COVID-19: We are in this together

At New Zealand Red Cross, we work hard to keep Kiwis safe. We closely monitor and evaluate the changing situation to make timely decisions about how we operate and deliver our services and programmes to vulnerable members of the community. 

We require everyone - including staff, members and volunteers - who has contact with members of the public to follow the government’s health and safety guidance as required under each setting: Red, Orange and Green.

As an organisation we ensure the use of personal protective equipment (PPE), wearing masks, physical distancing, hygiene practices and scanning in where necessary. 

A rigorous risk assessment of all our people and their roles was undertaken to ensure compliance with the Protection Framework. New Zealand Red Cross does not come under the jurisdiction of the Health Order. We are however assessing which roles (if any) require a person to be vaccinated against COVID-19.

New Zealand Red Cross is committed to delivering First Aid training in an environment that is safe for our customers and staff and are compliant with any Government COVID-19 restrictions and regulations when delivering our First Aid training.

If we are delivering First Aid training at a location that comes under the Health Order, only our fully vaccinated First Aid training instructors will deliver training in these circumstances.

If we are delivering First Aid training to an organisation, corporation or business, and under their own internal policy require visitors to be fully vaccinated, our training instructors will be fully vaccinated to be on their premises.

If an organisation, corporation or business is receiving First Aid training at a New Zealand Red Cross location, our First Aid training instructors will continue to operate with respect to Public Health guidelines, including use of PPE, hygiene, and physical distancing.

There are 54 Red Cross shops around Aotearoa New Zealand.  

All Red Cross shops are open for customers at Red, Orange and Green traffic light settings. Under the COVID-19 Protection Framework (The Traffic Lights) for Retail, customers must:  

• Wear a mask if aged 12 and over.
• Scan the NZ COVID Tracer App or sign in.
• Keep 1-metre physical distancing.
• Use hand sanitiser and wipes in store.
• Stay home if feeling unwell.

We regularly clean, provide hand sanitiser, and manage the number of customers in our stores. 

Customers are not required to show a My Vaccine Pass to enter our stores.

There are 21 Red Cross Service Centres around New Zealand.

You must scan in using the COVID-19 tracer app, wear a mask and maintain 1 metre physical distancing.

If you have lost contact with contact with family members overseas due to COVID-19, we may be able to help you to check on their health and wellbeing.  This is called our 'Restoring Family Links' service.

During a crisis, we need your support more than ever.  Here’s how you can help: 

• Donate. Support us to deliver essential services to vulnerable people during COVID-19.
• Volunteer. Help deliver our services.
• Find out more about looking after yourself and others. 
• Take an online course. Focused on dealing with stress in times of uncertainty.
• Support children and tamariki with uncertainty.

When New Zealand first went into lockdown in 2020, New Zealand Red Cross continued to provide essential services and support where it was needed most. 

Members of the New Zealand Red Cross whānau were on the ground, helping Kiwis in lots of different ways, doing things like: 

• Delivering around 11,000 meals every week through our Meals on Wheels programme. 
• Delivering medical supplies from pharmacies to vulnerable people thanks to disaster response volunteers. 
• Providing regular remote check-ins to more than 350 former refugee families across the country. 
• Translating the Ministry of Health's COVID-19 messaging into 15 different languages. 
• Helping health professionals at community-based assessment centres 
• Helping connect people internationally who have lost contact with family members due to COVID-19.
• Sharing safety messages with communities. 
• Providing resources to support emotional and social wellbeing.  
• Providing online training in Psychological First Aid.
• News story: Kiwi nurse helps fight COVID-19 in Afghanistan
  .