Stories

Chetan Arekar’s journey to New Zealand was only meant to last three months. However, due to COVID-19, he found himself stuck here longer than excepted - seven months to be exact, without work and with no way of getting home. He was relieved to find out about the support available through Visitor Care Manaaki Manuhiri. 

For Fenika and other Regional Seasonal Employer (RSE) workers in Te Puke, the wet weather and COVID-19 have had a major impact on their ability to work, so the support provided by New Zealand Red Cross has been warmly welcome. 

On a hot sunny Blenheim afternoon, Jean Yonah, a Recognised Seasonal Employer (RSE) worker is reminded of home in Vanuatu — a place he finally gets to go back to soon after being stuck in New Zealand due to COVID-19. Jean and other RSE workers were relieved to receive support through Visitor Care Manaaki Manuhiri. 

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.