Issue 8 - Summer 2019 - NZ Red Cross
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Issue 8 – Summer 2019
Growing
Communities
A small idea has created a whole new sense of
community in a rural New Zealand town.
The sun is shining and the air is sense of community that grew Today the children have
filled with children’s laughter. following the disaster. dragged their parents along to
It’s coming from Waiau’s the working bee where, as well
Fast forward almost two
newest hub, the community as the weeding, participants
years and the garden is
garden. Set up after the are building a library for the
overflowing with flowering
November 2016 earthquakes to children to spend time in and a
beans, strawberries,
help people in the small north garden shed for the tools. Red
and healthy amounts of
Canterbury town connect with Cross is also present, providing
silverbeet and spinach.
each other, today a group of a BBQ lunch and espresso
busy bees are pitching in to “The garden has had a really coffee for the hardworking
prepare for spring planting. positive effect, I’m seeing residents and handing out
people down here that you torch radios as an addition to
“Over winter everything has
wouldn’t usually see around people’s emergency kits.
started growing weeds,”
the community and the
says Jenny Holt, the driving As well as having household
produce is getting used,” she
force behind the community emergency plans, residents
says. “It’s good to see that
garden. “But also it’s been of Waiau are now safe in the
people know where to come if
such a long time since we’ve knowledge that they have a
they need something. It’s just
had a community working bee connected community that can
a positive thing and looks nice
and I thought this would be a turn to each other for support.
when you’re driving past.”
good chance to get everyone Jenny believes the garden will
together again.” Kids from the local school also have practical uses if the
regularly come down to the town finds itself cut off during
November 2016 was Jenny’s
garden to plant new seeds and future emergencies.
first experience with an
try some of the produce.
earthquake of that magnitude “Things happen beyond our
and an unused, overgrown “Yesterday when the kids control and at least now we
section on the main road came down we picked some know that year-round we have
through town gave Jenny of the radishes, a lot of them at least some food growing,”
the idea to create a garden, had never tried a fresh radish she smiles.
available for everyone to use, before,” says Jenny.
in an effort to sustain the
1 RED Good people doing good things
Teenagers Brooke and Regan pitched in
to help out where they could.
Learn more
Find out how you can prepare your
community for a disaster head to
redcross.org.nz/good-and-ready-2018
2
Cyclone season in In February one of the most Andrew McKie, New Zealand
intense cyclones on record Red Cross Response Manager.
the South Pacific caused widespread damage Relief supplies and equipment
has begun, and across the Pacific, leaving are already in place in vulnerable
a costly path of destruction areas where locals, who are the
New Zealand across several countries. first responders in any crisis, are
Red Cross is ready to Tropical Cyclone Gita destroyed trained to use them.”
thousands of homes and
help communities damaged critical infrastructure
Meteorologists predict an
El Niño system will bring a
who need it most. before heading down to New
higher risk to Vanuatu, Cook
Zealand, where it lashed
Islands, Tonga and Fiji this
Taranaki and Nelson, Tasman.
cyclone season, which runs
Like previous storms of its scale, from November until the end
Gita provided us with lessons of April 2019. While a relatively
on how people can best prepare normal season is predicted,
and help lessen the impact an meteorologists can’t rule out
emergency event may have on a Category 5 storm and expect
their communities. 3-4 cyclones to be severe, some
possibly reaching New Zealand.
New Zealand Red Cross and
Pacific National Societies have a Being good and ready before
close relationship, with detailed disaster hits is key to staying
plans in place for a quick and safe. Everyone should have
effective response to any an emergency plan in place
weather-related emergency. and learn basic first aid skills,
and it’s also important to
Water, sanitation and hygiene
have enough food, water and
toolkits, first aid training,
medication to last a minimum
nage a smile and improved logistics,
A mother and baby ma of three days. Don’t forget that
afte r Tro pical Cyclone Gita mean preparedness in local
your first contact and source
communities is better than ever.
of help is likely to be your
“There’s a lot of preparation neighbours, so it’s important to
that’s already been done," says build connections within your
community.
3 RED Good people doing good things
Pre-positioned su
pplies ready for the
South Pacific Cyclo
ne Season
Red Cross supplies being
distributed in Fiji
Choosing cash can
make a big difference
If the worst happens this cyclone
season, the best way to ensure
affected communities get exactly
what they need is to donate cash.
Why? Quite simply, communities
recover faster when we source
goods locally and use internationally
recognised relief items – cash
Young girl in Tong donations help that happen and
a with her pet dogs
every little bit helps. Sending
unrequested food or goods takes
time, it clogs up ports and logistics
chains, and creates delays. Cash is
easier to collect, transfer, distribute
and account for, while also boosting
the local economy.
What else can I do? There are lots of
other ways to support our response
efforts. You could hold a garage sale
or organise a community event and
donate the proceeds. Or volunteer to
help collect donations in your local
Emergency Response Unit in Tonga area. Donating good quality items to
your local Red Cross shop also helps
support our year-round preparation
and response activities.
For ideas and information this
cyclone season follow us at
Red Cross volunteers help 4
after Tropical Cyclone Gita
#Kiwi
“I don’t think anybody in their
right mind would like to leave
their country, their children,
their family, just because they
want to go away.”
– Jorge Sandoval,
Cycling Promoter
Our new #KiwiLegends
series profiles some of the
thousands of former refugees
doing amazing things in their
communities across Aotearoa.
Meet six of these legends and
follow their incredible stories.
“I’d challenge everyone
to go out and speak to
refugees or become
volunteers, it’ll
change their mind and
perspectives in a lot
of ways.”
– Radiya Ali, Social Worker
“When people go travelling they
usually buy return tickets, a
refugee means a one-way ticket
to an unknown place.”
– Niborom Young, Teacher
5 RED Good people doing good things
i Legends
“Once you’re a refugee
you’ve lost everything,
but hopefully you’re
allowed to come to a good
country like New Zealand
and start a new life.”
– Patrick Lam, Baker
Learn more
Check out the full stories at
redcross.org.nz/kiwilegends
“Being a refugee is an
experience, not an identity.
You can recover from it and
become successful if given the
right opportunity.”
“Refugees are a pool of talent – Sahra Ahmed, Nurse
as well as economic and social
opportunity for countries that
take them on.”
– Mitchell Pham,
Entrepreneur and World Class
New Zealander
6
Drivin g
e job .. .
is only part of th
A Parkinson's support group wouldn’t be the same
without their local Community Transport driver.
It’s a chilly Thursday morning they’re a good group,” says a strong social connection
in the Wairarapa and Red Cross Richard. “They’re always really between them. Community
Community Transport driver grateful just for having the ride Educator Jane Flowerday has
Richard Whitney is preparing and for what we do for them. been running the group for
for his weekly round trip from It wouldn’t be possible if they six years, and it’s now more
Masterton to Featherston. had to get a taxi or somebody popular than ever, with 30
Today he’s collecting members else to do it.”
people regularly attending.
of a Parkinson’s support group The feeling is obviously mutual.
for an exercise class. For many “Engaging people in social
As we return to Masterton,
of those attending it’s their activities with exercise is very
Richard’s passengers are full
favourite activity but without of praise for him and the Red important for the management
Richard’s help they simply Cross Community Transport of Parkinson’s,” says Jane.
wouldn’t be able to get there. service. “It’s the one thing we can do
to maintain people’s wellness,
Not that you’d know it from “Without Richard we wouldn’t
talking to Richard. The 160km and there’s evidence that
be able to get to Masterton.
he drives in a day doesn’t faze rewiring and remodeling of the
Look at Ken [another
him because he loves driving. brain is possible with the right
passenger], Richard goes into
He also likes the social aspect, the house and brings him out, exercise programmes.”
and as he collects his clients – and helps him into the van. For Jane it’s “absolutely
some from inside their homes [Otherwise] He wouldn’t be imperative” the Community
– the bond he has with them is able to go,” says Harry. Transport service is maintained
clearly very strong.
As more people arrive for the as over half of her clients need
“I enjoy the Parkinson’s Group, exercise class, there’s obviously supported transport.
7 RED Good people doing good things
Community Transport driver Richard Whitney
Jane with Harry, a member of the Parkinson's Group.
class helps in managing her each other to the van, and soon
condition and coping with Richard is on his way back to
everyday life. Featherston. While he’s always
putting his hand up for driving
“Because of our health issues,
work – even on a Saturday – the
it wouldn’t be possible to join
Parkinson’s group is one he
the class if we didn’t have help
takes special care with.
from the Red Cross,” she says.
“My motivation is just to be
When Jane first started people
doing something,” says Richard.
didn’t really know each other
“In my working life, I never knew
and they would simply come to
where I was going to be from
the class and leave, now they sit
one day to the next. I couldn’t
down and have a cup of tea and
do a lot of volunteering. So,
a chat at the end of the class.
volunteering now is a good part
“They’ve all worked hard, they of my life.”
“The Red Cross drivers are feel good,” says Jane. “They’re
fabulous, they’re so supportive just so much more socially
and so obliging and helpful and Head to redcross.org.
inclined, and I’ve seen the
they seem to be well trained nz/get-involved to find
physical benefits as well. It’s
and just really good people.” out more about
been really good.”
volunteering or to
Leah, a member of the Once the socialising is finished, become a Community
group, believes the exercise members of the group help Transport driver.
8
New Zealand Red Cross
Saving
first aid trainer Betty Tannous.
lives in an
emergency
One New Zealand
Red Cross trainer
recently found out
that you never know
when your first
aid skills might be
needed.
were administered after Zealand Red Cross first aid
following the prompts from instructor for five months now.
In early September, Betty the AED, bringing the casualty
Tannous conducted an While the incident renewed
back to consciousness. An
Essential First Aid and Save a Betty’s excitement for first aid
ambulance arrived minutes
Life course for staff members training, she talks a lot about
later, and the person involved
at the Woolston Club in first aid wherever she goes.
is now alive and well.
Christchurch, little did she “The more people that know
know at the time that within a “To have helped save a life felt
what to do in an emergency,
week those skills would help fantastic,” Betty says. “Just
the more lives are saved.”
save a life. knowing that the participants
were listening to what I was
One of her students was teaching and followed my
at an awards ceremony at instructions.”
the Woolston Club when Book now
the presenter suddenly fell Betty first took a first aid course
in 1997 and has been involved Book your place on a
from the stage. She had lost public course or arrange
consciousness and wasn’t with first aid ever since;
teaching first aid, infection an exclusive group course
breathing. One of Betty’s at a time and place that
students stepped in, began control and workplace health
and safety for many years in suits you.
performing CPR and asked for
an AED (Automatic External Australia before shifting to New redcross.org.nz/first-aid
Defibrillator). Three shocks Zealand. She has been a New
9 RED Good people doing good thingsIt’s not just the 1. Five blankets $29
festive season. It’s Blankets can provide comfort and
warmth for people affected by disasters.
also cyclone season. Help ensure there are enough for those
Give a gift for good. who need them most.
What would you do if you lost 2. Four jerry cans
everything? On average, 10 $21 Access to clean water is essential in the
tropical cyclones will form in wake of a disaster and collapsible water
the Pacific between November containers help make that happen.
and April. Any one of these
cyclones has the potential to
strike land, bringing torrential
rain, floods and gale force 3. Kitchen kit
winds, destroying homes, Make sure people have the basics to
devastating communities and cook and eat their own meals.
upending people’s lives. $41
While it’s impossible to
accurately predict where and $88
when each cyclone will hit, 4. Shelter kit
these extreme weather events
Help give people affected by
tend to be more frequent
disasters the tools and materials to
and intense. We only have
build temporary shelter.
to look at the devastation
wreaked by Tropical Cyclones
Pam, Winston and Gita in the
Pacific, as well as the number $50
of emergencies affecting
5. Community outreach
communities here in Aotearoa Help Red Cross check on people
in 2018 alone. affected by a disaster in their homes
and their communities.
Preparation is everything and
we want to make sure that
Red Cross is good and ready to $70
respond if the worst happens. 6. Welfare centres
To help us do that, you can
now give a gift for good to You can help Red Cross in setting
help those who need it most. up a welfare centre when it’s
Choose one gift, or all six to needed after a disaster.
deliver the most impact.
Head to giftsforgood.redcross.org.nz
10w a tere
AY the
The D
cam These teenagers had to
the floods and now
Si (55) saved herself but lost
everything else, including
a tractor she bought with a
USD3,000 loan.
It’s hard to imagine the
damage 5 billion cubic metres
of water can do. Until you
see it. It’s the equivalent of
2 million Olympic swimming
pools and has the power to
overturn trucks and wash away
anything that gets in its way.
That’s what people in
Sanamxay district faced when
a dam failed on the night of
23 July 2018. For many, there
was no warning. Others never
imagined it would be that bad.
After, all flooding is a fact of life
at that time of year in south-
eastern Laos.
Kiwi communications
By the time I arrived in the
delegate Ellie van Baaren nearby town of Attapeu it had
describes her experience been more than two weeks
since the dam collapse and
supporting the response in much of the world was not fully
Laos after a dam collapse. aware of what was happening
on the ground. That was
my job – highlight what was
11 RED Good people doing good thingsthemselves from
hang onto trees to save Helicopters had to be
y’re vol unt eer ing for Lao Red Cross. used to deliver relief
items to
the remote villages affect
ed by the dam collap
se.
needed and what Red Cross Lao Red Cross was in action less from everyone to make this
was doing to help. than 24 hours after the initial recovery a success, otherwise it
flash flooding, helping with will be a struggle.”
At that time 6,000 people were
search and rescue, evacuations
living in evacuation centres; It’s now been more than three
and delivering relief items.
almost 2,000 of them only months since the original
accessible by helicopter. The The following days and weeks
flooding and many of those
wet season doesn’t take a brought reinforcements who cannot return to their
break for disasters and it rained from the Lao capital and the homes have been moved into
heavily most days, not only International Federation of government-built temporary
making living conditions that Red Cross and Red Crescent housing. While it gives them
little bit more miserable, but Societies (IFRC) – volunteers, more privacy and facilities, it’s
also causing major headaches water purification units, relief a far cry from what they were
for responders who were items, tarpaulins and more. used to before the floods and
trying to bring in equipment, Volunteers of all ages, some of they’re expecting to be there
supplies and people. whom had themselves been for several years while more
forced to evacuate, were hard permanent housing is built.
Everyone had a story.
at work, distributing relief Their way of life has changed
The couple whose parents said materials, organising games forever and there are longer-
they would follow them later, for the children, and training term worries about education,
and never made it. people in the evacuation healthcare, shelter, livelihoods
Children who had to fight to centres in hygiene and health, and psychological support.
save themselves and their including how to recognise Together Lao Red Cross and
siblings. symptoms of depression. IFRC will continue to support
Dr Vienxay Xaysombath, the the 7,500 people most affected
Parents who faced impossible
head of the Attapeu branch by the floods for at least the
choices, including a woman
of Lao Red Cross, perhaps next 15 months.
who, as a log came flying at her,
had to decide whether to let go summed up the situation best: Ellie is New Zealand Red Cross’
of the tree that was keeping her “I’m proud of the cooperation, Communications Manager and
from being swept away, or her collaboration and solidarity was deployed to Laos as part
daughter. Her daughter’s body shown in this difficult time. But of the IFRC’s Regional Disaster
has not been found. we will continue to need help Response Team.
12WHERE In
IRAQ
AFGHANISTAN
BANGLADESH
THE WORLD
YEMEN MYANMAR
NIGERIA
are our
SOUTH SUDAN MALAYSIA
INDONESIA
TIMOR LESTE
international
VANUATU SAMOA
FIJI
Delegates?
member Spotlight
Thousands of dedicated Kiwis make up our New
Zealand Red Cross whānau. Disaster Welfare
Support Team (DWST) member Megan Pieterse,
of Hamilton, is one of them. Just 15 years old,
she talks about her work with Red Cross.
What does being a DWST I love helping people and I was to open up and talk to people
member involve? really interested in the way about their experiences and
Being a DWST member Red Cross helps people. They provide them with support.
involves wanting to help the deploy to disasters and give the I now feel more confident in
community. It could be during community as much as they my skills and abilities to help
a disaster where we provide can. I was also interested in the others.
support such as a temporary skills that being in the team What is your favourite part
place to stay, making them feel could give me. Being in the about being a Red Cross
comfortable or providing them team is giving me experiences member?
with psychosocial support I would not have been able to
The people that I meet within
to help them through their gain elsewhere and has helped
the team, other teams and
experiences and trauma. After me realise what I want to do
members of the community.
the emergency or disaster, it is with my life after I finish high
Everyone has their own story
about finding ways to help the school.
and experiences with Red Cross
community get back together. What do you know now that and I have enjoyed hearing
We train to be prepared to you didn’t when you started about their Red Cross journey
respond during disasters, so volunteering? and it has made me realise how
we can be as best prepared as far I want to go in the DWST
As I am quite shy, being in the
we possibly can be to help our team and the experiences I
team made me more confident
community. hope to gain in the future.
to talk to others. Through the
What inspired you to begin psychosocial support training
volunteering? I have gained, I have learned
13 RED Good people doing good thingsGive your unwanted
goods a new home
oss
red cr
shops
A late bout of spring cleaning? Making
room for new furniture? Keen to
find a new home for some less-than-
perfect Christmas gifts? Head to your
e your
donat
local Red Cross shop.
ods
ved go
prelo Our awesome team members bring
preloved items back to life, helping to
restore furniture, sorting donations,
and mending clothing, as well as
making our shops look incredible.
They’re always looking for good
quality clothing, homewares,
electronic items, and furniture, plus
you can often organise free pick-up.
You never know, there might be
someone out there who really
needs them, and better still, once
your donations are sold, the funds
go towards helping vulnerable
people here in Aotearoa and around
the world.
Head to redcross.org.nz/
red-cross-shops to find out where
your nearest store is.
Who are we? Our Get involved
New Zealand Red Cross is part Fundamental Volunteer with us
of the largest humanitarian
network in the world – the
Principles Learn first aid
International Red Cross Red ɠɠ Humanity Donate
Crescent Movement. We’ve ɠɠ Impartiality
been helping in New Zealand ɠɠ Neutrality Leave a lasting gift in your will
since 1915. ɠɠ Independence Fundraise to help others
Every day, we work to help ɠɠ Voluntary Service Join today at
Kiwis – whether that’s ɠɠ Unity redcross.org.nz/get-involved
providing a hot meal, offering ɠɠ Universality
a safe ride to hospital or helping Join the conversation
former refugees rebuild their Read more about them at
Follow us on Facebook,
lives. We also help communities redcross.org.nz/about-us/
Twitter and Instagram for all
affected by disaster and conflict what-we-stand-for
the latest New Zealand Red
right across the world. As
Cross news and updates.
we often say, disasters don’t
discriminate and neither do we. NewZealandRedCross @NZRedCross nzredcross
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