When people think of Hato Hone St John, they often picture flashing lights, ambulances, and emergency response teams.
But some of the organisation’s most meaningful work happens quietly — through ongoing care, connection, and everyday support within communities across New Zealand.
From weekly friendship phone calls to medical alarm support and youth development programmes, Hato Hone St John helps thousands of New Zealanders feel safer, more connected, and less alone every single day.
A Friendly Voice Can Change Someone’s Day
Since 1994, the Hato Hone St John Caring Caller programme has been helping foster connection and a sense of belonging through something simple, yet incredibly powerful: regular human contact.
The programme offers free weekly phone calls from trained volunteers who provide companionship, conversation, and a friendly voice to people throughout the community.
These calls are genuine conversations — opportunities to chat, laugh, share stories, and remind someone that they are cared for.
Today, the Caring Caller programme:
- Makes approximately 50,000 calls every year
- Is supported by more than 700 volunteers
- Helps more than 650 clients feel socially connected
- Has been supporting communities for over 26 years
For many participants, these conversations become an important part of their week.
One participant, after years in the programme, shared how those regular conversations helped rebuild their confidence and social connection over time. Eventually, they felt inspired to become a source of support for others too — wanting to offer the same friendship, honesty, and encouragement that had once helped them.
It’s a powerful reminder that sometimes the smallest acts of connection can have the biggest impact.
Helping People Feel Better Than Fine
Hato Hone St John also supports tens of thousands of New Zealanders through their Medical Alarms service.
For older adults and vulnerable community members, medical alarms provide reassurance that help is always within reach — whether after a fall, during a medical emergency, or simply for peace of mind.
Today, Hato Hone St John supports:
- 60,396 medical alarm customers
- More than 162,000 medical alarm activations annually
Falls alone contribute to nearly a quarter of alarm activations requiring ambulance support.
For many families, these services provide comfort not only for the person using the alarm, but also for loved ones who want to know someone is there when needed most.
Supporting Young People and Future Communities
Connection and care also extend to younger generations through Hato Hone St John youth programmes and community education initiatives.
By helping young New Zealanders build confidence, leadership skills, resilience, and first aid knowledge, these programmes help strengthen communities for the future.
Whether supporting older adults, helping people remain independent both at home or when out and about, or empowering young people through education and volunteering, Hato Hone St John’s work reaches far beyond emergency response.
Why This Matters to Makana
At Makana Confections, we’ve always believed that meaningful connection matters.
So many of life’s important moments happen around simple acts of care:
- checking in on someone,
- spending time together,
- sharing stories,
- offering comfort,
- or letting someone know they’re thought about.
That’s why this year’s partnership with Hato Hone St John feels especially meaningful to us.
Their work reminds us that community support isn’t only about responding during emergencies — it’s also about helping people feel connected, supported, and cared for every day.
Supporting the Hato Hone St John Annual Appeal
Throughout June, Makana Confections is donating $3 from every box sold of our Limited-Edition Dark Macadamia Butter Toffee Crunch to the Hato Hone St John Annual Appeal. Available at a special June price of $26.90, this limited-edition release directly supports the building and refurbishment of vital ambulance stations across New Zealand.
These stations play a critical behind-the-scenes role in emergency care — providing spaces where frontline crews can rest and recover between callouts, restock essential equipment, and prepare to respond quickly and safely when communities need them most. By strengthening this infrastructure, the Annual Appeal helps ensure that the people who deliver urgent care every day are supported with the facilities they need to do their work effectively.
You can learn more about this year’s Light the Way campaign here: Light the Way Annual Appeal
If you’d like to support this work directly, you can also make a donation here: Donate to Hato Hone St John
Every contribution helps strengthen emergency response services, first aid training, and community care across Aotearoa — ensuring help is there when it’s needed most.
The Importance of Staying Connected
Whether it’s a reassuring phone call, a medical alarm response, support for young people, or emergency care during critical moments, connection remains at the heart of what Hato Hone St John does.
And often, simply knowing someone is there can make all the difference.
This June, every box purchased helps support the people, programmes, and places that help communities across Aotearoa feel safer, stronger, and more connected.