Stories

Shaun Greaves is the General Manager Humanitarian Development at New Zealand Red Cross and has a long history of leading amazing Kiwis who are giving their time and energy to volunteer. This National Volunteer Week, Shaun considers how volunteering has evolved and why it’s still so important. 

This National Volunteer Week, 21 to 27 June, New Zealand Red Cross recognises the immense contribution of volunteers during times of crisis like COVID-19, and every day in their communities.

While 86-year-old Ian has supported countless former refugee families over the years and has become like a grandfather to many, during the lockdown, he has received as much support as he had given.

While most Kiwis stayed at home during COVID-19 Alert Level 4, our Disaster Welfare and Support Team in Whanganui stepped out of their bubble to provide an essential service to the community. 

Weeks before New Zealand headed into lockdown, Red Cross volunteers were already supporting people impacted by COVID-19, offering comfort, care and a friendly ear to Lily and 157 other evacuees from Wuhan, China.  

As our work supporting former refugees in New Zealand has been deemed an ‘essential’ service during the COVID-19 lockdown, Red Cross staff and volunteers are ensuring refugee background communities continue to receive support. 

Even under COVID-19 Alert Level 4, our Meals on Wheels service continues to operate nationwide as the New Zealand Government has classified it as an essential service. Every day, remarkable volunteers continue to deliver healthy meals to people in their community.

This International Women’s Day, we’re joining the rest of the world in celebrating women and their achievements, particularly in the humanitarian field. Meet some of the many empowered women within the New Zealand Red Cross whānau who continually inspire us to do good in Aotearoa and abroad.

Having witnessed the power of a united community in overcoming the challenges brought about by the Canterbury earthquakes, Stuart and Tiffany Whelan continue to help champion community connectedness nine years on.

Red Cross disaster response volunteers are supporting evacuees from Wuhan, China, who are staying at Whangaparāoa base for a 14-day quarantine.

Lakshman is a refugee support volunteer who has been matched with an impressive 14 different former refugee families. Over the years, he has kept in touch with most of them and has made many new friends.

Sandra Reason is a volunteer in Whangarei’s popular Red Cross Shop, where she’s become famous locally for her colourful tote bags made from unsaleable donations to the store.