It’s pretty hard to mobilise the power of humanity without human beings. That’s why every year we recognise the service of our people through national honours and awards.

Southland community has welcomed former refugees with warmth and kind hearts as they rebuild their lives in Aotearoa New Zealand. Samuel, Nelson, and Leudy are just three of the 353 former refugees who have come to Southland since New Zealand Red Cross began providing settlement services in Invercargill in 2018. They all had to leave their original homelands – countries such as Colombia, and the Democratic Republic of Congo, and they bring with them a wide range of skills and diverse cultures.

We talked with Pimia Wehi about the community-led recovery taking place in Te Karaka after Cyclone Gabrielle, the mental and emotional toll of the disaster, and her experience of taking a Psychological First Aid course with Red Cross.

This month we signed a formal agreement with the Student Volunteer Army. It sets out how we’ll work together in a crisis, provide more volunteering opportunities for students, and benefit from each others’ expertise.

Across the motu, Red Cross Shops are doing their bit with recycling and being kind to the planet. Each shop finds ways to re-use, re-purpose, and re-love what comes through our doors. We believe that every item, no matter its condition, deserves a chance for a new life rather than going to landfill.