Area councils
New Zealand Red Cross area councils lead, coordinate and nurture our organisation and our humanitarian activities across areas of Aotearoa New Zealand.
To help manage our people and activities, New Zealand Red Cross has 'areas' across the country.
Each area has its own area council, which is formed by a nominations process, and if necessary, elections. In 2023 to support a reduction in the number of councils the National Board merged existing councils together.
Area councils from 1 July 2023
Area 1
Te Tai Tokerau me Tāmaki Makaurau
- Alyson Maioha
- Amanda Aye
- Celia Brandon
- Jean de Bruyne
- Ronal Reddy
- Dilukshi Thurairajah
- John McLean – Area Council Chair
- Nancy Kareroa-Yorke – Area Council Deputy Chair
- Uma Maheshwari Chinni
Area 2
Waikato me Te Moana a Toi-te-Huatahi
- Alan Paterson
- Corolyn Stephenson
- John Ware
- Linda Richards
- Brydon Sundgren
- Micah Roughton – Area Council Chair
- Nicholas Webb
- Peter Mackay
- Rosalie Davidson – Area Council Deputy Chair
- Ryan Henderson
Area 3
Taranaki, Manawatū–Whanganui, Te Matau ā Māui, Te Tairāwhiti
- Allen Little
- Anne Babbage
- Barbara Herbert
- Beverley Chisnall
- Beverley Keenan
- Bonnie Plested
- Christine Littlejohn
- Frank de Lange – Area Council Chair
- Heather Harvey
- Jennifer Beaven
- Krystal Boyes
- Sandie MacDiarmid
- Tayler Everett
Area 4
Kāpiti, Pōneke, Wairarapa
- Jake McPhee
- John Kennedy-Good
- Marty Barrett
- Pakiarani Black – Area Council Chair
- Ruth Holland
- Saba Vallipuram
- Chris Kalderimis
- Lauren McInnes
Area 5
Te Tau Ihu me Te Tai o Poutini
- Brenda Williams
- Carol Keoghan
- Dixie Lane
- Janis Lennon
- John Davies
- Katie Robinson
- Leonie Renton
- Marie Lindaya
- Martin Bolland
- Nathan Hume
- Rachel Wilson – Area Council Chair
- Raelene McMullan
Area 6
Waitaha
- Anne Ellis
- Denise Tully
- Jocelyn Jones
- Judith Skevington
- Lynette Lovett
- Malcom Walker
- Scott Fantham
- Stephen Davis – Area Council Chair
- Stephen Manson
- Warwick James Armstrong
- Casie Glover
Area 7
Ōtākou me Murihiku
- Adrienne Henderson – Area Council Co-chair
- Christabel Earl
- Daniel Wilden
- Geoffrey Tompkins
- Hannah Gentile
- Jane Wilson – Area Council Co-chair
- Janene Callander
- Lorraine Pringle
- Michael Templeton
- Rachael Strang
To contact your nearest area council email membership@redcross.org.nz and the team will put you in touch.
Area council map
Area council responsibilities
Area council members support Red Cross people in their area, helping to motivate, inspire, and empower them to carry out their humanitarian work.
Area councils have four main areas of responsibility:
- Governance and leadership – developing a membership base and supporting local Red Cross branches, groups, individual members, and staff, and the National Board.
- Communication and relationship building – sharing information and building relationships with members, staff and other organisations.
- Planning and monitoring – leading the planning and oversight of activities in their area.
- Integrity – protecting the integrity of New Zealand Red Cross by ensuring members understand our values and principles and follow the expected standards of behaviour.
All area council chairs meet as a group regularly with the National President, the Secretary General and staff to share ideas and discuss work.
Refer to section three of the Members' Handbook for detailed information about area councils and how they work.
National leadership
In addition to leading activities in their own area, each area council elects five representatives — known as delegates — to be members of the National Council, which is our highest governing body. This ensures all areas have a voice in decisions which affect all members. Each area must appoint at least one delegate who will be aged 18 to 30 in November 2023.
The National Council meets every year in the first weekend of November.