Waiheke Trucking for Ukraine

Every Sunday on Waiheke at 8am a diverse group of approximately septagenarian men meet to walk and talk about everything under the sun for 90 minutes. Conversation ranges from health, politics, sport, family, economics, world affairs and sometimes even their feelings. What gets discussed as they move along together stays within the group plus any disagreements are left out on the island’s quiet roads.

Except when they decided they really needed to do something about the increasingly forgotten humanitarian crisis in Ukraine. Waiheke Trucking for Ukraine is their island community fundraising and awareness project that aims to purchase a 10 tonne truck. The vehicle will be purchased in Europe and then assist Tenby Powell’s six month old Kiwi K.A.R.E (Kiwi Aid and Refugee Evacuation) organisation in their much needed missions into war torn Ukraine’s red zones.

They also aim to increase the conversation and awareness locally about the humanitarian crisis that is affecting so many people who were not that long ago living relatively normal lives, perhaps walking and talking with their mates along peaceful roads on a Sunday morning. - Words by Sarah Gloyer