People from refugee backgrounds bring diversity and cultural and social richness to communities and workplaces around Aotearoa New Zealand.

People like Elie Balyamhamwabo Zagabe, who is getting used to the new food, language and culture of Aotearoa New Zealand after 12 years in a refugee camp in Malawi. Elie and his family fled violence in the Democratic Republic of Congo. With his wife, Irene, and four children, the Zagabe family is embracing life in Masterton after arriving three months ago.

After nearly 60 years delivering Meals on Wheels, Elaine Utting, QSM, still isn’t ready to hang up the keys. The long-serving volunteer continues to deliver meals regularly in Auckland, driven by the same desire to help others that first inspired her to sign up in early 1967.

With close to 50 years’ service between them, Trudy and Lindsay Taylor are unwavering pillars of New Zealand Red Cross in Whanganui.

Most people would call it a day at 93 years old after 30 years of service. Not Neil Hume. He’s still behind the wheel in West Auckland, still turning up for people on his New Zealand Red Cross Meals on Wheels route, and still finding purpose in every meal dropped at the door.

This month marks 75 years of the New Zealand Red Cross Meals on Wheels delivery service – a milestone that celebrates generations of volunteers who have delivered not only hot meals, but care and connection to communities across the country.