We love seeing businesses live their values, and McLaren Recruitment is a great Kiwi business that keeps community and impact at the heart of everything they do. They specialise in connecting great people with impact-driven organisations and for a while now, they’ve been gifting Good Gift Cards as part of their recruitment process.
We recently caught up with directors Kirsty McLaren and Nikki Walshaw and shot some quick-fire questions their way.
Could you tell us a bit about McLaren Recruitment, and the sectors you work with to place candidates?
McLaren Recruitment is a purpose-led recruitment agency based in Wellington, working nationally across Aotearoa. We specialise in the not-for-profit, membership, charitable and values-driven sectors, and for more than 35 years we’ve helped connect great people with organisations that make a real difference.
Our work covers everything from Chief Executives and senior leaders through to specialist roles in advocacy, communications, fundraising, operations and community impact.
You’ve been giving with The Good Registry for a while now! Could you tell us how you’ve integrated Good Gift Cards into your business?
We use Good Gift Cards as part of our candidate care and recognition. Every time we make a permanent placement, we send the candidate a Good Gift Card as a congratulations and a thank you.
It’s become a natural part of our process. Instead of sending something generic, we give each candidate the choice to support a cause they genuinely care about. It’s simple, thoughtful and aligns beautifully with the kaupapa of the organisations we recruit for.
Have you received any feedback from candidates when they realise they can choose causes close to their heart?
Yes, regularly! Many candidates tell us it’s the most meaningful gift they’ve ever received from a recruiter.
People love that they get to choose something personal, whether that’s mental health, the environment, women’s wellbeing, animals or community support. It creates a small moment of joy and connection and often sparks a conversation about the causes that matter most to them.
How does partnering with The Good Registry live out McLaren’s purpose and values?
Our purpose is to support organisations that make Aotearoa stronger, kinder and more connected. Everything we do is about people, community and impact.
Partnering with The Good Registry helps us demonstrate our values in action. Instead of giving a transactional gift, we’re able to give something that reflects who we are and what we stand for. It’s a small but tangible way to contribute to the wider social good alongside the mahi of our clients.
Before giving through The Good Registry what were your biggest challenges with candidate recognition?
Even before partnering with The Good Registry, we tried to choose gifts that aligned with our values. When we gave wine, it was Borough wine, which donates 100% of its profits to the Graeme Dingle Foundation to support young people in Marlborough. It felt good to support a social enterprise, and we loved giving something that had a story and purpose behind it.
But over time we realised wine wasn’t always the right fit. Many of the organisations we work with support people experiencing addiction or mental health challenges, so gifting alcohol didn’t always feel appropriate. There were also practical challenges with sourcing it, having it on hand and making sure we could present it in person in a timely way, which wasn’t always sustainable.
We also tried book vouchers, which were more neutral, but still not necessarily meaningful for everyone.
Ultimately, we wanted something that was inclusive, values-aligned and genuinely personal. The Good Gift Cards solved that beautifully. They allow every candidate to choose a cause that matters to them, while still giving us that small, thoughtful moment of recognition that reflects who we are as a business.
Working with the non-profit, arts and government sectors, how important is it that your candidate recognition is impactful without being generic or transactional?
It’s hugely important. The people we work with choose their careers because they care about community and impact. Recognising them in a way that honours those values sets the right tone for the relationship.
Impactful doesn’t have to mean big or expensive. It has to feel intentional, thoughtful and values-led. A Good Gift Card does exactly that.
Why is recognising or rewarding candidates important to you? What feeling do you hope they’ll experience when they receive their gifts?
Recruitment is full of big moments. Changing jobs is a milestone, and we want people to feel seen and celebrated.
When someone receives their gift, we hope they feel valued, supported and excited about the next chapter in their career. And we hope they feel a sense of uplift in choosing a cause close to their heart. It turns a moment of personal achievement into something that can make a wider difference.
Could you tell us a bit about the current job market?
The market has definitely softened compared with a couple of years ago. We’re seeing more candidates actively looking, and organisations are being a little more considered with their hiring. Things are still moving, just at a steadier pace.
Next year is also an election year, which often brings a bit of uncertainty and can slow decision-making in some sectors. That said, in the purpose-led space there continues to be consistent demand for people who can support communities, build relationships and keep programmes running. It’s not a boom market, but there’s still plenty of meaningful mahi happening.
Could you tell us a bit about the candidate market in terms of what they care about and what drives them?
Flexibility is the number one driver we’re seeing. Candidates want roles that allow them to balance work with life, and they’re very clear about what they need to make that sustainable. That doesn’t mean everyone wants fully remote work – often it’s about trust, autonomy and the ability to work in a way that supports their wellbeing.
Purpose remains a strong motivator too. People want meaningful work where they feel connected to the mission and can see the impact of what they do. Candidates are also placing more importance on growth, development and psychological safety. Salary matters, of course, but in the not-for-profit and public impact sectors it’s rarely the only factor. People choose this mahi because they care, and they want to know the organisation cares about them in return.
Is there anything coming up for McLaren that you’re excited about?
Yes. We’ve recently launched our first Purpose in Action impact report, reflecting on the difference our work and our community have made over the past year. It’s something we’ll now be doing annually, as a way of holding ourselves accountable to the impact we want to make across the sector.
We’re also strengthening our partnerships across the not-for-profit and membership sectors and developing practical resources and insights to support organisations with fair, transparent and values-led hiring.
A big project we’re excited about for next year is a comprehensive not-for-profit sector salary survey. It’s something organisations ask us for regularly, and we know it will be a valuable tool for Boards, hiring managers and candidates across the sector.
And as always, we’re excited about the people. Every placement is the start of a new chapter, and being part of that journey never stops being rewarding!
Ngā mihi to Kirsty, Nikki and the team at McLaren Recruitment.
If you’d like to integrate our charity gift cards into your business’ client or staff recognition programmes, we’d love to hear from you. From welcomes, congratulations, thank yous and everything in between, Good Gift Cards are a meaningful gift in any industry. Email [email protected]
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