtautahi Christchurch 🎉 That's four years of supporting friends and whānau experiencing hardship and connecting communities through service and kōrero, delivering nearly 5,000 loads of washing and more than 3,200 showers altogether.

A huge thank you to all of our Ōtautahi tūao (volunteers) who show up week after week, rain, hail, or shine, to support and uplift the community.

04/06/2026

"It doesn't matter. You could be a lawyer today, and living in your car tomorrow."

Most of us move through life assuming tomorrow will look a lot like today.
But a job ending. A health scare. A relationship breaking down. A storm, a fire, a flood - for many people, it’s just one moment that shifts everything.

Homelessness can happen quietly, unexpectedly, and to anyone. That’s why Orange Sky shows up for friends and whānau with clean clothes, warm showers and genuine connection. Because when life changes fast, what people need most is to know they’re not facing it alone 🧡

03/06/2026

As the days get shorter and colder, it’s often the small things that make the most heartfelt difference - a familiar face, a good kōrero, being somewhere you feel welcome.

For friends like Murray in Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland, the arrival of the Orange Sky van is about more than just laundry; it’s about feeling like himself again. He recently shared with us:

"Winter is a challenging time, but with the service it makes it a much easier time... it has been a dream for some people to be able to shower and cleanse themselves and clean their clothes, their sleeping bags, and their blankets."

Your generous support is what keeps our vans on the road and our laundry pods and indoor laundries spinning. It’s more than just nuts and bolts; it’s ensuring all 80+ shifts across Aotearoa run smoothly, so that every friend and whānau who visits has a warm place to land.

Together, we can make sure there’s always a warm welcome on a cold day.
Please donate today.

Link here: https://give.orangesky.org.nz/winter2026

02/06/2026

Winter shows up in small ways for many of us, an extra jumper, thicker socks, staying inside a little longer. For friends doing it tough, winter can mean wet clothes that never dry, cold nights without shelter, and nowhere to warm up.

Out on shift, we see that contrast clearly. While we pull on jumpers, others arrive soaked and tired, carrying everything they own. In those moments, a hot shower, dry clothes and a place to sit become more than practical, they become essential. As the cold settles in across Aotearoa, more people are turning to Orange Sky for warmth and connection - and it’s our tūao and supporters who make that possible, week after week.