Our members, volunteers, employees, and supporters have been the heart of our mission since 1915, selflessly dedicating their time and skills to make a difference in the lives of others. An area of our work where we’ve seen this neighbourly good will has been with former refugees, where over the decades our volunteers have helped people fleeing violence and persecution to rebuild their lives in New Zealand.

With much of Gaza’s health infrastructure destroyed, International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) sent a tented 60-bed field hospital, now expanded to 110 beds. While originally designed to run self-sufficiently for only four months, it’s been operating since May 2024.

On Thursday 27 November, our Wellington Service Centre at 39 Webb Street will move to Red Cross House at 69 Molesworth Street.

Driven by a desire to help vulnerable people, for the international Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement our Fundamental Principles are enduring values that inform everything that we do.

This week marks both the International Day of Disaster Risk Reduction and New Zealand’s national ShakeOut drill, led by the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and supported by New Zealand Red Cross.

Our Director of Domestic Operations, Jackie Bubb, reflects on why creating a culture of preparedness is key to building resilient communities in Aotearoa New Zealand.