Key Facts:
- RRT served almost 10,000 free meals to hospital staff across New Zealand on International Nurses Day, with 250 volunteers at 18 events across 13 hospitals
- The initiative is part of a month-long campaign to serve 29,000 meals at 44 New Zealand hospitals and 46,000 meals globally across 94 hospitals
- The campaign aligns with the International Nurses Day theme Empowered Nurses Save Lives to recognise healthcare workers' dedication
- Chief nurses from various hospitals expressed gratitude for RRT's gesture in celebrating and supporting their healthcare teams
- RRT is the charitable arm of the Plymouth Brethren Christian Church, with 16,500 volunteers worldwide supporting community events and emergency services
Rapid Relief Team (RRT) has marked International Nurses Day by serving almost 10,000 free meals to nurses and hospital staff across New Zealand in one of the country's largest community appreciation events for healthcare workers.
More than 250 volunteers delivered hot meals at 18 events across 13 hospitals nationwide, from Auckland to Christchurch, New Plymouth to Palmerston North.
The initiative marks the start of a month-long campaign that will see RRT serve over 29,000 meals at 44 hospitals throughout New Zealand. The initiative also forms part of a global effort by RRT to provide 46,000 meals across 94 hospitals worldwide.
The campaign, themed around this year's International Nurses Day message "Empowered Nurses Save Lives," aims to recognise the tireless dedication of healthcare professionals and remind them that their service is valued by the communities they serve.
Paul Simmons, General Manager of RRT NZ, said:
"Our volunteers were honoured to be at hospitals across the country, serving free meals and saying thank you to the incredible nurses who care for our communities.
"This year's International Nurses Day serves as a reminder that to best deliver care for others, we must care for nurses too.
"We want to make sure they feel seen and appreciated. RRT is honoured to start this month-long initiative to give something back at hospitals nationwide."
Gillian Allen, Chief Nurse for Health NZ Mid Central, said:
"International Nurses Day is an important opportunity to recognise the commitment, compassion and resilience nurses demonstrate every day to support the patients and whānau, of our community, who require healthcare.
"As the Chief Nurse at Mid Central, I am incredibly grateful to the RRT for providing such a wonderful opportunity to celebrate with us, delivering not only food but an opportunity to gather and demonstrate appreciation for all our health care workers.
Jon Gullidge, Chief Nurse for Health NZ Taranaki, said:
"We're incredibly thankful to RRT for taking the time to honour our nurses, healthcare teams, and hospital staff. This gesture reminds them that their hard work is genuinely seen and appreciated."
"This lunch was more than a kind gesture - it was a powerful reminder to our staff that their service matters. Recognition from community partners like RRT helps celebrate the people who are at the heart of healthcare."
Nicola Scott, Nursing Director, Women's and Children's Christchurch Hospital, said:
"We really appreciate the time and care the RRT have taken to provide meals for our nurses and health care teams on International Nurses Day. The team at RRT are amazing and provided breakfast and lunch to ensure that all nurses and HCA's had access to a free meal.
"Knowing how hard our incredible nurses and HCA's work, it is lovely to be able to provide something for them to acknowledge how much we appreciate their mahi and compassion in caring for our patients."
The Rapid Relief Team is the charitable arm of the Plymouth Brethren Christian Church. Established in 2013, the RRT has more than 16,500 volunteers around the world who support community events and assist emergency services in times of disaster and crisis by providing meals and other support.
