"I had no idea - you guys are very charitable," she said.
"I was really impressed with what some of the New Zealanders are doing. It's not just a case of raising money, these are people that are really hands on."
She said her first break on British television, hosting a sci-fi programme, came courtesy of New Zealand director Mark Staufer, while another Kiwi director, Lee Tamahori, gave her the career-defining Bond role.
Her next acting project is back with Staufer, as the lead in an e-book/movie project.
The New York-based actress loves travelling and knows much of it is possible thanks to her role in the Bond film.
"As an actress I've done many roles but obviously that's what I am most well known for," she said. "It's opened up a lot of opportunity to travel."
It also makes her a huge inspiration in the slums of the Philippines where she is looked up to as a "Hollywood star".
"I can make a huge difference because people look up to me. It's nice because I can see it gives them hope."
While here she is also writing an article for Travelife - one of Asia's leading travel magazines.
In Rotorua Grant will visit the Waiotapu Thermal Wonderland and the Orakei Korako Caves as well as Paradise Valley Springs.
But she decided to give zorbing a miss. "I would love to do that but I get motion sickness."
Although not a huge adrenalin junkie, she is open to throwing herself off a bridge in Taupo, which is her next stop.
"I've always had a dream to do a bungy jump but I always have to have a rhyme and reason to do it, so I need a reason."
The Making a Difference 2013 diary is available to buy for $24.99 from www.ystories.org.
