Taskforce Kiwi

14/05/2026

Taskforce Kiwi volunteers have now completed over 20,000 hours of disaster relief operations, less than four years since our first deployment.

Behind every hour is a story of service, with volunteers putting their lives on hold to roll up their sleeves in support of those they've never met. It also highlights the sacrifice of family and loved ones, providing the support that our volunteers need to grab their gear and get on the ground when the call goes out.

Over 7,000 of those hours have taken place over the last twelve months, as TFK volunteers continue to step up as the number of severe weather events and disasters increase, both at home and abroad. Taskforce Kiwi has no employees, and no one has ever been paid a cent for their efforts. Those 20,000 hours don't include the countless hours in the background outside of operations, doing the mahi that allows us to get our people on the ground when the time comes.

Communities need more skilled and organised support than ever, and it's time to do things differently. To find out more, to join us, or to support our work, head to www.taskforcekiwi.org

12/05/2026

Taskforce Kiwi was recently featured on Seven Sharp, highlighting the flood relief work carried out by our volunteers across Wellington.

The crew spoke to volunteers and impacted residents as our team got stuck into their work, providing direct assistance to those whose homes and livelihoods were affected by the flooding that hit the city on the 20th of April.

Thank you to Seven Sharp and TVNZ+ for featuring our team and their work!

11/05/2026

Hear from Taskforce Kiwi volunteer Mike Buist about our recent Wellington flood relief deployment.

Mike is an New Zealand Army veteran and former firefighter, and in addition to his work in Wellington has also deployed to Clutha and Northland over the last three months to support impacted communities.

Wellington City Council Veterans' Affairs New Zealand

07/05/2026

Our second team has now returned home from Moloka’i and Maui, following our flood relief work alongside Red Lightning.

Nine volunteers across two teams deployed over the course of three weeks, working across the Hawaiian islands of Moloka’i and Maui, supporting our pacific neighbours following the devastating floods that hit the region in March. Working under the leadership of Red Lightning, the team undertook a variety of tasks that allowed those displaced by the flooding to safely move back into their homes.

Our work was once again enabled by the incredible team at Airlink and United, who got our team there and back. We simply couldn’t carry out our disaster relief efforts without them.

Michael Andrew, Red Lightning CEO: “We are so grateful we could call on Taskforce Kiwi for the difficult and multi role response we had on both Moloka’i and Maui. We consider them tier one volunteers, completely trained and ready to work on day one. TFK are outstanding partners and we are very appreciative to them. We hope we can continue to partner in the future.”

Richard Adams, TFK National Director: “It was a privilege to once again work alongside the Red Lightning team. Their dedication to serving the people of Hawaii in the wake of both the Lahaina wildfire and the more recent flooding is humbling. We’re proud to have played a small role in that effort, continuing to strengthen our partnership across the Pacific”.

Red Lightnings work across Maui and Moloka’i continues, and Taskforce Kiwi will continue to seek opportunities to support their efforts wherever possible.

Photo credit: Heather Joy Photographs

New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade

07/05/2026

A massive thank you to the team at Mitre 10 New Zealand for providing the tools our volunteers needed to get the job done in Wellington.

Taskforce Kiwi currently has two equipment caches, in Christchurch and Auckland, with the majority of our equipment already supplied by Mitre 10. The Wellington floods presented a logistical challenge, however Mitre 10 stepped up once again to provide the tools, equipment and PPE that our volunteers required to support those most in need.

Since we first deployed volunteers in the wake of the Auckland Anniversary floods in January 2023, Mitre 10 NZ has been there, enabling Taskforce Kiwi volunteers to help communities on their worst day.

Huge shout out to Taskforce Kiwi for rolling up their sleeves and getting hands-on to support 26 homes affected by last week’s flooding.👏🧡
Thanks to our Mitre 10 MEGA Wellington Petone, Upper Hutt and Porirua stores who have generously provided equipment and a permanent cache of emergency gear - helping keep Taskforce Kiwi ready, nimble, and effective whenever communities need support. This is what community backing community looks like. and these legends delivered in spades. 💪🌧️

06/05/2026

Our National Intelligence Manager, Ash, discusses the recent Airlink APAC Logistics Preparedness Workshop in Nadi, Fiji.

It was an invaluable opportunity to link up with other NGOs across the Pacific, doing the mahi now that will enable effective response when the time comes. A huge shout out to Airlink to putting the workshop together, and for providing the support to NGOs to make it happen.

Video Credit: Airlink

05/05/2026

Taskforce Kiwi recently had the opportunity to attend the Airlink, Inc. Logistics Preparedness Workshop in Nadi, Fiji.

Taskforce Kiwi was represented by Ash, our National Intelligence Manager, and the three day workshop was facilitated by Airlink with presenters from a variety of humanitarian aid and disaster relief organisations. It was an opportunity to strengthen our partnership with the Airlink team and NGOs that we currently work with, including Red Lightning, who we have been working with undertaking flood relief in Hawaii over the last month. It was also an opportunity to build new relationships across the Pacific with other NGOs doing incredible work.

For Ash, this was an opportunity to learn from other organisations, learnings that will be invaluable for Taskforce Kiwi in the future. “This workshop was extremely insightful, especially the opportunity to hear from Pacific based organisations who have firsthand experience with disasters in their communities.

I know that the knowledge I have gained from other participants and facilitators will greatly assist Taskforce Kiwi as we prepare for future deployments in the Pacific. The workshop itself was practical, with some great commitments and action plans set out by each person and organisation. A key takeaway for me was meeting and engaging with some incredible people and enabling future partnerships with other Pacific focused organisations”.

A big thank you to the amazing Airlink team for facilitating an awesome workshop, and for providing the logistical support that allowed us to be a part of it.

New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade

04/05/2026

Our disaster relief team has now been on the ground in Wellington for five days, providing direct support to those impacted by recent flooding.

Our team have so far worked on 17 different properties across our nations capital, supporting residents and businesses to get back on their feet as soon as possible. Taskings have primarily involved debris clearance, moving and disposing of destroyed household items, possessions and mountains of silt and mud left by the flood waters. The team will remain in Wellington until Wednesday, at which stage we’ll assess whether further rotations of volunteers are required.

As with every Taskforce Kiwi deployment it’s a massive team effort, and we couldn’t do it without the generous support of our partners. A big thank you to Mitsubishi Motors NZ Ltd for the Tritons that have got our people and gear to where they need to go, to TR Group for providing the trucks that have moved tons of silt and mud, to Mitre 10 New Zealand for the tools our team needed to get the job done, to Wellington City Council for financial support, and to the Sisters of Compassion - Ngā Whaea O Pūaroha in Island Bay for their hospitality in accommodating our deployed team.

To find out more about Taskforce Kiwi, to join our team, or to support our work, head to www.taskforcekiwi.org

Andrew Little Mark Mitchell MP Tamatha Paul Cushla Tangaere-Manuel MP Chris Penk MP Julie Anne Genter MP

30/04/2026

Taskforce Kiwi has deployed a volunteer disaster relief team to Wellington, to support those impacted by last week’s severe flooding.

Up to 40 homes were significantly impacted by the flooding that this the region on the 20th of April, and our initial rotation of volunteers will be on the ground for a week. Many of these volunteers have traveled from across the country to support residents whose homes and business were inundated by floodwater. Working in collaboration with Wellington City Council, this team will also be joined by additional TFK volunteers from the local area over the weekend.

This is some of the most significant flooding New Zealand’s capital has received in decades, and our volunteers are once again stepping up to meet an urgent need, rapidly mobilising to provide the direct, skilled disaster relief support that is required on the ground.

To find out more about Taskforce Kiwi, to join our team, or to support our work, head to www.taskforcekiwi.org

Andrew Little Mark Mitchell MP Tamatha Paul Cushla Tangaere-Manuel MP Chris Penk MP Dr Ayesha Verrall Francisco Hernandez for Dunedin Andy Foster MP Julie Anne Genter MP

24/04/2026

As Anzac Day approaches in New Zealand and Australia, we want to take the opportunity to recognise some of our defence veterans who have recently deployed.

Defence veterans are a core part of Taskforce Kiwi, and the experience they bring is invaluable for disaster relief operations. Over the last week we’ve had veterans deployed undertaking storm relief in Clutha, and we currently have them deployed undertaking flood relief on Moloka’i and Maui, continuing their service through volunteering, using their skills to support those who need them most.

Left to right, from top left:
Jenny, New Zealand Army, Royal New Zealand Corp of Transport and Royal New Zealand Military Police
Jessica, Royal New Zealand Navy
Malcolm, Royal New Zealand Air Force
Paul, British Army, Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers
Mike, NZ Army, Royal New Zealand Engineers
Sarah, Royal New Zealand Air Force
Lucy, NZ Army, Royal New Zealand Engineers
Rebecca, Royal New Zealand Navy
Gina, NZ Army, Royal New Zealand Engineers
Graeme, New Zealand Army, Royal New Zealand Army Service Corp

Anzac Day commemorate the landing at Gallipoli, Türkiye, in the First World War by the Australian and New Zealand Army Corp (ANZAC) on the 25th of April 1915. It is an occasion to remember those who have died and been impacted by conflict, and honour the contributions of returned service personnel.

Royal New Zealand RSA The Ranfurly Veterans' Trust

20/04/2026

Taskforce Kiwi is monitoring the ongoing severe weather and flooding that is impacting communities across Wellington.

Sustained rainfall has resulted in flooding across a number of Wellington suburbs, with an unknown number of properties impacted, alongside critical infrastructure. Further heavy rainfall is expected. A state of emergency has been declared for the region, and a Red Heavy Rain Warning is in place for at least the next 30 hours. Wellington residents in low lying and flood prone areas have been encouraged to evacuate for the next 24 hours.

Taskforce Kiwi stands ready to support those impacted, and it currently assessing opportunities to deploy a reconnaissance team to gain a better understanding of the impact on the ground, when it is safe to do so.