After nearly 60 years delivering Meals on Wheels, Elaine Utting, QSM, still isn’t ready to hang up the keys. The long-serving volunteer continues to deliver meals regularly in Auckland, driven by the same desire to help others that first inspired her to sign up in early 1967.

Most people would call it a day at 93 years old after 30 years of service. Not Neil Hume. He’s still behind the wheel in West Auckland, still turning up for people on his New Zealand Red Cross Meals on Wheels route, and still finding purpose in every meal dropped at the door.

This month marks 75 years of the New Zealand Red Cross Meals on Wheels delivery service – a milestone that celebrates generations of volunteers who have delivered not only hot meals, but care and connection to communities across the country.

When volunteer driver numbers dropped after the pandemic, New Zealand Red Cross Meals on Wheels Service Lead for the Upper South, Karen Hamilton, needed a new approach for Greymouth.

Over this past year, we’ve continued to support vulnerable people at home and overseas, while making progress to achieve our 10-year strategic plan.