Taskforce Kiwi reignites sense of purpose for veterans
Taskforce Kiwi reignites sense of purpose for veterans
Taskforce Kiwi has completed over 20,000 hours volunteering to support communities following disasters. However it does more than just benefit communities; it provides tangible benefits to veterans who still have a strong desire to serve their country and community.
National Director of Taskforce Kiwi Richard Adams says the three pillars of purpose, identity and community attract veterans to join, and they benefit from the experiences.
“Some veterans find it difficult to adjust to civilian life, while others simply miss the service environment. Some may have jobs where they no longer feel like they are doing something worthwhile with others who share their values. This may impact their long-term mental health.”
“Veterans are used to going into challenging environments with a clear mission and taking action with teams straightaway to help communities. This is what Taskforce Kiwi offers them.
“Veterans can work alongside others who understand their lived experiences and have shared backgrounds. They may not have directly served together in the past, but their operating styles are similar and they bond immediately. When we ask veterans to reflect on their work, many talk about the improvement to their own well-being. This isn’t just from the purposeful work, but from the connections with other Taskforce Kiwi volunteers, “he said.
Established in 2022, Taskforce Kiwi is a wholly volunteer not-for-profit group that utilises the skills and experience of former and serving defence and emergency services personnel alongside members of the wider community to provide direct assistance to impacted communities before, during and after disasters.
Over 7,000 of the completed 20,000 volunteer hours have taken place over the last twelve months.
There has been extra demand for Taskforce Kiwi volunteers as the number of severe weather events and disasters have increased, primarily at home but also abroad.
Already in 2026, they have helped communities all over New Zealand. Since August 2022 they have helped in Australia, Vanuatu, Morocco, Sri Lanka, Canada, the US, Myanmar and Papua New Guinea.
Richard says they have had to scale up as the number of weather-related events has increased and they are always on the lookout for other volunteers, especially veterans.
“Around half of our 970 registered volunteers are current or were serving members of NZDF, or the armed forces of partner nations. Veterans are highly valued because of the skills and experiences they have, and we know our work offers a way to support their wellbeing,” said Richard.
If you are interested in signing up, and for more information, please check out Taskforce Kiwi’s website(external link).
