Meals on Wheels
Kawe Kai ki te Kāinga
Our Meals on Wheels service helps people all around New Zealand who are living at home by providing them with a healthy meal every day. New Zealand Red Cross volunteers deliver around 620,000 hot meals a year - that's nearly 12,000 every week.
Delivering hot meals to your doorstep
Meals on Wheels is one of our longest standing and most recognised community activities – and one that is much appreciated by its recipients. More than just a carrier of hot meals, we deliver independence to many elderly and disabled people and those recovering from illness or hospital treatment.
But perhaps most importantly, the service provides much needed regular social contact for the Meals on Wheels recipients.
How it works
All District Health Boards (DHBs) in New Zealand are required to provide nutritional support to the community by making low-cost, home-delivered hot meals available to residents.
The service is primarily intended to support those who have left the hospital, but in most areas it extends to any person in the community who could benefit from receiving the service.
Our role at New Zealand Red Cross is to coordinate volunteers to deliver the meals.
Watch some of our Meals on Wheels recipients and volunteers talk about what Meals on Wheels means to them:
How to get Meals on Wheels
All referrals for this service come to us through the hospital or DHB. Please phone your GP for more information and to see if you, or the person you are enquiring on behalf of, are eligible to receive Meals on Wheels.
