On 8 November we held our 94th National Council Annual General Meeting in Wellington. National Council is our highest governing body and is responsible for electing our National President, National Board members, and National Youth Representative.

When Ingrid Viafara Liu arrived in New Zealand in 2018, she brought with her more than a suitcase. She carried years of resilience marked by hardship and a dream to build a new life filled with opportunity and peace.

She hoped to leave behind the instability and fear that had followed her across borders and years. What she did not expect was how much courage and healing she would still need to rebuild her life in Aotearoa New Zealand.

Our members, volunteers, employees, and supporters have been the heart of our mission since 1915, selflessly dedicating their time and skills to make a difference in the lives of others. An area of our work where we’ve seen this neighbourly good will has been with former refugees, where over the decades our volunteers have helped people fleeing violence and persecution to rebuild their lives in New Zealand.

On Thursday 27 November, our Wellington Service Centre at 39 Webb Street will move to Red Cross House at 69 Molesworth Street.

This week marks both the International Day of Disaster Risk Reduction and New Zealand’s national ShakeOut drill, led by the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and supported by New Zealand Red Cross.

Our Director of Domestic Operations, Jackie Bubb, reflects on why creating a culture of preparedness is key to building resilient communities in Aotearoa New Zealand.