New Zealand Red Cross

New Zealand Red Cross
Rīpeka Whero Aotearoa
PredecessorThe New Zealand Branch of the British Red Cross Society
Formation1911 (1911)
FounderThe Earl of Liverpool, then the Governor General of the Dominion of New Zealand, arranged a meeting to officially co-ordinate Red Cross groups.
TypeNon-governmental organisation
Legal statusCharity
PurposeHumanitarianism
HeadquartersWellington
Location
  • 69 Molesworth Street, Thorndon, Wellington
Region
New Zealand, Oceania & Asia
Secretary General
Sarah Stuart-Black
Parent organization
International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies
Staff500
Volunteers9,000
Websitewww.redcross.org.nz

New Zealand Red Cross or Rīpeka Whero Aotearoa is a humanitarian organisation, which has more than 9,000 members and volunteers. In New Zealand, Red Cross delivers core community services, such as Meals on Wheels, refugee re-settlement services, first aid courses, and emergency management operations. Internationally, New Zealand Red Cross sends international delegates overseas to assist in areas where humanitarian assistance is needed, this includes disaster preparedness and response. In 2013, 17 delegates were sent to the Philippines in the aftermath of Typhoon Haiyan and in 2014, 18 New Zealand delegates responded to the Ebola epidemic in West Africa.