News & Media

Cyclone Pam six month report

September 13, 2015

Saturday 13 September 2015 marked six months since Tropical Cyclone Pam struck Vanuatu causing widespread destruction across the eastern and south-eastern islands of the country and affecting about 188,000 people across 22 islands. An estimated 15,000 homes were damaged or destroyed, about 96% of food stocks were decimated and the water supply of 110,000 people was disrupted, destroyed or contaminated. Thanks to the generosity of donors and supporters from across the globe, Oxfam’s response to Tropical Cyclone Pam has reached close to 25,000 people in the first six months. Humanitarian activities have now moved from the response phase into the recovery phase. Oxfam’s programming for the next period will reflect this shift in focus, as well as the predicted impacts of El Niño on weather patterns.

Download file:

oxfam-cyclone-pam-6-month-report_web-edited.pdf

Pacific Islands Forum

September 11, 2015

Island leaders hold their ground as NZ and Australia fail once more to stand with the Pacific

A question of survival

September 7, 2015

Why Australia and New Zealand must heed the Pacific’s calls for stronger action on climate change. A report for the 46th Pacific Islands Forum Leaders Meeting, Port Moresby, September 2015.

Download file:

2015-86 Pacific Islands Forum Breifing – A question of survival_FA.pdf

New Zealand must heed Pacific call on climate

September 6, 2015

New Zealand and Australia must face up to the reality that climate change threatens the survival of some of their closest neighbours

European migrant crisis is a moral crisis of our time

September 4, 2015

Responding to the European migrant crisis Rachael Le Mesurier, Executive Director of Oxfam New Zealand, said:

“This year, the UN said that more people have had to flee war, violence and persecution than at any time since the Second World War. This is a global displacement crisis, and a moral crisis of our time. It is an issue of humanity and it is the collective responsibility of the global community to address it humanely.

“The images we are seeing in the news – like the small Syrian boy washed up on Turkey’s shores – are the result of a lack of global consensus on dealing with this issue humanely. We should not be seeking to build more walls. Saving lives and protecting people must be the first priority for all governments – including New Zealand.

“Oxfam is calling on the New Zealand government to increase our refugee quota from the paltry 750 people a year currently offered sanctuary in New Zealand. It is our duty as global citizens to offer as many of the frightened and desperate as we can, a safe haven in New Zealand.

“More than 4 million people have had to flee Syria alone to escape the civil war. The situation in Libya has resulted in more people than ever taking the perilous Mediterranean route to Europe.

“Every one of these individuals is a person with a name and life story. Their journeys alone are often terrifying ordeals with accounts of horrific abuse experienced en route at the hands of smugglers.

“Remember that no one takes their children on a perilous journey in a rubber dingy to a place they’ve never been before, unless they have no other option.

“These are people who have been forced to flee their homes risking horrific deaths for themselves and their families. They do this in a desperate attempt to escape poverty, war and social unrest – all of the issues Oxfam works to ease and eliminate.

“Regardless of where migrants come from and where they cross the border, the global community needs to ensure there is sufficient capacity to receive, register, house and process them – that their basic needs are met and their rights respected, including the right to claim asylum.

“It is a disturbing reflection of the world’s values when the leaders of the richest countries squabble over the resettlement of refugees. And when we see wealthy countries not stepping in to support countries like Hungry and Greece to ensure processes are fair and costs evenly distributed. This is especially shocking given 86% of the world’s refugees are in developing countries – with Turkey, Lebanon and Pakistan each hosting more than one million refugees.

“New Zealand has a real opportunity here to extend a helping hand to those who need protection and assistance. We’ve done it before and we can do it again. It’s time to step up and share the burden that is being borne by the world’s poorer countries who are stretched to their limits. Migration is not a threat to be stopped; it is a complex phenomenon we all have a duty to manage. In fact, it’s how many of us arrived in New Zealand – as migrants fleeing persecution, conflict and poverty.”

Donate to Syria crisis appeal

Watercare make a difference in the Pacific

August 10, 2015

The story began in September 2013, at ‘Misty Mangere Mountain’, where four hobbits decided to change the face of the world. Gathered together by their common passion, caring for water, they saw Oxfam’s fundraising event The Ripple Effect 2014 as the perfect way to focus their energy and fight for a good cause: to ensure that fresh water is available to small communities in the Pacific and joined forces to become the H20bbits.

Not only did they take on the challenge, they also won it by raising the most money to contribute to getting a Water, Sanitation and Hygiene Education (WASH) project off the ground. The prize for this winning team, the H20bbits, who were representing Watercare, was a trip accompanying Oxfam to Vanuatu to see first-hand the incredible difference clean water can make to those living in poverty.

When asked why they took part, the team said, “We wanted to be part of something that could make changes for a more sustainable way of living. Oxfam is a great way to do it and meet that goal, and shares the same vision we have.”

Clemence Carlinet, a Process Engineer at Watercare describes her trip to Vanuatu as unforgettable. “I’ll come back to NZ much more humble and richer of knowledge” she said.

During the trip, Clemence Carlinet, Daniel Leighton, Maria Eliza and Sanjay Kumarasingham visited three Rural Training Centres (RTCs), run by the Vanuatu Rural Development Training Centres Association (VRDTCA) and supported by Oxfam. It was at these centres they got to see the stark difference clean water makes, the huge health improvements that sanitation and hygiene education brings to communities and they got to speak to local people to see how their lives were being turned around by VRDTCA and Oxfam.

“We saw so many things in a few days! Villages and locals, farms, water and wastewater installations. It was amazing to see what can be done with constraints (budget, location, climate conditions). These people were all amazing, passionate people who are always thankful.”

It was at a RTC on Tanna Island where they met Michael. Michael, aged 15 had been kicked out of formal education two years earlier as his parents could not afford the school fees. Having heard about Napil RTC, Michael’s parents enrolled him in our Young Farmers Programme. Michael is deaf and unable to talk but learns well by watching others. He’s been involved with the programme for two years now and has a field full of 600 kava plants which, when they are fully grown, will sell for 200 Vatu each. Michael’s training not only gives him the knowledge of how to grow these plants, but he’s also taught what crops to plant and when, how to grow different varieties, and how to ensure his seeds flourish in the future.

But none of this would have been possible were it not for the WASH project which Oxfam led. Thanks to Oxfam supporters, Napil now has a simple rainwater harvesting system hooked up to a 5,000 litre tank and toilets. The water is used for everything – from drinking and washing, to preparing food and watering crops during the dry season, thus highlighting that clean water really does underpin sustainable development.

Later in the trip the team got to briefly put their expertise into practice when speaking to Kathy Solomon, the Founder and Director of VRDTCA. Whilst talking to Kathy and her team, the H20bbits began thinking about different designs for toilets which would use less water and could see the stark difference between the issues Kiwis face, as opposed to the daily struggles of the people living in Vanuatu.

Having seen the incredible difference that water makes to people’s lives, the team returned to NZ full of enthusiasm to continue supporting the work that Oxfam does in the Pacific, and are looking forward to taking part in the next challenge – the Oxfam Water Challenge 2015/16.

So, Watercare are asking you: Are you the best in the business? Would you like to win a life-changing trip to the Pacific too? If so, it’s time to flaunt your skills and take part in the Oxfam Water Challenge!

The Oxfam Water Challenge will see 25 teams of 4 people fundraising and pitting their wits against each other to design, plan and construct a solution to a water-based challenge – it will be a fun day where your team will be able to put their expertise to use and compete to be the best in the business. Not only will it be a great team-building challenge, but you’ll have the opportunity to showcase your company’s talent, network and more importantly raise money to make sure we can deliver clean water, sanitation and hygiene education to a rural village in Melanesia.

So – if you’re up for a challenge and want to go on an incredible trip like this, sign up to the Oxfam Water Challenge today! Sign up online or give Hannah a call on 09 355 6854. Let’s come together and make a splash for rural communities in the Pacific!