In New Zealand

New Zealand Red Cross is reviving the Red Cross Parcel, an iconic symbol of hope, to provide Kiwis with a boost during COVID-19.

Helping refugee-background young people settle in New Zealand is a key part of our work in Aotearoa. Support from Farmers Trading Company after the attacks on 15 March meant we could provide long-term and direct support to young people. 

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.

David Pennington, a New Zealand Red Cross Disaster Welfare and Support Team member, was one of the first volunteers in Aotearoa to come face to face with the threat of COVID-19 while providing psychosocial support to people in quarantine at Whangaparāoa. He shares what he learnt about the importance of psychosocial support.   

Justine Smith has spent the past year volunteering at least one day a week to help keep the Red Cross Shop in Richmond in tip-top shape. Besides that, she also actively supports the local shop as one of its regular customers.

For Feras Abbas, a former refugee, the journey to employment in Aotearoa has been about using old skills in a new way.

Her journey to New Zealand as a refugee hasn’t been an easy one but today, as a chef for Compassion Soup Kitchen and an essential worker during the lockdown, Suzanne* has found her purpose feeding hundreds of people in need in Wellington.

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. 

While some of our volunteers are on the physical front lines, our volunteers also on the phone, looking after people who are staying at home. 

Red Cross volunteers and staff are using video calling and messaging apps to support newly arrived refugee families amid the ongoing COVID-19 response. 

Vera Farrant says it was ‘wonderful news’ to hear that our Meals on Wheels service was continuing during COVID-19 Alert Level 4.

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.