‘Tis the season to be merry, and Red Frogs New Zealand will be returning to the Wānaka lakefront and skatepark this New Year’s to ensure young people are doing so safely. 

The alcohol harm safety response organisation was founded in 1997 in the Gold Coast, and takes its name from Allen’s Frogs Alive lollies - which are still shipped over to New Zealand for volunteers to hand out.

Red Frogs have been a key part of Wānaka and Queenstown’s New Year celebrations for the last five years, co-ordinated by Cromwell resident Shannon Thomson. Last year, they handed out 1,300 litres of water and 2,500 pancakes over three nights in the Wānaka town centre, from December 29 to 31. 

Their numbers have halved as the Covid-19 pandemic has seen volunteers return to their home countries, and a team of 30 will be providing support in Wānaka only this year in an effort to cover one area well, rather than be short-staffed in two. 

With groups of up to 500 young people gathering on the lakefront over Christmas and New Year for the last two years, Red Frogs work closely with Queenstown Lakes District Council (QLDC), police and ambulance to ensure everyone is able to safely enjoy the festivities, providing a chill out zone with water, phone chargers and conversation, as well as wandering the streets. 

“We help to relieve pressure on the ambos by providing care and comfort to those who may be a little worse for wear, holding their hair back while they get acquainted with a vom bag, or hang out on a bean bag and sleep it off,” said Thomson. 

She was seeking support from local businesses who might provide volunteers - who came from all over New Zealand to “spend their New Year’s looking after vomiting people” - with discounts to ensure they enjoyed their time here, supported local and kept coming back.

Contact Shannon on 021 130 1177 or shannon.thomson@redfrogs.com for more information. 

Read edition 1004 of the Wānaka Sun here.