In New Zealand

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.  

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. 

In close-knit Katikati, our volunteers are working alongside local agencies to help people get through lockdown. 

To help Kiwis resist the urge to stick to their couch, while encouraging them to stick to their bubble, New Zealand Red Cross has launched Red Cross Virtual Tour. 

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.

Growing up with her grandparents, Donna admits she has a soft spot for the older generation. So, when the call was sent for additional support to keep our Meals on Wheels service running while Aotearoa is on Alert Level 4, she was quick to volunteer. 

Like all of us grappling with what COVID-19 means for ourselves and our loved ones, children are navigating something they have never experienced before.  Here is information that might help you and your tamariki.