TVNZ 6 is delighted to be partnering with the TrustPower Community Awards in 2010 to bring remarkable stories of volunteers all over the country to our screens.

TVNZ 6 has started production on Volunteer Power, presented by Julia Wright and Jim Mora. The series will tell the stories of visionary and award-winning projects operating in kiwi communities for the proven benefit of kiwi communities - fuelled by the boundless energy of community volunteers.

Cameras start rolling next weekend, March 12, at the TrustPower 2009 National Community Awards, to be held in the Nelson Tasman region.

TVNZ 6 is a place for kiwi families to learn and to honour who we are as New Zealanders, to be inspired. It's a wholesome, stimulating place with a strong and youthful local flavour, providing educational and informative programming that is entertaining.

TVNZ CEO Rick Ellis is delighted by the partnership with the TrustPower Community Awards.

"The TrustPower Community Awards is about recognising the service of the thousands of New Zealanders who give freely of their time for the betterment of all of society. The National Awards are now in their tenth year and TVNZ 6, our advertising free digital channel, is immensely proud to be bringing both the Awards and the volunteers themselves to greater recognition.

"TVNZ 6 and its sister channel TVNZ 7 seek to partner with organisations with a similar interest in creating genuine value for New Zealanders - and the TrustPower Community Awards is a perfect example of this."

But viewers can expect more than profiles of local do-gooders.

"Yes, these are stories of good people doing good things," says Philippa Mossman, Commissioning and Partnerships Manager for TVNZ 6.

"But they're also entertaining stories rich with real characters and the flavour of life in places all over Aotearoa New Zealand. These are uncertain times for many but I promise you, Volunteer Power will inspire and remind us all of the prevailing good. And there'll be some good laughs as well."

TrustPower's Community Relations Manager, Graeme Purches, says he is delighted that more New Zealanders are now going to get the opportunity to see some of the great work undertaken by volunteers around New Zealand.

"I am in my 12th year of involvement with the TrustPower Community Awards. During that time I have been amazed and inspired by the volunteer groups and people I have met, and their efforts and achievements. Portraying the cream of those volunteer groups from 25 regions all around New Zealand on TVNZ 6 will, I am sure, inspire a great many Kiwis, and reinforce what a wonderful country we live, work and bring up our children in."

TVNZ 6 is available on Freeview/TiVo channel 6 and on SKY/Telstra channel 16.

Volunteer Power will launch on air in May 2010 and from then episodes will also be available for free streaming via www.tvnz.co.nz/volunteerpower. For more information on TVNZ 6 schedules visit tvnz.co.nz/tvnz6.