Kiwi K.A.R.E Marks $60 Million Humanitarian Milestone in Ukraine

New Zealand humanitarian group Kiwi Aid & Refugee Evacuation (Kiwi K.A.R.E) has announced that its operations in Ukraine have delivered more than $60 million worth of humanitarian impact since launching in May 2022.

Founded by former NZ Army officer and businessman Tenby Powell, the charity works deep inside Ukraine’s “Red Zones” — areas near active frontlines — providing vital medical aid, evacuations, and supplies to civilians and hospitals.

Powell said the group operates entirely on private donations, without government funding, relying on the generosity of New Zealanders and international supporters.

“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 said.

Since its inception, Kiwi K.A.R.E has conducted over 650 humanitarian missions, evacuated around 5,000 civilians, and delivered 37 ambulances and seven support vehicles to hospitals in Sumy, Kharkiv, Donetsk, and Kherson.

One of the group’s ambulances, named Aroha (“love” in Māori), was destroyed by a Russian drone earlier this year. The damaged vehicle now stands in Mykhailivs’ka Square, Kyiv, as a memorial to humanitarian workers and civilians killed during the war.

Kiwi K.A.R.E has also built and distributed more than 5,500 handmade stoves and boilers, created from recycled water cylinders, to help families and hospitals survive Ukraine’s freezing winters.

In 2023, the group sent three containers of medical supplies from New Zealand, including 1,000 hospital beds and 400 generators. However, Powell said most of their aid is now sourced locally within Ukraine to improve efficiency and reduce costs.

“We can still land a donated vehicle from New Zealand or Australia for about a third the price of a similar one in Europe,” Powell said. “It’s one of the many unseen inflationary impacts of Russia’s illegal aggression.”

Kiwi K.A.R.E’s efforts centre on three key initiatives — Road-of-Life, Heat-for-Health, and Medical Aid Distribution — and are measured through frameworks such as Effective Altruism and Quality-Adjusted Life Years (QALYs).

Powell said the team embodies the Kiwi spirit of efficiency and service:

“It is a privilege to have served with extraordinary people in support of Ukraine during its darkest days. We intend to stand beside the Ukrainians until the war ends.”

Each stove and boiler bears a brass plaque engraved with a map of Middle Earth and the words “With Love From New Zealand.”

Powell also emphasized that humanitarian work strengthens global diplomacy:

“Providing humanitarian service is a cornerstone of international diplomacy. It not only alleviates suffering but fosters positive global relationships and future cooperation.”

As the war nears its fourth year, Kiwi K.A.R.E continues to operate across eastern and southern Ukraine — maintaining what Powell calls a “small but meaningful New Zealand presence” on the humanitarian front lines.

To support their work, visit: www.kiwikareukraine.co.nz or Givealittle: Kiwi K.A.R.E.