stories from the frontline

UNICEF Aotearoa and NZ Government partner to ensure children have the best start in life

The partnership will ensure more children across the Asia Pacific are in preschool and school, and making progress in their learning.

Our work overseas

How the Aroha Partnership came to be

UNICEF Aotearoa’s ongoing partnership with MFAT - Delivering positive and sustainable change for our Asia-Pacific neighb...

Media releases and reports

Unveiling a new name and brand positioning for UNICEF Aotearoa

13 JULY 2021

Media releases and reports

Over 30,000 cyclone affected Fijian children and their families to receive support under new UNICEF - Government of New Zealand partnership

SUVA, FIJI 25 June 2021

Media releases and reports

In recognition of Sir Ian Hassall's passing

10 August 1941 – 14 June 2021

Media releases and reports

Affordable, quality childcare inaccessible in many of world’s wealthiest countries – UNICEF

18 June 2021

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Yemen’s Hidden Emergency: An Education System in Crisis

UNICEF Yemen takes a multi-pronged strategic approach to strengthen the education system’s capacity to support access to...

Our work overseas

COVID-19 vaccines: 5 reasons why dose donations are essential

Vaccines will help us end the COVID-19 pandemic, but only if everyone has access to them.

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An open letter on vaccine dose donations

The G7 Summit is a vital opportunity for G7 leaders to agree the actions that will get COVID-19 vaccines where they are ...

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Kiribati receives first batch of COVID-19 vaccines

25 MAY 2021

Our work overseas

In Gaza, at least 60 children have been killed and another 444 have been injured in less than 10 days.

May 20, 06:30am NZT

Media releases and reports

In It Together: Cotton On partners with UNICEF to help deliver 1 million COVID-19 vaccines to the world’s most vulnerable

24 May 2021

Media releases and reports

Immediate humanitarian access needed to stave off disaster for Gaza’s children

UNICEF Executive Director Henrietta Fore

Media releases and reports

Eight Palestinian children killed in the Gaza Strip last night

AMMAN, 15 May 2021

Our work overseas

Celebrating mums everywhere this Mother's Day

Supporting and caring for mothers around the world is something very close to our hearts at UNICEF

Media releases and reports

Vodafone matches donations for India as Covid-19 cases continue to surge

07 MAY 2021

Media releases and reports

UNICEF NZ supports India during crippling Covid-19 crisis

30 APRIL 2021

Media releases and reports

Syria receives its first delivery of COVID-19 vaccines through the COVAX Facility

From UNICEF Regional Director for the Middle East and North Africa, Ted Chaiban, WHO Regional Director for the Eastern M...

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Syrian children have witnessed so much tragedy

New Zealander James Gray shares his experiences from the field

Our work overseas

Voices of 10-year-old Syrian refugees

Ten years into the Syria crisis, funding is decreasing but the needs remain high – with children facing a double crisis ...

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Water scarcity

Addressing the growing lack of available water to meet children’s needs.

Our work overseas

Hope in their hands: Refugee children share their keepsakes

A picture, a toy, a blanket. All have something in common — they’re the most precious object in the world for a Syrian r...

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The Syrian War in 10 Pictures

10 years on the situation for many children and families remains precarious, with nearly 90 per cent of children in need...

Media releases and reports

Syria conflict 10 years on: 90 per cent of children need support as violence, economic crisis and COVID-19 pandemic push families to the brink

Almost 12,000 children killed or injured in the past decade, according to verified data – an average of more than three ...

Media releases and reports

Geneva Palais briefing note on the situation of children in Syria after ten years of conflict

This is a summary of what was said by UNICEF Syria Representative Bo Viktor Nylund – to whom quoted text may be attribut...

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Syrian crisis

After a decade of conflict, children continue to pay the heaviest price.

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The right choice of a syringe

The auto-disable (AD) syringes UNICEF will deliver to support COVID-19 vaccination have an additional mission: to help p...

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Transporting 1 billion syringes to the world

The word unprecedented will always be associated with 2020.

Our work overseas

UNICEF begins shipping syringes for the global rollout of COVID-19 vaccines under COVAX

100,000 syringes will arrive in Maldives, with more countries to receive imminent deliveries for rollout of COVAX Facili...

Our work in NZ

New Zealand’s child poverty stats grow faster than my potatoes

On Tuesday, 23 February, Stats NZ will release Aotearoa’s Child Poverty statistics for Year ended June 2020.

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Big Problems Need Big Solutions

We reached more than 760 million children with life-saving vaccines over the last 20 years, and helped prevent more than...

Our work in NZ

Chiefs lock Naitoa Ah Kuoi opens up on rugby and living a healthy lifestyle

“Initially, I wanted my kids to be sports stars, but at the end of the day, I just want them to be happy and healthy. If...

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Virtual Field Trip

Join us on our Virtual Field Trip to the Solomon Islands and Papua New Guinea

Media releases and reports

UNICEF NZ appoints leading-edge CEO

Leading children’s rights organisation selects Michelle Sharp as its new Chief Executive Officer.

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A firsthand account from the hours after Beirut's explosion

Jackeline Atwi's niece was missing. As she desperately tried to find her, hope was running low.

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Hunger Relief - Malnutrition

Hunger and malnutrition deprive children of essential nutrients, making them susceptible to severe versions of common si...

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Hunger Relief - Water Lilies

Nine-month-old Baby Chiengjiuk lives in Bentiu camp for displaced people in South Sudan.

Our work overseas

Hunger Relief - Grass

Nyabel Wal travelled for six days to look for food, only to come back empty-handed. With no other options, she’s been fo...

Media releases and reports

On World Children’s Day, UNICEF warns COVID-19 is causing irreversible harm to children

Children and adolescents account for 1 in 9 of reported COVID-19 infections, according to new analysis released by UNICE...

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5 Things You Should Know About Malnutrition

Childhood malnutrition affects more than 229 million kids worldwide. It's a triple threat which includes undernutrition,...

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Would you go this far to help children?

UNICEF Health Worker Paul Maesiala travels on a boat for three hours to reach children in remote Solomon Islands.

Our work overseas

Displacement leaves its traces on health and nutrition of children in Cabo Delgado

Mossa is the only father in the group. He has come today with his four children: “I wanted to give their mother a break ...

Media releases and reports

1 in 6 children lives in extreme poverty, World Bank-UNICEF analysis shows

The pre-COVID-19 analysis reveals that 356 million children struggle to survive on less than $1.90 a day, two-thirds of ...

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Former refugee Robel Teklay knows what it means to be hungry

Robel talks to UNICEF NZ about growing up with precious little food in Sudan and his journey to New Zealand

Our work overseas

What families eat for breakfast around the world.

Some breakfasts are hot, some are cold. Here’s what breakfast looks like for children in 10 countries around the world.

Our work overseas

How little Adut beat malnutrition

From not being able to stand by herself, to walking again on her own - this is Adut's 8 week journey to recovery.

Our work overseas

It is an ambitious goal – to end global hunger by 2030

Are we on track?

Media releases and reports

Fragile gains to health of women and children threatened

Gains made to advance women and children’s health are threatened by conflict, the climate crisis and COVID-19.

Media releases and reports

Kiwi Entrepreneur Commits to Help End Racism and Discrimination in Schools.

Young Entrepreneur Sharndre Kushor celebrates her 26th birthday with the launch of a foundation and a partnership with U...

Our work in NZ

'I want all kids to be free of racism'

Kiwi musician Paige Tapara is a singer-songwriter. She spoke to UNICEF NZ about racism, growing up feeling disconnected ...

Our work in NZ

Vivien Maidaborn steps down as Executive Director of UNICEF Aotearoa NZ

Vivien Maidaborn is stepping down from her role after more than six years.

Our work in NZ

New Report Card shows that New Zealand is failing its children

Report Card gives New Zealand an F for failure when it comes to wellbeing outcomes for children.

Media releases and reports

How do we help the most vulnerable children from failing in our education system?

COVID-19 has significantly increased education disparity amongst New Zealand's low-income families and those that enjoy ...

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How do you deliver vaccines during a pandemic?

Vivien Maidaborn is used to fielding unusual questions. But this was a question even she hadn’t heard before.

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Six ways UNICEF is helping children after the explosions in Beirut

Here's what we're doing to help children in Beirut.

Our work overseas

"What a time to deliver a baby!"

On the day Khalid held his oldest daughter for the first time, there was an explosion close to the hospital where she wa...

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Concern for wellbeing of children following explosions in Beirut

UNICEF concerned children among the casualties after massive explosion in Beirut.

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Breastfeeding during coronavirus

An interview with nutrition expert at UNICEF South Asia

Our work overseas

Inside one of Yemen's few operational hospitals

Only half of Yemen's health centres are functional. We went inside one of the main hospitals in Sana'a.

Our work overseas

One Love single featuring Māori singer released worldwide

Māori soul singer TEEKS features on new version of One Love launched by members of the Marley family.

Our work overseas

Yemen's children 'want peace'

Aussie aid worker Harriet Dwyer wants to remind people that Yemeni children can truly flourish with the right support.

Our work overseas

UNICEF New Zealand and Bybit launch partnership

An innovative partnership to help children in greatest need

Our work in NZ

Parents of newborns get four more weeks of paid parental leave

Kiwi parents can now spend a full six months at home with their precious pēpi (baby).

Our work overseas

Samoa better prepared for Covid-19 after measles outbreak

Reflections six months after the measles outbreak that killed 83 people.

Our work in NZ

UNICEF's Childhood Challenge

The Childhood Challenge is simple: pull out that old photo album and reminisce about your favourite childhood memories. ...

Our work overseas

Kane Williamson goes to bat for clean water and soap

"We can make a huge difference to people's lives by giving them access clean water and soap."

Our work overseas

COVID-19: A double emergency

COVID-19 is bringing a new threat to already battered countries – and makes delivering life-saving assistance even harde...

Media releases and reports

Highly regarded Māori  advocate joins UNICEF NZ

UNICEF New Zealand today welcomes Brandi Hudson to the role of Deputy Executive Director – Child Rights.

Our work overseas

Global leaders come together to raise $13.6b for vaccines

Enough money to immunise 300 million children.

Our work overseas

Millions of children at risk as Covid-19 impacts nutrition, education and vaccines

Covid-19 has impacted access to vaccines, education, and exacerbated issues around food shortages.

Our work overseas

Hand washing around the world

The simple act of hand washing is the best protection we have against Covid-19.

Our work in NZ

COVID-19: Number of children living in household poverty set to soar

New analysis from Save the Children and UNICEF reveals that without urgent action, the number of children living in poor...

Our work overseas

Yemeni children face fighting a virus in a war zone

After more than five years of conflict, families in Yemen now face the threat of a deadly pandemic without even the most...

Our work overseas

Protecting Pacific Kids from Covid-19

As Covid-19 spreads around the world, communities in the Pacific are desperately preparing to respond to the imminent th...

Our work overseas

Snaps of Covid-19 lockdown life with children from around the world

Photographers in countries around the world are at home with their families – these are their photos.

Our work overseas

Through pandemics and epidemics, UNICEF has been there (and will be there)

For more than 70 years, we have been working to improve the lives of children and their families.

Our work overseas

The difference soap and water can make in a refugee camp

As Covid-19 spreads around the world, water and soap are more important than ever before. But what if you didn’t have ac...

Our work in NZ

Youth Week: What is the value of education?

A reflection on the value of education in the wake of Covid-19.

Our work overseas

New Zealand commits $5m to UNICEF to support Indonesia’s Covid-19 response

NZ govt pledges $5 million to protect Indonesia against Covid-19.

Our work overseas

Child mortality rate set to increase for first time in decades without urgent action

The COVID-19 pandemic is fast becoming a lasting crisis for children.

Media releases and reports

Children are the unseen victims of COVID-19

UNICEF appeals for NZD $2.6 billion to meet the growing needs of children impacted by COVID-19.

Our work in NZ

Gemma McCaw wants all Kiwi mums to know they’re not alone

Gemma McCaw speaks to UNICEF NZ about the joys of motherhood and why looking out for others is so important during the C...

Our work overseas

Pregnant mothers and babies born during Covid-19 pandemic under threat

With 116 million expected births in the approximately 9 months since the Covid pandemic was recognised, UNICEF calls on ...

Our work overseas

Six inspirational stories about mothers around the world

As COVID-19 continues to turn our lives upside down, Mother’s Day will look a little different.

Our work overseas

Vaccines and the diseases they prevent

Find out more about the most commonly recommended vaccines.

Our work overseas

A day in the life of a vaccinator in Mali

Going the distance to reach every child, no matter where they live.

Our work overseas

The lengths to which health workers go to reach every child with vaccines

Vaccines can prevent disease outbreaks now and in the future.

Our work in NZ

Kiwi Mum encourages parents to ask for help amidst Covid-19 crisis

As the Covid-19 crisis pushes families to the brink, Kiwi Mum Malaina Tuafa says now is not the time to worry about putt...

Our work overseas

Routine vaccinations must continue – UNICEF

As COVID-19 has continued to spread globally, more than 117 million children in 37 countries may miss out on receiving t...

Our work overseas

World Immunisation Week 2020

Find out how vaccines keep your child and community safe.

Our work overseas

In the race to fight against Covid-19, UNICEF's supply chains are working 24/7

The Covid-19 pandemic is having an unprecedented impact on global supply chains. UNICEF is developing innovative solutio...

Our work in NZ

A Kiwi mum explains the importance of food parcels

Maya Vai Bourne has a massive heart – she supports her husband Anthony who is on dialysis for ten hours a day as well as...

Our work overseas

Pacific islands face two crises at once

Not only must the region protect its people from the deadly coronavirus pandemic, it has to also recover from a second w...

Media releases and reports

UNICEF NZ and The Salvation Army partner to reach families in response to Covid-19

For the first time ever, UNICEF New Zealand is fundraising to support Kiwi children and families impacted by Covid-19.

Our work overseas

What will COVID-19 mean for the Pacific?

"It's even more important that we continue to support children in these communities."

Our work overseas

How children around the world are adapting to life under COVID-19

Children and parents around the world are making a new normal

Our work in NZ

How teenagers can protect their mental health during COVID-19

Six strategies for teens facing a new (temporary) normal.

Our supporters

What children want to know about coronavirus

Straight from the playground - here are the tough questions kiwi kids want answered about Covid-19.

Our supporters

Coronavirus

What can you do? Be part of the solution!

Our work overseas

Covid-19 is devastating Italy

But rainbows offer a ray of hope all over the country. “Andrà tutto bene"