- Since 1997, there has been little overall change in the proportion of volunteers who are active (75% in 1997, 77% in 1999 and 78% in 2001). However, there have been a number of shifts in the balance of those who are active or inactive.
- Among men there has been some shift in the proportions who are sedentary and relatively inactive – the proportion of male volunteers who are sedentary increased from 4% 1997 to 8% in 1999 and has fallen significantly again to 4% in 2001; it is matched by a corresponding drop and increase in the proportions that are relatively inactive.
- Among women, there has been a shift between relatively inactive and relatively active, with a significant drop in the former since 1997 (21%) to 16% in 2001, and a significant increase in the proportions that are relatively active from 13% to 18% over the same period.
- There has been a significant drop in the proportion of 25-34 year olds who are relatively active, from 19% in 1997 to 12% in 2001, with much of this change absorbed in the higher proportion that is highly active in 2001. Since 1999 there has been a significant decline in the proportion of 35-49 year olds that are sedentary, from 8% to 4% in 2001.
- European volunteers have also experienced a small but significant drop in the proportion that is relatively active over this period, from 19% in 1997 to 15% in 2001.
- On the other hand, Pacific people have experienced a large increase in this level of activity (relatively inactive), from 13% in 1997 to 31% in 2001; this is a combination of fewer Pacific volunteers being relatively active (19% to 10%) and fewer being highly active (64% to 55%).
Note: Trends in adults involvement in volunteer roles is provided on page 46.