World Red Cross and Red Crescent Day quickfire round

What does World Red Cross and Red Crescent Day mean to you?

To me World Red Cross and Red Crescent Day is a time to reflect on our mission, what we’ve achieved, and what more we can achieve in assisting vulnerable people both locally and internationally.

What’s your favourite Fundamental Principle and why?

My favourite Fundamental Principle is Neutrality. It sets the Red Cross Red Crescent Movement apart from other organisations and enables access to assist those who most need help. It’s perhaps the most challenging Fundamental Principle to abide by, particularly in the current world environment.

What are you most proud of as a Red Cross person?

I’m most proud when I see people wearing the Red Cross or Red Crescent emblem assisting people in need. Such as seeing the trucks of Egyptian Red Crescent carrying aid into Gaza or our people in local communities responding to disasters

What does World Red Cross and Red Crescent Day mean to you?

It’s an opportunity to pause and reflect on our collective impact and commitment of our people here at home and internationally. It’s also an opportunity to celebrate our uniqueness as an organisation that has endured and continues to be iconic in our communities.

What’s a favourite Red Cross moment you’ve experienced and why?

Hearing the stories from our people about their personal connections to Red Cross and sometimes this has spanned generations of service, commitment, and distance. People who travelled between continents and countries who continue their contribution to Red Cross wherever they live. One of my favourite stories is from one of our people whose parents were supported by Red Cross after surviving Auschwitz. Their parents made their children promise to commit to always support Red Cross because of their experience. Generations on, that commitment from that family continues.

What are you most proud of as a Red Cross person?

Our people, their focus on the impact we in communities. It makes a difference every single day to the lives of people here at home and overseas.

What’s a favourite Red Cross moment you’ve experienced and why?

I love our annual International Humanitarian Law Moot Court Competition – a fictional war crimes trial. Every year there’s a creative and intriguing scenario. The competing law students from around the country are incredibly impressive. It’s also an opportunity to see our wonderful Red Cross people showcase their talent and experience. The moot is fun and entertaining, but it also serves a really important purpose – international humanitarian law is under huge pressure worldwide and in that context it’s critical that our youth are skilled and practised in defending and upholding the law.

What are you most proud of as a Red Cross person?

I’m really proud of our Fundamental Principles, which are a touchstone for everyone in the Movement. They bring integrity and common purpose to a chaotic world swirling with mis- and dis-information, conflict, division, and confusion. When things get really difficult and the right path isn’t clear, the Fundamental Principles always help us find our way.

What does World Red Cross and Red Crescent Day mean to you?

For me, it’s a day we can all come together across Red Cross and Red Crescent organisations, to remember and celebrate what it means to be a community – locally, nationally, and internationally. We can remember the generations who have made sure we have a role to play in Aotearoa New Zealand and consider what we can do today to uphold this for future generations too.

What’s your favourite Fundamental Principle and why?

It must be humanity! This is what motivated me to come and be part of New Zealand Red Cross. It’s inspiring, challenging, and hopeful to be able to work on promoting human wellbeing and dignity.

What’s a favourite Red Cross moment you’ve experienced and why?

In 2023, 30 young people came together to talk about the part they can play in leadership of New Zealand Red Cross. Hearing our young members speak with such empathy and intelligence about what’s important to them — working on sustainability, taking a Te Ao Māori focus to our work, and celebrating each other’s diversity — left me feeling inspired for our future.

What are you most proud of as a Red Cross person?

I’m so proud of our people. I continually see so much effort and passion, such a ‘can do’ approach where people put their hearts and heads together to make a difference for so many people, in New Zealand and around the world.

What does World Red Cross and Red Crescent Day mean to you?

It’s a day to feel proud and thankful for all the amazing work of Red Cross and Red Crescent people are doing to make the world a better place.

What’s your favourite Fundamental Principle and why?

Humanity – Te Ngākau Atawhai. Enhancing better outcomes guided by manaakitanga – hospitality, kindness, generosity, support. It’s core to what we do and what I personally aspire to do everyday.

What’s a favourite Red Cross moment you’ve experienced and why?

I had a humbling and emotional experience visiting One Voice, they’re a community group in the Hawke’s Bay we gave a grant to from the New Zealand Disaster Fund. We heard their stories of people they helped when they were at their very lowest, the positive impact that has had, and their gratitude to everyone who donated.

What are you most proud of as a Red Cross person?

I’m proud of the passion and commitment of our volunteers and employees who every day make a meaningful positive difference in others’ lives.

What does World Red Cross and Red Crescent Day mean to you?

For me, it’s a day for me to stop and reflect on the important role we play as the world’s largest humanitarian movement. It’s easy to get focussed on the issues that you’re confronted with day-to-day and lose sight of all of the significant challenges that are being supported by the wonderful work of our Movement partners.

What’s your favourite Fundamental Principle and why?

Impartiality is a principle that I think about a lot. It’s a real point of difference in many ways for us as a movement and it’s the one that allows us the ability to move across boundaries and break down barriers to providing humanitarian support to all those who need it.

What’s a favourite Red Cross moment you’ve experienced and why?

I love it when I get the opportunity to get out into communities and to see first-hand the wonderful things we’re doing to support people. It’s really humbling to hear their stories and to feel the aroha they have for our organisation and the mahi we do.

What are you most proud of as a Red Cross person?

I was involved in the response to the 2023 North Island severe weather events including Cyclone Gabrielle. Our volunteers were on the ground within 24 hours of the emergency. They spent more than 8000 hours in the days following. We also raised more than $28m for those affected and had it either spent or committed by the first anniversary of the event. I’m extremely proud of this effort.

What does World Red Cross and Red Crescent Day mean to you?

It serves as a prompt for me to stop and consider both the past and the present impact of our Movement, both here at home and across the globe. I’m reminded on the unique position we hold as a humanitarian movement, the significant responsibilities we have in ensure that we live out our Fundamental Principles, and work towards achieving our mission.

What’s your favourite Fundamental Principle and why?

It’s hard to pick just one! I think that the principle of humanity must be a favourite – I’m sure it is for all Red Cross people. The strong and challenging call to action – to prevent and alleviate suffering, to protect life and health, and to ensure respect for every human being. What aspirational statements for us all to live up to, and when we consider the current state of our world, this Fundamental Principle is possibly needed more than ever before.

What’s a favourite Red Cross moment you’ve experienced and why?

Late last year I had the opportunity to visit Hawke’s Bay to engage with some of the recipients of the New Zealand Disaster Fund. Some had received essential home repairs, others home bundles and others Psychological First Aid support. We also got to meet with other local organisations that we’ve had the privilege of financially supporting as they continued to deliver impactful services to community. It was great to get to the ‘coal face’ and to see firsthand the impact New Zealand Red Cross has.

What are you most proud of as a Red Cross person?

I’m proud to be part of the largest humanitarian movement in the world. I’m proud to be part of a national society that is continually evolving to meet the needs of those most vulnerable in our communities. I’m proud to be part of a fantastic Engagement and Enterprise team who come to work every day with the desire to contribute to a better tomorrow for all.

What does World Red Cross and Red Crescent Day mean to you?

It’s a day when I can remember what our organisation stands for, why I work for it, and what difference I can make as an employee and member.

What’s your favourite Fundamental Principle and why?

Humanity is my favourite principle. It’s the one thing that connects us to all people.

What’s a favourite Red Cross moment you’ve experienced and why?

The day in April 2016 when the first group of Syrian former refugees arrived in Dunedin to a huge crowd of Red Cross volunteers and employees, along with community members and media. As the plane came in, tears came to my eyes. And I was not the only one who felt that all the preparation and anticipation had been worth the effort. Now the real work was about to begin.

What are you most proud of as a Red Cross person?

I’m proud of the work we do with vulnerable people in our communities and overseas. I’m especially proud that we have the Red Cross Fundamental Principles to guide us on how to do this work and how to respond to challenges to our work.