Stories

Monika Bohdzia, originally from Poland, has lived in Queenstown on and off for the past decade. She is grateful for the food vouchers she received via Visitor Care Manaaki Manuhiri, which helped tide her over until she could work again. 

Sarah and her husband Joe*, originally from Nepal, have been supporting their family of six on one income since COVID-19 struck. They say the support provided to them via Visitor Care Manaaki Manuhiri has made a world of difference. 

Thousands of dedicated Kiwis make up our New Zealand Red Cross whānau. Dunedin Disaster Welfare and Support Team (DWST) member, Glyn Saunders, is one of them. He talks about his work with Red Cross.

Sofia Cecchini and her partner Felipe Di Giacinti are travellers from Argentina who are living in Queenstown. As they sit in the lounge room of their new flat sipping mate and talking about life in New Zealand, they are still in awe that things have worked out for them. 

New Zealand Red Cross whānau is composed of thousands of Kiwis dedicated to help people in need in the community. One of them is Tauranga Disaster Welfare and Support Team (DWST) member Nick Webb who is currently supporting the Visitor Care Manaaki Manuhiri project.

Noah Pullman, from England, is just one of the thousands of travellers who have had plans put on hold because of COVID-19. Through Visitor Care Manaaki Manuhiri, he’s received support to help him get through what has been an uncertain time. 

Constanza Capurso, Wladimir Muñoz, and Franco Busillos Rojas are Chileans, flatmates, friends and now family. Read their story of support through Visitor Care Manaaki Manuhiri, which they hope will encourage others in similar situations to reach out for help. 

Gonzálo Javier Hernández was supposed to return home in May. But that flight, and every other since, has been cancelled. Support received through Visitor Care Manaaki Manuhiri has helped him get through this difficult time. 

When Latu Cecilia Tausinga arrived at Red Cross in Manakau, Auckland, she had exhausted all other options for support after being stranded in New Zealand for more than five months, with no way home to Tonga. 

Simon Carrasset and Evelyng Morales, visiting Aotearoa from Chile, have been living in a car with no money and no way home. They say the support they received through Red Cross’ Visitor Care Manaaki Manuhiri has been a blessing. 

Help is available through Visitor Care Manaaki Manuhiri for people on temporary visas who are in New Zealand and experiencing serious hardship due to COVID-19.