His parents and grandma sheltered in a basement when the bombs fell, while Alex stayed up all night messaging them every 15 minutes to check they were safe.

"I would pay any price to just go back three weeks ago when there was just nothing and my parents were safe at home," he said.

After nine days of bombing, his parents took their dogs and fled to Prague. Alex wants them here with him.

"Knowing that they're safe and knowing they're next to me and knowing there's nothing threatening their lives, that's the most important thing."

They soon could be after many petitions called for New Zealand to take Ukrainians in.

"The community in New Zealand has asked for help in sheltering their family members who have been forced to flee their homes during Russia's unprovoked attack, and we have listened," said Immigration Minister Kris Faafoi.

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The special two-year working visa is for the family of the 1600 Ukrainian-born New Zealand citizens or residents.

They can now sponsor their parents - like Alex's - grandparents and adult siblings, or adult children and their immediate family. It's believed that's about 4000 Ukranians.

They also won't need the usual paper work or to pay fees.

"They are in a war and that the usual documentation just won't be available - we'll make it work regardless," said Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern.

But National leader Christopher Luxon says it's come a fortnight too late: "It could have been done two weeks ago - common sense stuff."

New Zealand is also giving another $4 million in aid - $2 million to the UN humanitarian effort on the ground and $2 million to the refugee agency.

It's not just money Ukraine needs to defend itself - it's weapons too.

One of the weapons that has slowed the Russian momentum is the javelin anti-tank weapon, which the United States is shipping to Ukraine in the thousands.

New Zealand has 24 of them - and the ACT Party says Ukraine needs them more than us.

"I don't think there are any Russian tanks in New Zealand right now," said ACT leader David Seymour. "What is the New Zealand Defence Force doing this week that's more important?"

The Immigration Minister has asked the UN whether New Zealand can take any of the 2 million refugees who have already fled Ukraine. The reply was not yet, it's too early, and to instead please send aid.

But Faafoi fully expects a formal request for us to take refugees in the future.