Fund updates

9 February 2024

A year on: Full $28.5 million committed to community disaster relief

Update 15: A year after Cyclone Gabrielle and other severe weather events in early 2023 we’ve committed the entire New Zealand Disaster Fund to helping people and communities affected.

Home Bundles recipients, Hend Selim and Laila Abd El Gawad

16 November 2023

Looking after mental health in recovering communities

Update 14: In this update we focus on our work supporting mental health in recovering communities and check in on three community grant recipients.

Psychosocial advisor Sarah Gribbin chats with Te Karaka Community Co Lead for Cyclone Recovery Pimia Wehi

18 September 2023

Staying with communities through long-term recovery

Update 13: We’re still working with communities as they move through their longer-term recovery. Read about our support for individual grant programmes, grants for mental health initiatives and how we’re helping people move home with the Red Cross Home Bundles programme.

Crystal and Heretaunga womens centre DSC08855 small

10 August 2023

Six months on: Red Cross commits $20 million in disaster relief

Update 12: We’ve now committed more than $20 million in support to disaster-affected communities following Cyclone Gabrielle and other severe weather events. In this update, we look back at what’s been achieved over the last six months.

27 July 2023

Lending a hand in Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland

Fortnightly update 11: More than half the New Zealand Disaster Fund has now been committed to helping people and communities. This fortnight, we focus on our support in Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland.

Sunil Kaushal of the Waitakere Indian Association with Red Cross co-ordinator Joan Lee

13 July 2023

Helping out in Hawke's Bay

Fortnightly update 10: We have now committed a total of $13.7 million to help communities respond, recover and prepare for the future. In this update we focus on our support for Hawke’s Bay.

29 June 2023

Focusing on our support in Tairāwhiti

Fortnightly update 9: In the last two weeks, we reached $12 million total committed funds from the New Zealand Disaster Fund. Recent grants include ones to support children’s wellbeing, food security, and financial support for farming families.

Auckland Disaster Welfare and Support Team member Lilian Moore helping whānau while deployed in Tairāwhiti

15 June 2023

$10 million in grants made from the New Zealand Disaster Fund

Fortnightly update 8: This week we reached the $10 million mark for grants given to help communities affected by the floods and cyclone. Recent grants include ones to support hardship, run counselling services, provide baby supplies and support clean-up.

1 June 2023

Fostering community connection after a disaster

Fortnightly update 7: We’ve been delivering dozens of clean-up kits, and made grants to support mental health, volunteers working in rural communities, doctor’s visits and many other activities.

Delivering clean up kits to Te Karaka - Phil Parker on right

18 May 2023

Helping communities now and in the future

Fortnightly update 6: Over the six weeks following January's severe weather and then Cyclone Gabrielle, Kai Assist stepped in to help their community, providing $37,000 worth of product.

5 May 2023

Supporting community-led recovery

Fortnightly update 5: We're supporting families within the Puketapu community and surrounding rural areas to help them get back on their feet after disaster struck in February.

20 April 2023

Helping impacted communities across the country

Fortnightly update 4: Temporary shelter, new water pumps, building assessments and reports to help those with damaged homes.

Distributing equipment in Wairoa after Cyclone Gabrielle - 23 1.24.1

6 April 2023

Communities encouraged to get involved with New Zealand Disaster Fund spending

Fortnightly update 3: Communities are encouraged to get involved with New Zealand Disaster Fund spending, with the allocated total now more than $3 million.

Wairoa after Cyclone Gabrielle - 23 1.23.1

24 March 2023

Supporting communities in early recovery

Fortnightly update 2: As affected areas begin to focus more on clean-up, recovery and what comes next, the way New Zealand Red Cross provides support is changing.

20230131 DWST AucklandFlood ChChTeam AR1

10 March 2023

New Zealand Disaster Fund reaches $15 million

Fortnightly update 1: This week, New Zealand Red Cross has seen the outpouring of generosity from across the country continue. Thanks to the collective efforts of individuals, communities and event organisers, as at 10 March 2023, the fund stands at $15 million.