21 years in business

Location: Otaki / Wellington Region

Contact Name: Carolyn Press-McKenzie

Website: huha.org.nz

Business mission and vision:
When animals are at risk, HUHA calls communities to action and together we save lives.
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“HUHA a national organisation that is dedicated to teaching empathy to the community and providing shelter for those less fortunate animals that struggle to survive in today’s disposable culture. The sanctuary is fun and interactive in many ways, designed to encourage our community to be proactive and take responsibility for the welfare of animals and the protection of our unique environment. HUHA actively works everyday to find homes and foster care for a multitude of homeless, abandoned, seized and abused animals. We also respond to provide temporary animal shelter and care to communities across NZ effected during disasters. We’re here to help you help animals.”

With optimism and a fearless determination, we tackle the hardest problems and put in whatever work is required. Our perseverance and creative problem-solving enables us to find ways to fix the broken and to create better outcomes for animals, people and communities.

2021 National Semifinalist – NZ Local Hero – Kiwi Bank New Zealander of the Year award, Carolyn Press McKenzie

2019 Supreme Winner – Upper Hutt Community Award, HUHA

2019 Wellington Airport Awards • Winner – Heritage & Environment – Upper Hutt Community Award Wellington Airport Awards – HUHA – Helping You Help Animals Trust

2017 Recipient – Assisi Award – Companion Animals NZ, Carolyn Press McKenzie

2015 Semi Finalist – Women of the Year Awards – Next Magazine, Carolyn Press McKenzie

2014 • Recipient – Volunteer Recognition Award – Volunteer Kapiti, Claire Thornton

Nominated – Pride of New Zealand Award, Carolyn Press McKenzie

2014 Recipient – Local Hero Award – Kapiti – Kiwi Bank New Zealander of the Year awards, Claire Thornton

2013 Recipient – Local Hero Award – Kapiti – Kiwi Bank New Zealander of the Year awards, Sam Hart

2012 • Recipient – Local Hero Award – Wellington – Kiwi Bank New Zealander of the Year awards, Carolyn Press McKenzie

2010 • Recipient – Local Hero Award – Wellington – Kiwi Bank New Zealander of the Year awards, Carolyn Press-McKenzie

We saw a desperate need

We needed to prove ourselves in a very closed off sector. We also needed to gain New Zealanders trust and once that was achieved, we needed to cope with their overwhelming needs and expectations.

It took a while to prove our worth and be accepted by others in the animal welfare sector. Now we are seen as leaders and are invited to the table and join other NZAW leaders to discuss and problem solve key issues at ground and government level

We always have our gumboots on and are ready to go. If we see a situation unfolding we jump in. We always turn up in a respectful and diligent manor. It took a while for others to see the value in that. But our problem solving skills and achievements over the past 21 years have taken us from being viewed as an insignificant little animal charity to the go to in NZ animal welfare response.

We started as a small charity and now we employ 17 staff as well as up skill many volunteers needing work experience

Our stead fast values and problem solving capabilities

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We have a Veterinary contractor, a fund raising contractor, a project Manager for our new shelter build and tradies

All our team receive training. Currently 7 shelter staff are studying to become Rural Animal Technicians and 6 are doing an animal care course. We are also actively putting the team through H & S training. Some have just completed psychological first aid training and rural fire emergency training. We are heading to Auckland tomorrow to participate in a simulated cyclone wildlife evacuation …training is non stop and so important to us.

We are flooded in positive feed back daily. Mostly from community members that we have helped or businesses and other agencies that we have worked alongside or assisted

The satisfaction of saving lives

We have 82k followers in FB who are very actively involved in our day to day. We also have many schools and businesses who sponsor, donate or volunteer.

We look for a gap and fill it. During COVID we organised and supplied $200k of donated pet food to food banks and struggling animal rescues across NZ

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