New Zealand Red Cross Sign Up Information

Kia ora @,

Looking for a challenge in the New Year? Join Team Red Cross for the Wellington Dragon Boat Festival 2020 and become one of our superstar paddlers.

The event takes place on Saturday 7 March at Wellington Harbour.  You can secure your place today for just $25 when you pledge to raise $500 to support people in need.

In return you’ll receive eight weeks of free training starting mid-January, an awesome Red Cross T-shirt, fundraising advice, improved fitness and health, lots of fun and a boatload of new pals! Red Cross friends and whānau will be there on the day to cheer you on and celebrate with you at the finish line. Don’t miss out on this unique opportunity!

If you have any questions about any of our events, please contact getfundraising@redcross.org.nz.

From the team here, we would like to wish you a safe and happy holiday.

Ngā mihi,

Livvy

Livvy Ellison
Community Fundraising Coordinator
New Zealand Red Cross
Rīpeka Whero Aotearoa  

News | Summer 2019/20

New Kiwis catch the rugby bug in Canterbury

A group of eager new Kiwis in Christchurch have had a thrilling introduction to Aotearoa’s national sport, made possible by AMI Insurance and new charity Samēkaha.

On a crisp Saturday morning in October, 10 young former refugees, alongside New Zealand Red Cross staff and volunteers, headed to Orange Theory Stadium to spend the day immersed in all things rugby.

Read more about new Kiwis catching the rugby bug in Canterbury 

Sewing together a family 

Want a print copy? Visit your local Red Cross Shop or Red Cross Service Centre to pick up a copy of our magazine, RED. You can download a PDF version from our website.

Red Cross Appeal: Will you volunteer to help us prepare for disasters?

When the massive 7.8 magnitude earthquake shook Seddon, the Sweeney family home buckled and bent.

Mum, Maxine wasn’t too fazed by the earthquake. Pragmatic about the damage, she says she found it easy to bounce back, but her husband Dave and daughter Ashleigh were shaken by the experience.

“I was quite non-understanding of it actually. I just kind of said to them to toughen up. But it didn’t work so I had to change to make myself understand that they were fearful for their lives and that it was actually quite serious for them.” 

New Zealand Red Cross provided immediate response and relief to people affected by the 2016 earthquakes, and ran workshops, which the Sweeny family attended, to help support people through their recovery journey.

We need to be ready, because disasters will happen again

The first step of disaster response is to be ready and prepared. For the Sweeney family, this means a refined emergency plan - knowing exactly what they’ll do in another emergency, where they should meet, who will get in what car and how they evacuate the dog.

For Red Cross, this means holding our annual street collection, a critical way we ensure we have the resources to help those who need it most after disaster hits.   

Help New Zealand be ready for disasters, join our 2020 street appeal  

There are many ways to help – getting your family, friends and community prepared for a disaster, joining a Red Cross Disaster Welfare and Support Team or simply by helping out in our annual street collection.

Between 16 – 22 March 2020, Red Cross staff, members and volunteers will be across New Zealand collecting funds – and we need your help, even just for an hour or two during your lunch break.

Will you help us so that we can be here for New Zealand?

For more information and to sign up, visit our website. If you have any questions, get in touch Getfundraising@redcross.org.nz. 

Nga mihi nui,

The team at New Zealand Red Cross                                                                           

PS: We need all the help we can get. Get your friends, whanau and colleagues involved, too!

When a fire tore through the dry valleys of the Nelson Tasman region last year, Sarah and Rob had just minutes to evacuate their home.  

With smoke covering the valley and flames flickering on the hills behind her, Sarah packed what she thought was most important and left the rest behind.

“It was scary. Mind-numbing. I knew where Rob’s insurance papers were, and his two big photo albums that were most precious to him."

“You just move into that moment of, ‘Ok, this is the moment, I’ve just got to act’.” 

When Sarah and Rob arrived at the evacuation centre, they had no way of knowing they wouldn’t return home for another two weeks.  Red Cross volunteers registered and helped them settle in. Sarah says the volunteers could see Rob was distressed, so they stayed with him for as long as he needed.  

“A lady took me aside and she just said she was from Red Cross. She said, ‘Know this: don’t worry. Any questions, anything you need, come to us.’” 

Sign up as a street collector, it only takes minutes to help  

Disasters can hit at any time and happen quickly. Minutes can be life-changing, but recovery can take weeks, months or years.  

Minutes are all it takes to help at our annual street appeal, one of the ways we raise vital funds, so we are there to help people like Rob and Sarah.

We need your help, even for sixty minutes, at our annual street collection. Join Red Cross staff, members and volunteers across New Zealand between 16 – 22 March 2020.

For more information and to sign up, visit our website. If you have any questions, get in touch getfundraising@redcross.org.nz. 

Nga mihi nui,

The team at New Zealand Red Cross                                                                           

PS: We need all the help we can get. Get your friends, whanau and colleagues involved, too!

Kia ora koutou,

Want to really challenge yourself this winter?

Why don''t you try something fun and exciting like jumping out of a plane for New Zealand Red Cross?

Over the next few months, we are hosting tandem skydiving events across Aotearoa.

So, why not cross skydiving off your bucket list while helping your community at the same time? Join us in the sky near you:

·         Auckland (25 July)

·         Queenstown (25 July)

·         Tauranga (26 July)

·         Ashburton (tbc)

·         Abel Tasman (tbc)

Whether you''re soaring over snow-capped mountains or descending over spectacular beaches, there really is no better way to experience New Zealand other than enjoying the view up above.

Fundraise to Jump! for Red Cross. The money raised will help vulnerable people caught in a crisis, whether it be a disaster, disease or conflict, we respond to where the need is greatest, here at home and around the world. Right now, that need is the outbreak of COVID-19. A virus that has spread rapidly, impacting families, communities and people''s lives.

Mix adrenaline with the even better feeling of raising money to help people in need and sign up now!

Red Cross Virtual Tour: International Series

Our virtual tour of Lake Taupō tour was such a hit, we have launched three new international tours!

Scale from the North to the South Ridge of the Grand Canyon (365km). Trace the footsteps of Romans at Hadrian’s wall (129km). Or, team up with whānau and trek across Antarctica (1000km).

You can walk, cycle, swim and even garden your way across these iconic routes. Using the easy-to-use app, upload the kilometres travelled, or convert your favourite activities into kilometres, and follow every step you take virtually on the map.

So, whether you’re walking the dog or in downward dog, you can explore the some of the most remarkable landscapes on earth, without stepping foot outside your backyard!

Check out some of our local events happening soon!

With your help, we can make a real difference to people in their hour of need. Together, let''s make a difference. Thank you for being a supporter of New Zealand Red Cross.

Ngā mihi

Nia

Nia Oxburgh

Community Fundraising Co-ordinator

EARLY BIRD ENTRIES open for Resilience Ultra!

Kia ora Red Cross supporter,

Are you looking for a challenge and a great reason to explore our wild West Coast? Or do you know someone who is an ultra-fit runner and wants to support vulnerable people?

Look no further – runners from across New Zealand will have the opportunity to test themselves against the rugged West Coast terrain in August 2021 in New Zealand Red Cross’ first-ever Resilience Ultra.

Early bird entries are now live! Participants can choose between a 62km Ultramarathon, a 33km Painkiller mid-distance and a 10km Gold short course. Please help us spread the word and tell your friends and whānau that Resilience is an event not to be missed!

The run starts in the historic town of Reefton and will take participants on a journey into the past through old goldfields, mining tracks and the native beech forests of Victoria Forest Park. Many of the tracks have been formed by linking mining roads, tracks and tramways that are as historic as the relics found along them. Resilience is also the first event to officially take place on the recently restored Painkiller track. This iconic track was once a 6-foot-wide access road between the historic Painkiller and Inglewood mines. Those brave enough to take on this challenge will have to decide if it lives up to its name!

Do you have the mental and physical resilience to complete this gruelling run?

Proceeds from Resilience Ultra will support our work enhancing community resilience both here in New Zealand and overseas. New Zealand Red Cross teams have a long history on the West Coast and have responded to natural disasters and emergencies including the Franz Joseph floods and Pike River Mine Disaster. Holding Resilience on the West Coast not only brings athletes to a stunning new course in this region, it also supports the communities and economies in a region that is particularly vulnerable to natural disasters.

Event organisers Fusion Events, who are delivering the race on behalf of New Zealand Red Cross, would like to thank the Reefton community for their overwhelming support.

There are only 100 early bird entries available  - get yours today and read about the event here: 

Kia ora friend of Red Cross,

We are very excited to announce that our Taste of Cultures event is back! We would love you to join us this year for another exciting evening of celebrating Wellington’s wonderful mix of cultures.

When? Thursday 30 July 2020 at 6.30pm.

Where? Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa.

What? Taste of Cultures is a celebration of Wellington''s cultural diversity through food, music, dance and voices from our former refugee communities. The food provided on the evening is inspired by former refugee cooks who have collaborated with the chefs at the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa to create the menu for the evening.

We are very grateful that the team at the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa has opened up Te Marae event space for us. This year, guests will enjoy a private viewing of their exhibition ''Stories from refugees in New Zealand'' before dinner.

How? Tickets are $120 per person or $900 for a table of nine guests. You can purchase your ticket or table easily on our website.

Please get in touch if you would like to be invoiced for your table of guests. Space is limited, so please book quickly to avoid disappointment. There is an option to pay now and enter the guests'' details later. 

Not in Wellington? You can still experience a Taste of Cultures! 

Your support will help people caught in crisis, whether it be a disaster, disease or conflict, as well as vulnerable people in communities around New Zealand. We respond to where the need is greatest, here at home and around the world.

Ngā mihi, 

Rachael Holderness
Community Fundraising Manager
New Zealand Red Cross  

Kia ora @

We would like to invite you to join us for a Facebook live and cook along with Dawit, one of the contributors to our ''Taste of Cultures'' recipe book. Dawit will be talking us through his recipe for Doro Wet, a delicious dish from Ethiopia. We will release the recipe, along with information on any preparation that you can do before we start, on Monday 4 May. You will then have one week to get ready for this awesome live cook along on (Sunday 10 May) with Dawit and his family! Click ''attending'' on the Facebook event page to receive further updates.

''Taste of Cultures'' is a recipe book where you can discover delicious food and the unique stories behind each chef and their recipes. This book is much more than a cook book – it’s a journey of people and their stories. 

Former refugees now living in New Zealand have shared some of their traditional recipes that, for many, have been passed on from generation to generation. ''Taste of Cultures'' explores their traditions, culture, journey and life in their new home.

If you want to support vulnerable people and purchase a recipe book now, click the button below. We now have an online version available for just $10! 

Your support means we can continue to support our refugee-background whānau as they settle into Aotearoa.

All proceeds from this recipe book will support our essential services - Meals on Wheels and Migration Programmes – as well as our COVID-19 emergency response work alongside the Ministry of Health and local Civil Defence groups. These essential services are continuing throughout the Alert Level 4 and Level 3 restrictions, and we are ensuring that our staff and volunteers are safe and following all recommended hygiene practices to slow the spread.

 Ngā mihi, 

Racheal Holderness

New Zealand Red Cross  

News | Winter 2020

Red Cross Parcels: a symbol of hope

In June, our iconic Red Cross Parcels were gifted to vulnerable members of our community. The revival of our parcels provided Kiwis with a boost during these COVID-19 times. But the
story of the Red Cross Parcels, and the hope they bring, begins more than a century ago. Read more here.

Visitor Care Manaaki Manuhiri

How we care for visitors says a lot about New Zealanders. In difficult times, we must look after both our own and the people visiting our country. Read inspiring stories from people who have received help through Visitor Care Manaaki Manuhiri. 

New Zealand Red Cross’ communications delegate, Elodie Berthe, reflects on what the
threat of COVID-19 means for people she met in the world’s biggest camp, Cox’s Bazar in Bangladesh. Read A race against time here.

Want a print copy? Visit your local Red Cross Shop or Red Cross Service Centre to pick up a copy of our magazine, RED. You can download a PDF version from our website.

Red Cross volunteer, Lauren, remembers many shocking and indescribable moments following the Christchurch mosque attacks. She was part of a Red Cross Disaster Welfare and Support Team (DWST) providing care to victims’ families and friends immediately after the attacks.

“I helped wherever I was needed - sometimes just sitting with people in a quiet space, other times helping people navigate through the chaos to find information, and sometimes having to break terrible news to victims’ families and friends.”

She also remembers the community response: “The speed with which the community came together and support each other was also very emotional. People were flooding to the welfare centre with flowers and cards and food all weekend, we could hardly clear the tables before more things showed up.”

Nearly a year on, Kiwis have shown continued kindness and compassion for people affected by the attacks. For families and communities who are still recovering and rebuilding – the journey is long, especially to feel safe again at home.

The power of working together

We reckon it is important not to underestimate the power of people working together across their differences to confront the challenges we face together: to protect life and health, to promote dignity and to ensure respect for every human being.

We remain determined to work with others to show that we are defined by our common humanity, as well as with even more commitment to building peaceful, diverse and strong communities.

There are many ways you can help us do this - join our disaster response team, volunteer to support people arriving in Aotearoa as refugees, or simply help us for a couple of hours during our annual street collection between 16 – 22 March.

For more information and to sign up, visit our website. If you have any questions, get in touch getfundraising@redcross.org.nz. 

Nga mihi nui,

The team at New Zealand Red Cross                                                                           

PS: We need all the help we can get. Get your friends, whanau and colleagues involved, too!

Issue 14 | Summer 2020

Red Cross'' response to the Napier floods

On the night of 9 November, a huge downpour of 230 millimetres of rain hit the Hawke’s Bay region, causing severe flooding and major slips in Napier. A local state of emergency was declared the following day. New Zealand Red Cross'' disaster response volunteers were on the ground from the early hours of 10 November, transporting people to safety, providing psychological first aid to people experiencing distress, and conducting welfare checks and needs assessments. Read more about our response here.

Visitor Care Manaaki Manuhiri

Since Visitor Care Manaaki Manuhiri began in July 2020, New Zealand Red Cross has supported more than 12,000 people who have been stuck in New Zealand due to COVID-19 and are facing
financial hardship. We have distributed more than $9 million to temporary visa holders through in-kind vouchers for food, clothing and warmth, and over $7 million for accommodation and utilities. Read some inspiring stories from people who received support.

Lake Ōhau fire: A story of community preparedness

The residents of Lake Ōhau Village were woken up by the deadly threat of a large fire approaching their town on 4 October 2020. People were forced to flee their homes, some with just the clothes on their backs. New Zealand Red Cross’ disaster response volunteers provided support to the people affected by the fire, which burnt 48 houses to the ground. Read more about our response here. 

It may have taken Poe Say 25 years, but she never gave up on being reunited with her two sons. Poe’s story is one of courage, hope and determination. Read more. 

Want a print copy? Visit your local Red Cross Shop or Red Cross Service Centre to pick up a copy of our magazine, RED. You can download a PDF version from our website.

News | Autumn 2020

We’re so excited to share with you our Autumn 2020 edition of RED magazine!

Since our last edition, an incredible amount has changed. As a charity, we’ve experienced difficult circumstances and have been forced to be flexible and adapt to ensure we can continue to support people who need it most.

In challenging times, we hold closely to stories of hope. From the wonderful people we work with, to the amazing Red Cross people who are out there every day, in the community, doing good.

This edition celebrates these stories, and we hope you’ll celebrate with us. There’s a lot to be grateful for here in Aotearoa and around the world.

It’s only because of you, our supporter, member, volunteer, donor, funder or corporate partner, that we are here and ready for whatever tomorrow brings. So, thank you.

Arohanui,
New Zealand Red Cross

Weeks before New Zealand headed into lockdown, Red Cross volunteers were already supporting people impacted by COVID-19, offering comfort, care and friendly ears to Lily and 157 other evacuees from Wuhan, China. Read their story here.

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 COVID-19 lockdown, Suzanne* has found her purpose feeding hundreds of people in need in Wellington.

Our work during COVID-19

While you''re here, we wanted to let you know about the Carepoints campaign! Our friends at Air New Zealand have created the opportunity for Airpoints members to support Kiwis in need this winter. You can donate your Carepoints to New Zealand Red Cross, and help support some of the most vulnerable members of our community.

With your help, we can reach our goal! If 2,500 people donate just 20 Airpoints, we will receive $100,000. You can learn more and donate here.

Want a print copy? Visit your local Red Cross Shop or Red Cross Service Centre to pick up a copy of our magazine, RED. You can download a PDF version from our website.

We have been through tough times together in the last decade. Nine years ago, on 22 February 2011, Christchurch was rocked by a magnitude 6.3 earthquake. Lives lost, homes destroyed, and communities irrevocably shaken.

From initial emergency response to longer-term assistance, Red Cross reached one in four Cantabrians with a wide range of grants, initiatives and programmes for both the emotional and physical needs of the most affected and vulnerable people.

We had a huge responsibility of ensuring the funds raised helped those who needed it most.

 We helped people like Bec (above), whose family needed financial support to keep their lives going post-earthquake. Bec explained to us that for her and her family that the "Red Cross grant changed our lives".

We helped fix damaged homes and improve their insulation and energy efficiency to keep people warm and healthy, which you can read more about on our website.

And helped people who were part of our bereavement programme, people like Marg (below) who lost loved ones in the earthquake.

Disasters will happen again, we need your help to be ready today

Today our responsibility is to ensure we are prepared and ready to respond for future disasters – and we need your help.

Our annual street collection enables us to have the resources we need to be ready for emergencies in New Zealand and around the world.

Sign up and stand with us to collect between 16 – 22 March 2020, even just for an hour or two.

For more information and to sign up, visit our website. If you have any questions, get in touch getfundraising@redcross.org.nz. 

Nga mihi nui,

The team at New Zealand Red Cross                                                                           

PS: We need all the help we can get. Get your friends, whanau and colleagues involved, too!

News | World Refugee Day

Tomorrow, Saturday 20 June, we’re marking World Refugee Day.

We’re taking this opportunity to recognise the important contribution former refugees made as essential workers during the COVID-19 lockdown.

Essential workers risked their health to ensure the rest of the country had access to supplies, health care, news, transport and other essential services. They became the COVID-19 legends – and some of these people were from refugee backgrounds.

New Zealand Red Cross is launching a campaign called ‘Essential Kiwi Legends’, profiling different former refugees who worked through the nationwide lockdown. People like:

On World Refugee Day, we encourage you to learn about our Essential Kiwi Legends, share their stories on social media and reach out to former refugees in your area.

World Refugee Day is also a day to remember the 70.8 million forcibly displaced people worldwide, of whom half are under the age of 18. COVID-19, border closures and travel restrictions have meant that no refugees have reached New Zealand since March 2020. Today, our thoughts are with people who have lost their homes, family members and lives fleeing conflict, war or persecution in the hope of finding safety.

You can learn more about our work with refugees on our website.

Arohanui,
New Zealand Red Cross