The Wellington City Mission Celebrates One Year of Whakamaru & Shares Impact Stats
The Wellington City Mission is delighted to celebrate the first anniversary of Whakamaru, which opened its doors on 30th October 2024 following a six-year development project.
In its first year, Whakamaru has become a hub for everyone in our region – a place for those in need of support, for those seeking connection, but also for the wider community to come together.
To mark the milestone, the Wellington City Mission will host a community street party at Whakamaru, on Saturday 1st November, with food stalls, live performances and activities for tamariki.
Whakamaru is home to 35 transitional housing apartments, Craig & Gail’s Café, a range of community facilities, and the Mission’s network of support services. Since opening, more than 62,000 manuhiri have walked through the doors – each one finding a place of welcome, care, and community.
Murray Edridge, Wellington City Missioner, says: “Whakamaru has been everything that we hoped it would be, and more. Over the last 12 months, we have seen the Wellington community come together in extraordinary ways as we seek to create a community where there is no judgement of each other, where there is no ‘us and them’”.
“Wellington has embraced Whakamaru and in doing so, we start the journey towards a community where everyone belongs, everyone matters, and everyone is ok!”
Key Services and Impact at Whakamaru (October 30, 2024 – October 29, 2025)
Community & Peer Support Workers: Whakamaru is home to a skilled team of social workers, financial mentors, counsellors, and peer support workers, who provide wrap-around care tailored to each person’s needs.
- Impact: Over 4,500 people and families have been supported through our Community Support and Financial Mentoring services since November 2024.
Transitional Housing: Whakamaru provides 35 long-term transitional housing apartments, primarily for rangatahi aged 30 and under. Residents receive holistic, wrap-around support to help them find stability, to rebuild, and eventually move into permanent homes.
- Impact: 43 rangatahi have lived at Whakamaru since opening — 10 of them have since transitioned into permanent housing.
Craig & Gail’s Café: Our “contribute-what-you-can” café is open to the whole community, offering kai, coffee, and connection. Those who can’t afford to pay don’t have to, while those who can are able to pay it forward for others.
- Impact: Over 28,000 lunch meals have been served to manuhiri since opening, ensuring no one in our community goes hungry.
Social Supermarket: The Mission’s Social Supermarket provides food support to individuals and whānau who are struggling to afford groceries. Shoppers choose their own items — from fresh produce to baby food — in a familiar supermarket setting.
- Impact: Over 6,000 shoppers have used the Whakamaru Social Supermarket in the past year, with more than 20,000 shoppers supported since the service began in 2021.
Kua Mākona I Whakamaru (Crisis Recovery Café): Operating within Craig & Gail’s, Kua Mākona i Whakamaru provides a safe, supportive space for people experiencing distress or crisis. Open 24/7 from Thursday to Monday, it’s always staffed by kaitiaki offering empathy, understanding, and connection.
- Impact: 545 people have been supported by the service since its launch earlier this year.
Free Showers & Laundry: Whakamaru offers free shower, laundry, and toilet facilities to anyone who needs them, with external showers available 24/7.
- Impact: These facilities have been used over 5,500 times since opening.
Other Community Services: The first floor of Whakamaru houses meeting spaces and a community room available at no cost to the wider Wellington public. Ora Toa also operates a medical centre onsite, strengthening access to health care and wellbeing support.
ENDS
For any media enquiries, please contact joe@wcm.org.nz
About Whakamaru
Whakamaru is a 24/7 community facility that exists to provide stability, offer care, and restore dignity to those who are struggling. It brings together housing, food support, social connection, and community support services, all under one roof.
Through Whakamaru, the Wellington City Mission seeks to achieve empowerment, transformation, and fullness of life for everyone in our community.
