New Zealand Humanitarian and Medical Aid Agency, Kiwi K.A.R.E (Kiwi Aid & Refugee Evacuation) will soon deploy seven retired St John ambulances to Ukraine to assist with the delivery of critical medical supplies, and medical care.

In announcing the initiative Kiwi K.A.R.E. founder and director, Tenby Powell, says five of the ambulances will be donated to Ukrainian hospitals and medical centres operating close to the front lines with the remaining two ambulances to be retained by Kiwi K.A.R.E. as mobile health clinics.

'Being able to establish two Kiwi K.A.R.E. mobile health clinic ambulances will be important,” says the former Tauranga City Council mayor.

'Getting to those people in the greatest of need in Red Zone areas will make a material difference to their quality of life and at least provide some health support as they endure this war.”

Powell approached St John last year about taking some of their retired fleet into Ukraine. 'Having previously worked with a Polish team to take European ambulances into Ukraine, I knew the New Zealand fleet had been well maintained across its useful life and would be of huge value in the war-torn country.

'So, I approached St John, and they were absolutely tremendous to deal with from the outset.” St John infrastructure general manager David Thomas says the request by Kiwi K.A.R.E. came at the right time in terms of fleet retirement.

'Together, with the International Office of the Order of St John, we are supportive of all efforts to save lives and provide assistance to the innocent victims of this tragic conflict.”

The World Health Organization has recorded more than 800 attacks on hospitals and medical facilities in Ukraine from February to December 2022.

Of those, 150 hospitals, including children's hospitals and specialist cancer centres, have been completely destroyed.

Powell says being able to deploy the retired ambulances into Ukraine will significantly enhance Kiwi K.A.R.E's humanitarian work there.

'We have previously supported medical clinics in towns and villages under siege where residents are in desperate need of medical and dental assistance and who haven't seen a doctor or nurse for months.

'We often have medical professionals travel with us into the Red Zone towns and villages, and I knew, being able to operate out of a well-stocked ambulance, as opposed to a cargo van, would be big a step up in the delivery of professional health services.”

Getting the ambulances to Ukraine has been a team effort from a number of well-known companies.

'We have had tremendous support in moving four ambulances from Christchurch to meet up with the other three in Auckland, by KiwiRail,” says Powell.

'I approached KiwiRail who readily agreed to transport the Christchurch based units across Cook Strait. They have been amazingly supportive.”

Kiwi K.A.R.E. team working through winter.

The big move overseas will be managed by shipping company Wallenius Wilhelmsen, who control 128 vessels, servicing 15 trade routes to six continents.

'We were supportive of this project from the outset and, notwithstanding the logistics challenges of getting the ambulances to Europe, we are delighted to be able to make a tangible contribution in supporting Ukraine,” says Wallenius Wilhelmsen NZ sales manager Rory Kernahan.

Powell, who will return to Ukraine in May, says the Kiwi K.A.R.E. team and their Ukrainian humanitarian NGO partners are very excited to think the NZ ambulances will soon be in Ukraine.

A Ukranian resident.

'We are now seeking support to fill the ambulances with medical and humanitarian aid which is permissible to ship internationally.

'There is considerable space in the backs of each ambulance and there is a real opportunity for New Zealanders to get behind this and help us load all seven.

'We need everything from surgical equipment and pain killers to feminine sanitation products and nappies for babies.”

Kiwi K.A.R.E. has a fund-raising page on the Give-a-Little crowdfunding site. https://givealittle.co.nz/cause/kiwi-kare-ukraine-kiwi-aid-and-refugee-evacuation