Frequently Asked Questions

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• How do I download an Application Form?

  You can either request the form to be posted to you or download the pdf file from the Application Page link.

• What does Koru Care provide for children selected for overseas trips?

  Koru Care will provide these children with:

  • Airfares
  • Accommodation
  • Entry fees to all the attractions
  • Meals
  • Medical care and 24 hour caregivers
  • Travel uniform

• What does Koru Care Christchurch do?

  Koru Care Christchurch’s aim is to give some very special children aged between 8 and 15 years, an experience of a lifetime, assisting them to forget for a short time, their own serious (often ongoing) medical problems and enjoy themselves, as children should.  Most of these special experiences involve planes and flights, and every experience is fun, our aim is to achieve miles of smiles for children.  In particular, Koru Care Christchurch takes up to 24 children to Disneyland, USA each year.  You only need to see the smiles on their faces to appreciate what a difference a Koru Care experience can make to a child's outlook and sense of achievement and happiness.   Koru Care is a not-for-profit organisation who endeavours to raise the funds needed for each experience.

• How many Koru Care regions are there in New Zealand?

  There are 4 Koru Care regions in New Zealand, each region is separate and has their own constitution, rules and policies.  The Christchurch region covers from Waimate, in the south, the West Coast of the South Island, Nelson and Marlborough and of course Christchurch city.  From time to time Koru Care Christchurch accepts applications for children from the Wellington area.

  Please see map below:

  

   

   

   

• What type of medical problems do the children have?

  We provide special experiences for children with varied medical diagnoses, for example, children with cerebral palsy; heart and kidney conditions; childhood cancers; spinal injuries; strokes; muscular dystrophy; congenital disorders; disfigurement from burns, scaring or limb loss; various complex syndromes that effect the body; hearing and visual impairment; also those children who have had numerous surgical procedures; the list is a very lengthy one.  Not every child with a medical diagnosis qualifies for a Koru Care experience.

• How are the children selected?

   

  Koru Care receives lots of applications from children, so we do have a lengthy selection process, parts of this process include:

  • A comprehensive written Application form which is completed by the parents and by the child’s general practitioner;
  • Provision of a variety of doctors letters; reports on hospital procedures and clinic appointments; provision of laboratory and radiology results
  • a telephone interview with parent, and
  • visit/s with the child and their family
  • sometimes, but not always, contact is made with the child’s school
  • Medical diagnosis, age, mobility, maturity, and dependence all come into the selection process
  • Gaining Medical Insurance, for travel overseas, is also extremely important part of the application/selection process  

  It is important to note the following:

  • Not every child who applies to Koru Care is accepted
  • Koru Care has a waiting list

• What type of experiences do you provide for the kids?

  We provide a wide variety of fun experiences and activities. Below are links to some of these.
  
  

  Christchurch

  • Southern DC3 Flight
    • A fun day which includes a flight on the DC3 airplane and lunch with some well known Canterbarians.
  • Air New Zealand Tech Ops / Christchurch Engine Centre Open Day
    • Get an upclose experience in the main hangar amongst some cool aircraft, static displays and some fun activities including fire engines, bouncy castles, aircraft walkthroughs and visits to the engine workshop.

  Queensland, Australia

  • Sea World
  • Dreamworld
  • MovieWorld
  • Wildlife Currumbin Sanctuary

  USA

  • Disneyland California
  • Los Angeles Kings
  • San Diego Zoo
  • San Diego Seaworld
  • California Adventureland
  • Universal Studios
  • Knotts Berry Farm
  • Halloween Haunt
  • Hob Nob Hill
  • Pirates Dinner AdventurAAARRRGGGGHHHHH
  • Rainforest Cafe
  • Knotts Berry Resort Hotel
  • Sheraton Hotel, Hotel Circle, San Diego

• Auction Tickets

  Canellation and Refunds Policy

  • Tickets cancelled within 7 days of the event are non-refundable.
  • Tickets cancelled outside of the 7 days prior to the event are fully refundable.
  • It is the responsibility of the purchaser to cancel tickets in writing and by email to korucare@gmail.com.
  • Payments for refunded tickets will only be made to the ticket purchaser.
  • It is the ticket purchasers responsibility to ensure accurate bank details are given for refunds to paid into.

  Auction Tickets

  • Tickets will be emailed to the purchaser.
  • All tickets prices and payments are to made in NZD (NZ$ / New Zealand Dollars).