The NZ Red Cross thanks everyone for their generosity and kindness following Cyclone Gabrielle. Video / NZ Red Cross
The New Zealand Red Cross fundraiser for Cyclone Gabrielle relief, backed by the NZ Herald and NZME, has surpassed the $11 million mark, just over a week after it launched.
“This is obviously phenomenal news and testament to the support we have received from NZME and other individuals and businesses,” a New Zealand Red Cross spokesperson said.
Donations made to the fund will be used to provide ongoing support to those affected by Cyclone Gabrielle and to prepare for, respond to and recover from future disasters as the impacts of climate change grow.
Generators and satellite phones are being delivered to cyclone-hit communities across New Zealand’s North Island thanks to the generosity of thousands of Kiwis who have contributed to the New Zealand Disaster Fund so far.
“Our response to Cyclone Gabrielle so far has included providing essential supplies such as stretchers, blankets, bedding and hygiene kits, deploying satellite phones, generators and other equipment. Our trained disaster welfare and support teams are providing crucial psychosocial support and practical help to those who have been forced to leave their homes,” a NZ Red Cross spokesperson said.
NZ Red Cross volunteers are on the ground in Hawke's Bay. Photo / Supplied
What the money is being spent on right now
Money donated to the fund has helped Hawke’s Bay communities in many ways to date. For example, in Rissington, your money has helped set up a temporary repeater to assist with communications in the cut-off region.
The team has also distributed a number of satellite phones to make sure people without cellphone coverage or Wi-Fi are able to communicate.
“This deployment of the ERU and satellite phones is only possible through the New Zealand Disaster Fund,” the Red Cross says.
In Esk Valley, the New Zealand Red Cross has procured and is distributing 28 generators, full fuel containers and electrical cords in Esk Valley and rural areas along the Napier-Taupo Rd (State Highway 5).
The generators were provided to local hubs and isolated rural homes that had not had power for over a week.
Fuel has also been delivered to a local marae that has generators, but was running low on petrol and diesel to run them.
These areas are likely to be without power for some time. It is not yet certain how long, but they have been told it may be a number of weeks.
The New Zealand Red Cross team on the ground in Hawke’s Bay is continuing to reach out to community, alongside council and emergency management agencies.
Last week, Secretary General of the New Zealand Red Cross Sarah Stuart-Black told Newstalk ZB’s Kerre Woodham the New Zealand Red Cross is working with local agencies to ensure the fund is used where most needed, including working with the Mayoral Disaster Relief Fund.
“Let’s say a Mayoral Disaster Relief Fund is going to look at individual needs ... if that’s the case, we will look at how we can support them, to provide money to those affected households,” Stuart-Black said.
“There will certainly be help and support available for households that have been affected.
“We want to make sure we are in a position to support the needs right now and in the weeks ahead in communities that have been impacted. That includes Auckland and Northland as well.
“We want to be able to provide support to all those people that are doing it tough.”
She also clarified that the New Zealand Red Cross does not take an administrative charge from each donation, as this is a special appeal. All of the money donated goes directly to help those who need it.
It is a fund to support the work of the New Zealand Red Cross on the response and recovery to Cyclone Gabrielle, providing essential supplies such as stretchers, blankets, bedding and hygiene kits, deploying satellite phones, generators and other equipment.
This also includes providing crucial psychosocial support and practical help to those who have been forced to leave their homes.
The fund will also be used by New Zealand Red Cross to help New Zealand communities to prepare for, respond to, and recover from future emergencies and disasters.
This includes:
initial and ongoing response
replacing supplies and equipment
community recovery
preparing for and building capacity to respond to future emergencies and disasters, and
partnering with others to help meet communities’ needs associated with emergencies and disasters
According to the New Zealand Red Cross, the best way to help in a situation like this is to make a monetary donation.
“We are not collecting clothes or goods, as sorting, managing and distributing donated items during an emergency takes an extensive amount of time and resources.
“With people needing emergency supplies immediately, the best, most efficient way you can help make sure the right assistance reaches them when they need it most is by making a monetary donation. By donating money, you make sure local communities get help in the most effective way.”
The New Zealand Red Cross has teams on the ground in the affected areas, and working with emergency management services to prioritise where to send their trained Disaster Welfare and Support Teams (DWSTs).
Red Cross people are on the ground in Hawke’s Bay and around the North Island providing support.
NZ Red Cross equipment such as stretchers, hygiene kits, generators and bedding have been delivered to Northland, Auckland, Coromandel, Gisborne, Hawke’s Bay and Palmerston North to assist local emergency management agencies.
NZME chief executive Michael Boggs says the company is determined to do whatever it can to support those impacted by Cyclone Gabrielle.
“The events have been catastrophic for communities across the North Island and the need for support is critical. At NZME we have a presence across all the communities that have been affected, with many of our staff, our customers, our readers and our listeners living in or having loved ones in those areas. I know everyone across NZME will be getting right behind this cause, promoting and supporting it however we can, to ensure we raise as much money as possible for those in need,” he said.
The New Zealand Defence Force continues to commit more resources by mobilising and establishing ships, aircraft, vehicles, communications equipment and personnel across the North Island. Photo / NZDF
New Zealand Red Cross general manager of engagement and enterprise Shane Chisholm said: “New Zealand Red Cross are proud to be teaming up with the NZ Herald and NZME to support those affected by Cyclone Gabrielle and help ensure that Aotearoa New Zealand is well prepared for emergencies in the future.”
NZME managing editor Shayne Currie said: “The NZ Herald is committed to keeping Kiwis in the know with extensive coverage of the devastating events - and we want to help further. Through our digital, print and radio channels, we are encouraging our audience to donate. Big or small, every donation helps.”
The full scale of the destruction and loss brought on by Gabrielle might not be known for some time but what we do know is this is already one of the most significant disasters in New Zealand history.
