With the help of former Director-General of Health Sir Ashley Bloomfield, the Wellington City Mission recently launched Wellington’s Greatest Deed.
A final fundraising drive for Whakamaru, the event saw Sir Ashley descend a Wellington high-rise to sign a giant deed to Whakamaru.
The seven-metre-long deed, located on the corner of Cambridge Terrace and Courtney Place, symbolises the shared ownership of Whakamaru by The Mission and the people of Wellington.
With $4.5 million still needed to reach the fundraising target for Whakamaru, anyone can now join Sir Ashley Bloomfield and add their own names to deed by donating to Whakamaru.
“This is more than just a donation drive”, Sir Ashley Bloomfield said. “It’s about coming together as a community. Whakamaru will have a positive impact on the lives of Wellingtonians – whether that’s through its 35 transitional housing units, social supermarket, or 24/7 care services. I may not love heights, but I’m happy to live with a bit of fear for such a great cause.”
“Whakamaru is a significant milestone in The Mission’s history and it represents an important evolution in our services”, said Wellington City Missioner, Murray Edridge. “We have seen a huge increase in demand for our services as New Zealanders do it tough. This shows us there is a critical need for us to rethink how we ‘do community’. Whakamaru will reshape how the Wellington community supports and cares for each other. It eliminates the divide between ‘us and them’, providing care and support for those who need it. By donating to Wellington’s Greatest Deed, Kiwis will help to create a lasting legacy for Wellington, and take symbolic ownership of Whakamaru.”
Everyone who donates to Whakamaru will have the option to add their name to the deed. The deed, which will be updated by an abseiler at regular intervals over the coming weeks, will then be moved to Whakamaru where it will live forever.
To find out more, head to https://wellingtoncitymission.org.nz/deed
