Red Frogs have been out on the frontline at New Year’s hotspots for the past decade but sustainable funding to keep going has become a constant challenge.
The charity, which once operated through its Australian branch but was now run locally, provided alcohol- and drug-free safe zones during festivals, Castle St and university events, and New Year’s celebrations.
The support programme was mostly run by two full-time staff and 400 volunteers – a quarter of whom gave up their New Year's Eve celebrations to keep young revellers safe.
Red Frogs NZ national director Ray Thomson told 1News the organisation looked after more than 300 people across six locations over the New Year's period.
"So that's 300 young people that wouldn't have been able to look after themselves, would have put more stress on St John, more stress on police, more stress on security and event organisers," he said.
Otago Lakes area commander Inspector Paula Enoka agreed, telling 1News their presence "can be helpful in terms of helping people before they get to the point of needing further assistance of emergency services, allowing police to continue other prevention activities".
Enoka said while it was "largely full of good vibes and good people" during this year's celebrations, there was "noticeable intoxication".
"Police issued around 100 infringement notices for breaching the liquor ban in Wānaka over the period of 30 and 31 December – a reminder that the rules are in place to help everyone keep safe."
A 'safe space' for support
The not-for-profit is coming up to its 11th year in the mix assisting emergency services and supporting around 180,000 people around New Year’s.
"We get to provide support for young people, you know, hold their hair back as they vomit… put pancakes and water into them and just help to provide a safe space so that they can get home safely," Thomson said.
"Think of us as a cooler older brother and sister; in my case, maybe Grandma and Grandad."
But long-term funding was hard to come by.
"There's a big countdown timer that comes on, similar to every other charity," he said.
"We spend a lot of time trying to provide sustainability for the programmes that we offer and every time we do, that actually takes us away from the frontlines where we could actually just be cooking pancakes, hanging out with young people and just providing support."
Thomson said while they had tried multiple funding models and avenues, the charity did not always fit the criteria.
"We've got 10 years of statistics that show that we are effective, that we are consistent, and we've been consistent over time. It's always a real shame when we see really great initiatives that are only last one generation or one leader.
"We actually want to be able to resource the local regional coordinators, the people that are on the ground."
'Vitally important' work
Red Frogs is calling on parents to prepare their children to celebrate responsibly. (Source: 1News)
Mental Health Minister Matt Doocey, who spent some time in Queenstown over New Year’s and observed Red Frogs in action, said the not-for-profit's work was "vitally important".
"It is about support networks, it's ensuring that people are safe, and they get good education messages about being safe while they're out," Doocey said.
The Queenstown Lakes District Council, which runs New Year's Eve fireworks and DJ events on the Queenstown and Wānaka lakefronts, were supportive of the initiative.
In a statement, the council's relationship manager for arts and events Jan Maxwell told 1News the Red Frogs and its volunteers played as "integral and much-valued part of the Council-led team delivering New Year’s Eve celebrations safely".
"They play an important role at a time when we see peak numbers of domestic and international visitors joining thousands of our locals," she said.
"Speaking with our teams on the ground, it’s fair to say the New Year celebrations in Wānaka and Queenstown wouldn’t have been as safe or successful without Red Frogs there, so a huge thank you from QLDC."
The council said it hoped to work with the charity again in the coming years.
Doocey was exploring whether Red Frogs and other community organisations that "really deliver that harm minimisation message" could access funding through the Alcohol Levy. The levy, which funded alcohol harm reduction, was raised by the Government in 2024 from $11.5 million per year to $16.6 million.
"It's all about education and we want to educate the next generation of drinkers," he said.
Thomson hoped the organisation would be able to continue for many New Year's to come.
"I think as long as it's a good procurement process and reasonably wide criteria with good accountability. I think that's a really, really great thing," Thomson said.
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