Emergency Response Kits

Emergency Response Kits are distributed following disasters such as tsunami, cyclones and floods in Oceania and the South Pacific. Families can lose everything and they need help immediately. In a few short minutes, an earthquake, tsunami, flood or cyclone can take away whole villages - loved ones, homes, belongings, crops and animals, livelihoods. You can assist in a practical way by helping New Zealand Rotarians supply distressed and displaced families with Emergency Response Kits (ERKs).

In an emergency, the most pressing need is for basic supplies to help a family survive the first few days. They need shelter, food, clothing, drinking water, bedding, tools and medical supplies. People can be difficult to reach therefore Kits must be light enough to be airlifted and carried by two people. No time must be lost so Kits are kept in safe storage close to where they’re likely to be needed. They can be distributed within days, sometimes hours of an humanitarian emergency.

Each Kit holds over 60 items packed in a 78-litre container which can be used to treat drinking water – there are purifying tablets for this purpose.

With a little ingenuity, families can create a shelter from tarpaulins using the hammer and nails provided. There’s a folding shovel for digging trenches. Food is key so there’s fishing gear, a hunting knife and cooking equipment. As well as basic clothing, there are bed covers for warmth. Maintaining hygiene and treating minor injuries is important too; a medical pack with items such as soap, painkillers and antiseptic cream provides the basics. 

The contents of the Kits are reviewed regularly based on feedback from partners in the Pacific and communities that have received the boxes. 

An ERK costs $600 but every dollar helps towards assembling the Kits with their life-saving contents and having them airfreighted. Thank you for your gift. 

* If you’re a New Zealander living in Australia who wishes to donate to our Emergency Response Kit appeal, we suggest you use this link for tax deductibility in Australia.

Partner Projects

There are many vulnerable communities that Rotary New Zealand, together with its overseas partners, supports around the world.  Our aim is to help these communities become self-sufficient and improve their standard of living. Your donation enables us to continue and extend our development work and make a real difference to people’s lives.

What is it to be vulnerable? Every project is different but most individuals and communities lack the basics such as access to clean water, food and shelter, basic healthcare and education. They may be vulnerable in other ways too, for instance, they might lack the skills and resources to provide for themselves and their families. There may be inequalities that mean some people or groups are disadvantaged. Communities may suffer because leadership is weak or non-existent and people don’t feel involved in decision-making.

Rotary New Zealand participates in supporting projects that are sustainable, that bring about lasting change - change that minimises harm to the environment. It only funds development projects that demonstrate that activities will increase the capacity of organisations, communities and individuals. Partners must demonstrate that they are fully committed to a project - that both parties will work together to bring about change.

Rotary New Zealand’s input goes far beyond funding. It may be involved in appraising project design, monitoring and evaluating projects once they’re underway, providing volunteers when required, ensuring all activities are cost-effective, and so on.

We greatly value your contribution to our work.

Disaster Relief

Emergencies happen only too frequently in the Pacific. Thanks to your donations, we’re able to respond rapidly to help those affected by natural disasters. When there’s an event, Rotary New Zealand first conducts a needs assessment, then within hours or days and working with in-country partners and Rotary clubs, distributes emergency supplies.

Apart from its role in funding Emergency Response Kits and other emergency supplies, New Zealand Rotarians support communities as they transition into the recovery phase and beyond.

A recent example: Vanuatu Earthquake December 2024. The earthquake resulted in significant damage to infrastructure, including health facilities, water systems and schools. The affected regions, particularly Shefa Province, faced severe disruption of essential services. Many communities were displaced, with over 1,600 people seeking shelter in evacuation centres and a further 39 households hosting displaced families. Psychological distress widespread, affecting children, teachers, and families, were exacerbated by fears of aftershocks and displacement.

Access to safe water was a critical issue, with some areas initially reporting only partial or no water supply due to damaged infrastructure. Access to clean water emerged as a critical need, with high risk of waterborne disease outbreaks. Damaged water reservoirs and leaks in restored systems rapidly depleted water reserves. Additionally, displaced communities lacked access to piped water, had limited sanitation facilities, and reportedly used bush toilets, further heightening health risks.

Rotary New Zealand supplies of Emergency Response Kits are prepositioned in Port Vila and Santo for such an emergency.

Collaborative efforts between Rotary Australia World Community Service, Rotary New Zealand follow each Disaster in the Pacific Region.

Please support our disaster preparedness and relief whenever and wherever it occurs in the Pacific.

Online

Donate directly from this site.

Alternatively, you could donate on givealittle. 

 If you’re a New Zealander living in Australia who wishes to donate to our Emergency Response Kit appeal, we suggest you use this link for tax deductibility in Australia.

We invite New Zealand tax payers who wish to donate to RAWCS projects (our equivalent in Australia) to do so through our site by quoting the project no. as in this example:
17-2014-15: Maternal & Child Health Project (MACH), Worldwide
Explore RAWCS projects and appeals by following this link: http://rawcs.org.au/project-search/

At Westpac

Donate at any Westpac branch or via internet banking.

RNZWCS Westpac account
03 1702 0192208 02
SWIFT Code WPACNZ2W

Please put your name in the transaction reference field.