New Zealand Red Cross is scaling up at speed to address the urgent needs of people on temporary visas in Aotearoa New Zealand who are experiencing serious hardship due to COVID-19.

From July 1, people who are in need and on temporary visas can check their eligibility and apply through foreignnationals.services.govt.nz. The programme will run for three months.

Working with Te Tari Taiwhenua, Department of Internal Affairs, who is managing the New Zealand Government’s Foreign Nationals Impacted by COVID-19 Programme (known by New Zealand Red Cross as ‘Visitor Care Manaaki Manuhiri’), New Zealand Red Cross will deliver in-kind assistance to help foreign nationals meet basic needs, such as food and accommodation.

Internal Affairs is administering the online system and processing applications. New Zealand Red Cross is delivering the assistance. New Zealand Red Cross support will include needs assessments, local distribution of in-kind aid, psychosocial support, and engaging the community to ensure that our support is reaching the people who are eligible and most in need.

– TIN Bureau

Points to note:

Read the FAQs here https://www.redcross.org.nz/documents/499/300620_ApplicantFAQs_VCMM.pdf

To find the eligibility, go to https://uniteforrecovery.govt.nz/business/covid-19-financial-support-tool/

To apply, go to https://foreignnationals.services.govt.nz/