Whakamaru

Building a community where there is no ‘us and them, a network of support services are available to anyone who steps through Whakamaru’s doors, as well as the residents housed within. These services include:

The Social Supermarket

The Wellington City Mission’s established Social Supermarket has moved with us from Newtown to Whakamaru. The Social Supermarket provides food for people who need it, when they need it, in a manner that prioritises dignity and choice. The Social

Supermarket also becomes a mechanism for engaging shoppers in other support services that may be helpful.

Opening Hours:

• Monday: 9:30 am–4pm
• Tuesday: 9:30 am–4pm
• Wednesday: 9:30 am–4pm
• Thursday: 9:30 am–4pm
• Friday: 9:30 am–4pm
• Saturday: 9 am–3 pm
• Sunday: Closed

The last appointment of the day is at 3.30pm (Mon-Fri) and 2.30pm (Sat).

If you would like to enquire about arranging a shop in our Social Supermarket, you can contact reception, or visit in person at 4 Oxford Terrace, Mount Cook.

Community Practitioners

Everyone’s circumstances are unique – that’s why our Community Practitioners have a wide array of skills. We have social workers, counsellors, addiction support workers and financial mentors – all providing support across areas such as housing, income, health, education and whānau support. Our team also provides advocacy to outside organisations and agencies where needed, in order to help people achieve positive outcomes.

The Whakamaru Crisis Recovery Café

Our Crisis Recovery Café is a community-based mental health crisis prevention and response service in a non-clinical, café-style environment. The café provides immediate support to individuals and whānau in mental distress who are not at immediate risk of harm to self or others. Our people and whānau-centred service aims to increase early access to mental health support in the Wellington region in a safe and reassuring environment. The Crisis Recovery Café provides trauma-informed care through one-to-one peer support, de-escalation, safety planning and by providing access to digital mental health services.

The Crisis Recovery Café is open 24 hours a day from Thursday at 7am, through to Monday at 7am.

Laundry and Showers

Manuhiri have access to dignified options for showering, laundry and toilet facilities at Whakamaru. These amenities can be used by anyone. They also act as a catalyst to engage in our community and, when needed, our support services.

External showers are open 24/7, freely accessible to anyone who needs to use them.

Our laundry services are open Mon-Fri, 9am-4pm.

Internal shower facilities are open Mon-Fri, 9am-4pm and Saturday, 9am-3pm, but external showers at the face of the building are open 24/7.

Medical Centre

Ora Toa operate their medical practice on the first floor of Whakamaru, providing a variety of services to their patients. We will work together with them to support the community.

Ora Toa’s operating hours can be found online, via their own website and search engine listings.

As well as being a place of support for those who need it, Whakamaru will act as a vibrant community hub where the people of our city can come together, regardless of life circumstance. Whakamaru has been designed with various spaces and features that will allow us to achieve this purpose:

Craig and Gail’s Café

Whakamaru is a hub for our whole community, and Craig and Gail’s café is at the heart of that hub. Serving high quality food and excellent coffee, Craig and Gail’s operates under a ‘contribute-what-you-can’ model. The model means those who can’t afford to pay can enjoy a koha meal, while those who can afford to contribute are able to provide kai and companionship to others.

A welcoming and inclusive café for everyone, our manuhiri, and indeed any member of the public, can enjoy Craig and Gail’s for as long as they want during opening hours. The space provides opportunities for people to strike up unlikely connections and friendships with people who they wouldn’t usually connect with. Open Monday to Saturday, we also occasionally have live music and karaoke on the stage!

Opening hours:

• Monday: 7:30 am–4 pm
• Tuesday: 7:30 am–4 pm
• Wednesday: 7:30 am–4 pm
• Thursday: 7:30 am–4 pm
• Friday: 7:30 am–4 pm
• Saturday: 8 am–3 pm
• Sunday: Closed

Meeting Spaces

Well-equipped meeting rooms make Whakamaru a centre for collaboration, with rooms available for booking at no cost for the wider Wellington community. In the course of people carrying out their business within Whakamaru, we will bring different communities across Wellington together under the same roof.

Bump Spaces

As well as being home to 35 transitional housing apartments, Whakamaru is home to the Wellington City Mission’s offices and associated staff. There are ‘bump spaces’ throughout the building wherein staff, volunteers, residential whānau and other guests can informally connect with each other, promoting a wider sense of community within the building.

The Chapel

Our Chapel, open 24/7, is for all people. As well as offering a place of prayer for all faiths, it is a place where people can seek solace, or just be still and reflect.

Our Reception Desk at Whakamaru, where you can enquire about seeking support or other key services within Whakamaru, is open Mon – Fri 9:30am – 4:30pm.

Support is offered on a first-come, first-served basis. To make sure each person receives the time and attention they need, we limit the number of people waiting at any given time. If you arrive and there are already people waiting, you may be asked to return later or the following day, depending on the time. Please note, the number of people we can see will vary based on the types of support people need, which can sometimes take longer.

Our on duty Whakamaru staff who run assessments for manuhiri (guests) and whānau seeking support, work during the following hours:

Monday to Friday:
9:30am – 11:45am
12:30pm – 3:15pm

Saturday:
9:30am – 11:45am
12:30pm – 2:00pm