Caritas Aotearoa

What Caritas Aotearoa does

Caritas Aotearoa New Zealand is the Catholic agency for justice, peace and development in New Zealand, founded in 1966 and operating as the official agency of the New Zealand Catholic Bishops Conference (NZCBC). Its functional mandate spans four programme areas: emergency relief (humanitarian response to crises such as Gaza, Myanmar, Sudan, and Ukraine), long-term development (sustainable farming, health, education, water and sanitation, climate adaptation, livelihoods) in the Pacific, Asia, Africa, and the Middle East, advocacy (climate justice, debt justice, human trafficking, housing, workers' rights), and school/parish education programmes (Caritas Challenge, Justice Leadership Days, Lent Reflection Programme, Social Justice Week). In 2024, the organisation reached more than 154,000 people with long-term development efforts and more than 472,000 people in crisis response, with the Gaza response alone reaching 1.78 million people since October 2023.

The organisation is structurally embedded in a global and domestic ecosystem. It is a member of Caritas Internationalis, a confederation of 165 Catholic humanitarian organisations, and operates under shared Caritas Internationalis Management Standards and Code of Conduct. Domestically, it is a founding member of the Emergency Alliance of New Zealand humanitarian organisations and a member of the Council for International Development (CID). Distribution occurs through Catholic parishes, primary and secondary schools, and youth groups across New Zealand, and through international Caritas partner organisations including Caritas Jerusalem, Bethlehem University, Tutu Rural Training Centre (Fiji), Lujan Home for Girls (Papua New Guinea), and the Catholic Diocese of Wabag.

Its revenue model is that of a charitable non-profit rather than a commercial enterprise. Funding derives from two declared streams: individual and organisational donations (including regular giving, one-time campaigns, and legacy bequests), and competitive government grants from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT) for international development and humanitarian work. Approximately 90% of income is committed to programme expenditure, with administration averaging around 10% over a five-year period. The organisation is headquartered in Wellington, operates with 11–50 employees, and is led by Chief Executive Mena Antonio, who concurrently serves as Vice President of Caritas Internationalis and Caritas Oceania Regional Coordinator. No proprietary technology platform, AI capability, or commercial pricing model is present; the organisation is governed by a 2023–2027 Strategic Plan and operates under Charities Registration No. CC36055.

Name

Caritas Aotearoa

Legal name

Caritas Aotearoa New Zealand

Website

https://caritas.org.nz

Company type

Private

Founded year

1966

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Caritas Aotearoa New Zealand is a Catholic humanitarian charity, founded in 1966 and headquartered in Wellington, that delivers emergency relief, long-term development programmes, social justice advocacy, and school/parish education across New Zealand, the Pacific, Asia, Africa, and the Middle East, funded primarily by individual donations and MFAT government grants.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Humanitarian Aid Services

NAICS

Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813), Community Food and Housing, and Emergency and Other Relief Services (6242), Emergency and Other Relief Services (624230)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

International & Local Implementing NGOs (HLAJAKAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Humanitarian-Development-Peace Nexus & Resilience Programming (BPADAEAK), Humanitarian Health & Emergency Medical Relief NGOs (HLAJAKAE), Refugee, Migration & Displacement Support (BPAGABAH), Nutrition & Food Security (Global Health) NGOs (HLAJAKAH), Refugee, Crisis & Humanitarian Education Partnerships (EiE) (EDADALAG)

Keywords

• Humanitarian aid services
• Emergency relief
• Community development programmes
• Social justice advocacy
• International development

Headquarters

HQ city

Wellington

HQ country

New Zealand

HQ region

Oceania

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain, Others

Revenue model

1. Individual and organisational donations: Donations and bequests from individuals, groups, schools, parishes and other organisations constitute a primary source of funding. The organisation runs regular giving programmes, one-time donation campaigns, and legacy bequest programmes.
2. Government grants (MFAT): Competitive grants from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT) fund development and humanitarian projects overseas. Government funding is available specifically for development and humanitarian work internationally.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Caritas Aotearoa New Zealand is the Catholic agency for justice, peace and development, delivering a portfolio of charitable programmes including emergency humanitarian relief, long-term development in sustainable farming, health, education and Disaster Risk Reduction, advocacy on climate and debt justice, and educational resources for schools and parishes. The organisation funded approximately 90 percent of income directly on programmes in 2024, reaching 154,000+ people in long-term development and 472,000+ people in crisis response.

Product overview

Caritas Aotearoa New Zealand is the Catholic agency for justice, peace and development, operating as a humanitarian charity rather than a technology company. The organization offers a portfolio of charitable programmes including emergency relief response, long-term development programmes in agriculture and livelihoods, advocacy for social and climate justice, and educational resources for schools. Key programmes include the One World Partnership regular giving programme, Caritas Challenge school fundraising, Lent Appeal campaigns, and the Turn Debt Into Hope advocacy campaign. The organization also produces the State of the Environment for Oceania report series documenting environmental impacts in the Pacific region.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Emergency Relief Programme Humanitarian response programme providing life-saving assistance including food, water, shelter, medicine, and emergency supplies to communities affected by disasters, conflicts, and crises worldwide (e.g., Gaza, Myanmar, Sudan, Ukraine). Delivered via the Caritas Internationalis network and on-the-ground partners such as Caritas Jerusalem.
• Long-term Development Programmes Long-term development initiatives focused on sustainable farming, food production, health, education, vocational training, livelihoods, and Disaster Risk Reduction in Pacific, Asia, Africa, and Middle East regions. In 2024, these programmes reached more than 154,000 people.
• Advocacy Programme Justice advocacy programme speaking out on climate change, refugees, family poverty, housing, workers' rights, human trafficking, and international human rights through research, public awareness campaigns, and government submissions.
• School Education Programme Educational resources and programmes for schools including Caritas Justice Chats, Caritas Challenge, Social Justice Week materials, Lent resources, and school prayer and liturgy resources, for primary and secondary schools across New Zealand.
• One World Partnership Programme Regular giving programme for individuals or families committed to supporting development in poor communities and emergency relief work through ongoing donations.
• Turn Debt Into Hope Campaign Global Caritas advocacy campaign calling for cancellation of unjust debts and reform of the global financial system to prioritise people and planet, with a focus on Pacific nations facing climate-related debt.
• State of the Environment for Oceania Reports Annual research publication series documenting climate impacts, coastal erosion, food and water security, and climate finance issues affecting Oceania communities since 2014.
• Parish Engagement Programme Parish-based engagement programme including the Lent Reflection Programme, Lent Webinars, Social Justice Week, Season of Creation campaigns, and emergency appeals to mobilise Catholic parishes across New Zealand.

Quantifiable outcome

• 154,000+ people reached with long-term development in 2024
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Tuvalu and Ireland (Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty conference co-host)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2027Ireland and Tuvalu will co-host the next international conference on transitioning away from fossil fuels (the follow-up to the Santa Marta Conference) in Tuvalu in 2027. This is a global policy forum rather than a direct operational partnership.
• Lujan Home for Girls (Papua New Guinea)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2017Lujan Home for Girls has been a Caritas partner since 2017, providing a safe haven for hundreds of girls in Papua New Guinea who have fled forced marriages, endured abuse, or come from impoverished families with limited access to education. The partnership also supports psychological support and education access.
• Caritas InternationaliscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCaritas Internationalis is the international confederation of Caritas organisations with 165 member organisations worldwide. Caritas Aotearoa New Zealand is part of this global network and works with member organisations as project partners for both relief and development. Some well-known Caritas members include CAFOD (UK), Trócaire (Ireland), and Catholic Relief Services (US). The relationship involves shared Caritas Internationalis Management Standards, Code of Conduct, and coordinated global humanitarian response.
• Emergency AlliancecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCaritas Aotearoa New Zealand is a founding member of the Emergency Alliance, a collective of New Zealand-based humanitarian organisations that uses its reach and resources to save lives after international humanitarian emergencies.
• Council for International Development (CID)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCaritas is a member of the Council for International Development (CID), the national umbrella agency for Aotearoa New Zealand's international NGOs and organisations working in international development and humanitarian response. Caritas abides by the CID Code of Conduct.
• Bethlehem UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBethlehem University is a Catholic co-educational institution in the Lasallian tradition founded in 1973. It is the first registered university in the Occupied West Bank and the only Catholic university in the Holy Land, with 3,259 students, 17,282 graduates, and 214 faculty members. Caritas supports the university's mission to provide quality higher education and 'teaching peace' to the next generation of leaders in the Holy Land.
• Tutu Rural Training Centre (Fiji)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTutu Rural Training Centre in Fiji empowers people facing tough challenges and teaches young people skills in sustainable farming, financial management, and livelihood development. Caritas supports this partner to help rural Fijian communities work, live and trade sustainably.
• Catholic Diocese of Wabag (Papua New Guinea)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCaritas supports the Catholic Diocese of Wabag with a gender-based violence programme in Enga Province, Papua New Guinea, where violence against women and allegations of sorcery are prominent. Training sessions educate locals about the inauthenticity of sorcery allegations and encourage standing up against violence.
• Caritas OceaniacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCaritas Oceania is a regional network of Caritas agencies across the Pacific region. Caritas Aotearoa New Zealand participates in the Caritas Oceania Forum and collaborates on State of the Environment for Oceania reports and advocacy initiatives including the Turn Debt Into Hope campaign. Mena Antonio, CE of Caritas Aotearoa New Zealand, serves as Vice President of Caritas Internationalis.
• New Zealand Catholic Bishops Conference (NZCBC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCaritas Aotearoa New Zealand is the official agency of the New Zealand Catholic Bishops Conference (NZCBC) for justice, peace and development. This is the founding and governing relationship for the organisation.
• Caritas JerusalemcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCaritas Jerusalem is the on-the-ground Caritas partner providing humanitarian support in Gaza and the Holy Land, including shelter, medical assistance, food, water and mental health support. Two Caritas Jerusalem staff have been killed since October 2023.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Save the Children New Zealand: NZ affiliate of the large global Save the Children federation. Overlaps in child-focused humanitarian and development programming, but operates at significantly larger scale with broader (secular) supporter base and brand.
• UNICEF New Zealand: NZ National Committee for UNICEF, the UN children's agency. Competes for institutional and individual donors in overlapping child-welfare, humanitarian and Pacific-focused programming, with materially larger global brand and institutional funding access.

Direct peers

• Christian World Service New Zealand: NZ ecumenical aid and development agency of the National Council of Churches, with overlapping humanitarian response, development and advocacy programmes. Comparable faith-based supporter mobilisation model and modest NZ headcount footprint.
• Trócaire: Irish Catholic overseas development agency explicitly named as a Caritas partner in the data. Operates with a near-identical mix of humanitarian response, long-term development, advocacy and Lent-season parish fundraising.
• CAFOD: Catholic Agency for Overseas Development, the official Catholic aid agency for England and Wales and a Caritas Internationalis member. Directly comparable in mission, parish-led fundraising model and development/humanitarian portfolio.
• Oxfam New Zealand: NZ affiliate of the Oxfam confederation, focused on humanitarian response, long-term development and advocacy on poverty and inequality. Direct competitor for institutional grants and individual NZ donors in overlapping Pacific and crisis-response programmes.
• Tearfund New Zealand: NZ-registered Christian humanitarian and development organisation with overlapping humanitarian response, long-term development, advocacy and church-based fundraising channels. Direct head-to-head competitor in the faith-based NZ donor market.
• Catholic Relief Services: The official US Catholic humanitarian agency and Caritas Internationalis member. Comparable mission across humanitarian response, development, peacebuilding and Catholic social teaching-grounded advocacy, though operating at materially larger scale.
• Caritas Australia: Sister Caritas Internationalis member organisation in Australia with a comparable mandate of humanitarian relief, long-term development, advocacy and school/parish engagement programmes. Directly comparable operating model, funding base and Catholic identity.
• World Vision New Zealand: Large NZ-registered international humanitarian and child-focused development NGO. Competes for the same NZ individual donor, parish and school supporter base, and operates similar child sponsorship, emergency response and advocacy programmes.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/caritasnz
• Facebookfacebook.com/caritasaotearoa

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Caritas Aotearoa