Taskforce Kiwi

We are honoured to assist our colleagues at Team Rubicon Canada during their ongoing operation in Alberta, Canada. Our Rotation 2 team of five volunteers have been warmly welcomed by the TRC team, and are continuing their work in the ash and rubble of destroyed homes to retrieve property that may have survived the Jasper fire. We thank Team Rubicon Canada for this opportunity to work alongside their Grey Shirts, and thank Airlink, Inc. and United Airlines for the beneficial flight support to gets our volunteers to where they are needed most.

It is with deep sadness that we share the news of the recent passing of one of our own, Taskforce Kiwi volunteer Andrew Lloyd (Andy). Andy tragically passed away on Saturday, 7 September 2024 at aged 50. Our thoughts are with his wife Demelza and their sons, Logan, and Callum. Our hearts go out to them and their family and friends. We will be eternally grateful for the contribution that Andy has made through the organisation, having deployed to support Hawke’s Bay following Cyclone Gabrielle in 2023 and most recently holding the fort at home while Demelza deployed overseas. He is the perfect example of someone who sacrificed their time to help those he had never met in their time of need, and his efforts will forever be appreciated, both by the Taskforce Kiwi whanau, and by those he helped. Andrew's family have requested that donations are made in his memory to the animal rights charity SAFE New Zealand. Donations can be made here: https://lnkd.in/gXVcFDUm

Our 2nd rotation of volunteers are continuing their wildfire relief efforts in Lahaina, Maui. In support of our partner Red Lightning, our two organisations are working together to ensure homes impacted by the 2023 wildfires are cleared of smoke damage and residue so that local families can finally return to their homes, after over a year in emergency and temporary accommodation. This work will take some time, as up to 1,000 homes require thorough smoke remediation before they can be marked safe to move back into. Taskforce Kiwi and Red Lightning are looking into options for further TFK volunteers to deploy and continue providing skilled disaster relief support for our US partners. #lahainastrong #lahainawildfire #tfkiwi #disasterreadiness #disasterresponse #disasterrelief #disasterrecovery #wildfirerelief #volunteers #volunteering #community #veterans

Can you help Airlink, Inc. get disaster relief volunteers to the communities that need them? Airlink have been infallible in their commitment to helping Taskforce Kiwi volunteers travel to Jasper, Alberta to deliver necessary #Jasperwildfire disaster relief alongside Team Rubicon Canada. Put simply, TFK could not achieve the level of impact we do without the support of Airlink. Purchase a ‘ticket’ today and help Airlink fill their waka of disaster relief heroes ready to deploy and do their part. #AviationCares #disasterrelief #volunteer #wildfire #TFKiwi

People are at the core of everything we do at Taskforce Kiwi. Relief operations just like Operation Wildrose led by our fantastic colleagues at Team Rubicon Canada are designed around the needs of individuals, families, and communities following a disaster event. Often their needs are more than just physical work like impact assessments or debris clearance, it is also human connection and empathy that they need. Our team of disaster relief volunteers have been working alongside Team Rubicon Canada Grey Shirts and members of the community to sift through the rubble for the meaningful items that have survived the recent wildfires in Jasper, Alberta. It is during this work that they met Rachel, a Jasperite who was thankfully reunited with the ashes of her father as the team carefully worked through the remains of her home. We are so grateful to Rachel for sharing her experience with us. When the work gets hard physically and emotionally, it is moments like these that act as a great reminder of why it is so important.... He tāngata, he tāngata, he tāngata. It is people, it is people, it is people. #teamrubiconcanada #tfkiwi #disasterreadiness #disasterresponse #disasterrelief #disasterrecovery #floodrelief #volunteers #volunteering #community #veterans

The next TFK online Day One Induction is coming up this Saturday, 7 September 2024, from 1300-1530. Our Day One Induction covers who we are, what we do, and how we do it. It also details what's expected of you as a volunteer, and what you should expect from TFK. It is one of the four necessary steps required for deployment, and we're keen to get as many volunteers ready to go as possible to meet the challenge of future disasters at home and abroad. This is an opportunity for you to find out more about TFK, and everyone is welcome to attend. If you haven't submitted an Expression of Interest to join TFK, simply head to our website to sign up and receive an invite to the upcoming induction: https://lnkd.in/gpAwSeQk If you've already signed up and want to attend, email info@taskforcekiwi.org #tfkiwi #disasterreadiness #disasterresponse #disasterrelief #disasterrecovery #floodrelief #volunteers #volunteering #community #veterans

A fantastic hat choice for the 2011 Rugby World Cup winning coach! Sir Graham Henry, former All Blacks coach, and his lovely wife Lady Raewyn Henry recently ran into our Rotation 2 team as they were en route to Maui, Hawaii. The team continued their journey with one less hat, so it was very exciting to see it has reappeared in Johannesburg, South Africa in the lead up to the All Blacks v South Africa match. Thank you for the support Sir Graham Henry. 📷 Images originally shared on the All Blacks Facebook page and photo credit goes to them. #allblacks #allblacksvsouthafrica #TFKiwi #wearetaskforcekiwi #volunteer #volunteering #defence #veteran #emergencyservices #disasterrelief

This August, Taskforce Kiwi marked a significant dual milestone: our second anniversary of operations and reaching 600 dedicated volunteers. Coming from all corners of Aotearoa New Zealand, our growing team continues to bridge the gap in disaster relief, supporting impacted communities at homes and abroad. The selfless commitment of our volunteers has enabled us to carry out thirteen operations across six countries in the space of two years, providing vital direct support in numerous aspects of disaster relief. Here’s to the collective effort that continues to make a difference wherever and whenever it is needed. Thank you for your unwavering dedication and service team! To find out more, to join us, or to support our work, head to our website www.taskforcekiwi.org #tfkiwi #teamrubiconcanada #redlightning #disasterreadiness #disasterresponse #disasterrelief #disasterrecovery #floodrelief #volunteers #volunteering #community #veterans #emergencyservices

With two teams deployed, and another team preparing to depart Aotearoa today, Taskforce Kiwi has multiple international deployments taking place for the second time in 2024. In the town of Lahaina in Maui, Hawaii, our Rotation 1 team is preparing to hand over to our Rotation 2 team, who will continue the smoke remediation work that will get families back into their homes as soon as possible. This work is being done as part of a collaborative operation led by our US based partner, Red Lightning. Meanwhile, in the town of Jasper in Alberta, Canada, Rotation 1 team has arrived and started work on property recovery and sifting through the remains of destroyed homes for items that can be salvaged for families. This work is being done in conjunction with our Canadian based partner Team Rubicon Canada. This is the third operation the two organisations have teamed up for, with previous operations following Cyclone Gabrielle in NZ, and wildfires in Nova Scotia, CA, both in 2023. Our priority is supporting communities here at home but Taskforce Kiwi undertakes international deployments for three reasons: to strengthen international partnerships so that we can call on support here in New Zealand in the future; to continue to develop the skills and experience of our volunteers for future use at home; and to help wherever we can. #lahainafire #lahainastrong #albertafires #jasperwildfire #tfkiwi #teamrubiconcanada #redlightning #disasterreadiness #disasterresponse #disasterrelief #disasterrecovery #floodrelief #volunteers #volunteering #community #veterans

Seven Taskforce Kiwi volunteers are enroute to Canada to support Team Rubicon Canada with wildfire relief efforts in the town of Jasper, Alberta. Severe wildfires devastated Jasper in July, with large areas of forest decimated and significant property damage reported. At least 380 structures have been destroyed, including at least 800 housing units which has displaced thousands of residents. Once again, the support of Airlink, Inc. and United Airlines has been invaluable, getting our team where they need to go. Their support has enabled us to continue our impactful collaboration with Team Rubicon Canada, building on joint deployments together in 2023, both in New Zealand for Cyclone Gabrielle and in Canada for the wildfires in Nova Scotia. Once the team touchdown and receive their mission specific training, their responsibilities will include debris clearance of destroyed structures and sifting through the remains of destroyed homes for items that can be salvaged for families who have lost everything. In the meantime, TFK will continue to monitor the situation in collaboration with Team Rubicon Canada, assessing the requirement for additional teams to deploy. Find out more about our work and how you can support and get involved here : https://lnkd.in/gWzEZRmZ New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs & Trade #steponegetthere #SocialImpact #Wildfire #Alberta #Jasper #Wildfires #ABFire #tfkiwi #disasterreadiness #disasterresponse #disasterrelief #disasterrecovery #volunteers #volunteering #community #veterans