New Zealand humanitarian organization Kiwi Aid & Refugee Evacuation (Kiwi K.A.R.E) reported that it has achieved a humanitarian impact valued at $60 million since launching operations in Ukraine in May 2022.
Founded by former New Zealand Army officer and businessman Tenby Powell, the charity operates in Ukraine’s “Red Zones” – areas near active combat – delivering medical and humanitarian aid to civilians and frontline hospitals.
Powell, as per a press release from Kiwi K.A.R.E., said the group, which is entirely privately funded and receives no government support, has been sustained through donations from New Zealanders and international contributors.
“New Zealanders, together with citizens and organizations from around the world, have supported us financially and through in-kind donations of ambulances, services, and hundreds of tonnes of humanitarian aid,” Powell is quoted.
According to Kiwi K.A.R.E, the organization has carried out more than 650 humanitarian missions, evacuated around 5,000 civilians, and delivered 37 ambulances and seven support vehicles to medical units in high-risk regions, including Sumy, Kharkiv, Donetsk, and Kherson.
One of those ambulances – Aroha, meaning “love” in the Māori language of New Zealand’s Indigenous people – now stands in Mykhailivs’ka Square in central Kyiv. It is one of two New Zealand ambulances attacked by Russian drones this year and now serves as a stark reminder of war crimes committed against civilians and humanitarian organizations.
Aroha was among 38 decommissioned ambulances, all named in Māori and delivered into service in Ukraine by Kiwi K.A.R.E. Two of those vehicles have been attacked by Russian drones near the front lines since June. The damaged ambulance now symbolizes both the cost of rescue missions and the courage of volunteers who risk their lives to serve the people of Ukraine during the ongoing illegal full-scale invasion.
Its teams have also fabricated and distributed over 5,500 stoves and water boilers, built from recycled hot water cylinders, to help families and hospitals heat homes and facilities through Ukraine’s harsh winters, Kiwi K.A.R.E says.
In 2023, Kiwi K.A.R.E shipped three containers of medical aid from New Zealand, including 1,000 hospital beds and 400 generators. Powell said that as the charity’s logistics network developed, most aid is now sourced locally within Ukraine.
“We do still ship ambulances from New Zealand and Australia as we can land a donated vehicle in Europe for about a third the price of a similar model. This is one of the many unseen inflationary impacts of Russia’s illegal aggression on its neighbor,” Powell is quoted.
Kiwi K.A.R.E’s work is organized around three main programs – Road-of-Life, Heat-for-Health, and Medical Aid Distribution. The organization assesses its overall humanitarian value through frameworks including Effective Altruism, Lives Saved, and Quality-Adjusted Life Years (QALYs).
Powell said the organization has “punched above its weight,” citing New Zealand’s tradition of efficiency and adaptability in global service.
“It is a privilege to have served with some extraordinary people in support of Ukraine during its darkest days and we intend to stand beside the Ukrainians until the war ends,” Powell says.
Each stove and boiler distributed by Kiwi K.A.R.E carries a brass plaque engraved with a map of Middle Earth and the words “With Love From New Zealand.”
Powell emphasized that humanitarian outreach also strengthens international diplomacy:
“It is important to remember that providing humanitarian service is a cornerstone of effective international diplomacy. By addressing urgent needs – such as food, safety, and healthcare – donor countries demonstrate their commitment to global welfare and human rights. This proactive approach not only alleviates suffering but also creates positive relationships, encouraging future collaboration on broader geopolitical issues.”
As Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine nears its fourth year, Kiwi K.A.R.E continues to operate across eastern and southern regions, maintaining what Powell describes as a small but meaningful New Zealand presence in Ukraine’s humanitarian front lines.
For more information or to contribute, visit www.kiwikareukraine.co.nz or Givealittle: Kiwi K.A.R.E.