Mercy Women NZ

What Mercy Women NZ does

Mercy Women NZ, legally Nga Whaea Atawhai o Aotearoa (Sisters of Mercy New Zealand), is a Catholic religious congregation established in 1850 with the arrival of the first Sisters of Mercy in Auckland. It subsequently expanded to Wellington (1861), Canterbury/Christchurch (1878), and Dunedin (1897), and today operates as a unified, non-profit congregation headquartered at 15 Guildford Terrace, Thorndon, Wellington, under Congregation Leader Denise Fox rsm. The congregation is a participating member of the global Mercy International Association.

The organization's service portfolio spans spiritual, educational, and community ministries. Core offerings include spirituality ministries at Hou Mana Wai and Rosary House, the Whānau Mercy Ministries Trust for charitable work, affiliated primary schools (St Theresa's in Fusi, Samoa and St Joan of Arc in Leulumoega, Samoa), and the Mercy Conference Centre, a Wellington venue with capacity for up to 100 people managed by Karen Lowe. Regular publications (Karanga Atawhai, Te Puna Atawhai, Te Kete Atawhai) and digital resources distributed via the website (sistersofmercy.org.nz) and Facebook support community engagement.

The operating model is donation- and volunteer-supported rather than commercial. The only explicitly monetized unit is the Mercy Conference Centre, where pricing is not publicly disclosed and bookings are handled by inquiry. The underlying technology is a standard WordPress website with no proprietary platform, API, or AI capability. Geographic reach spans New Zealand (headquarters and Sisters of Mercy Wiri community), Samoa (affiliated schools), and Tonga (mission work), with a forthcoming bicentenary celebration in 2027 marking 200 years since Catherine McAuley founded the Sisters of Mercy globally.

Name

Mercy Women NZ

Legal name

Nga Whaea Atawhai o Aotearoa Sisters of Mercy New Zealand

Website

https://sistersofmercy.org.nz

Company type

Private

Founded year

1850

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Mercy Women NZ (Nga Whaea Atawhai o Aotearoa) is a Catholic religious congregation founded in 1850, serving Catholic communities in New Zealand and Pacific Island nations through spirituality ministries, affiliated primary schools in Samoa, mission work in Tonga, and the Mercy Conference Centre in Wellington.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Religious and Charitable Organization Services

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Religious Orders & Monastic Communities (Monasteries, Convents) (BPAGAJAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Local Congregations & Worship Communities (Churches, Mosques, Temples, Synagogues) (BPAGAJAA), Faith-Based Social Services & Community Outreach (Food Pantries, Shelters, Counseling) (BPAGAJAG)

Keywords

• Religious congregation services
• Spirituality ministry programs
• Conference venue facilities
• Primary education services
• Charitable trust operations

Headquarters

HQ city

Wellington

HQ country

New Zealand

HQ region

Oceania

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Others, Infrastructure

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Mercy Women NZ is a Catholic religious congregation (Sisters of Mercy New Zealand) that operates a conference venue facility in Wellington, delivers spirituality ministries (Hou Mana Wai, Rosary House), supports community outreach through the Whānau Mercy Ministries Trust, runs affiliated primary schools in Samoa, and engages in mission work across the Pacific including Tonga. The congregation serves Catholic community members seeking spiritual development, organizations needing conference facilities, and Pacific Island communities requiring educational and ministerial support.

Product overview

Mercy Women NZ (Nga Whaea Atawhai o Aotearoa / Sisters of Mercy New Zealand) is a Catholic religious congregation offering a diverse portfolio of spiritual, educational, and community services. The organization operates the Mercy Conference Centre as a venue facility in Wellington, manages various spirituality ministries (Hou Mana Wai, Rosary House), operates the Whānau Mercy Ministries Trust for charitable work, and maintains affiliated educational institutions including St Theresa's Primary School in Fusi, Samoa and St Joan of Arc School in Leulumoega, Samoa. The congregation also publishes regular newsletters (Karanga Atawhai, Te Puna Atawhai, Te Kete Atawhai) and provides spirituality resources. The organization is part of the Mercy International Association and conducts mission work in the Pacific region including Tonga and Samoa.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Mercy Conference Centre: Conference facilities offering state of the art facilities in Wellington, including a large conference room (up to 100 people), smaller meeting rooms, and outdoor courtyard areas.
• Whānau Mercy Ministries Trust
• Dare Mercy
• Earth Promise
• Hou Mana Wai
• Rosary House

Products and services

• Mercy Conference Centre A conference venue facility in Wellington offering state-of-the-art facilities including a large conference room (seating up to 100 people), smaller meeting rooms, interview rooms, breakout areas, and an outdoor courtyard. Available for hire by organizations and groups seeking event and meeting space. Managed by Karen Lowe.
• St Theresa's Primary School, Fusi, Samoa An affiliated primary school in Fusi, Samoa providing primary education services to local community with support from Sisters of Mercy New Zealand mission programs.
• St Joan of Arc School An affiliated school in Leulumoega, Samoa (also known as St Joan of Arc and Paul VI Schools) operated in connection with the congregation's Pacific mission work, providing primary education services to local community.
• Hou Mana Wai A spirituality ministry location under the Mercy in Action spirituality section providing spiritual support services to the Catholic community.
• Rosary House A spirituality ministry location under the Mercy in Action spirituality section providing spiritual support services to the Catholic community.
• Whānau Mercy Ministries Trust A charitable trust managing community development and Mercy-related ministries in Aotearoa New Zealand, working in conjunction with the Sisters of Mercy congregation to advance Mercy mission and values in the local context.
• Sisters of Mercy Wiri A ministry location under Mercy at Work in Wiri, New Zealand, operating as part of the broader Mercy network with shared mission and values, providing community outreach and service activities.

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Mercy International AssociationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGlobal umbrella organization for Mercy congregations worldwide. Sisters of Mercy New Zealand participates in this international network that connects Mercy communities across multiple countries. The MIA coordinates global Mercy initiatives and the bicentenary celebration in 2027.
• Whānau Mercy Ministries TrustcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTrust entity supporting Mercy ministries in Aotearoa New Zealand. Works in conjunction with the Sisters of Mercy congregation to advance Mercy mission and values in the local context.
• St Theresa's School, Fusi, SamoaminorOthersAffiliated primary school in Samoa operated under Mercy mission. Provides education services to local community with support from Sisters of Mercy New Zealand mission programs.
• St Joan of Arc School, Leulumoega, SamoaminorOthersAffiliated primary school in Samoa operated under Mercy mission. Provides education services to local community with support from Sisters of Mercy New Zealand mission programs.
• Mission in TongaminorOthersMercy mission activities in Tonga serving local communities through various outreach programs including spiritual support and community development.
• Sisters of Mercy WiriminorOthersSisters of Mercy community in Wiri, New Zealand, operating as part of the broader Mercy network with shared mission and values.

Recent moves4 records

Expansion highlights3 records

Others

• Presbyterian Support Central: A large New Zealand faith-based social services organization delivering community, family, and elder care services across the lower North Island. Comparable as a faith-motivated nonprofit providing community outreach and support services with similar geographic anchoring.
• Caritas Aotearoa New Zealand: The Catholic agency for justice, peace, and development in New Zealand, running social outreach and humanitarian programs with Pacific Island focus. Comparable as a Catholic-affiliated organization delivering community outreach and Pacific mission work similar to Mercy Women NZ's ministries.
• Mercy International Association: Dublin-based global umbrella organization that connects all Sisters of Mercy congregations worldwide and coordinates international initiatives. Comparable as the governance and coordination backbone for the same religious order, though it operates as a federation rather than a direct operating peer.

Direct peers

• Sisters of Mercy of the Americas: The largest province of the Sisters of Mercy, operating across the United States, Central and South America with extensive education, healthcare, and justice ministries. Comparable as a sister congregation of the same global order with a substantially larger operational scale.
• Marist Sisters New Zealand: Another Catholic women's religious congregation active in New Zealand with parallel ministries in education, spirituality, and outreach. Comparable as a peer Catholic women's religious order operating similar faith-based ministry programs in the same country.
• Sisters of St Joseph of Nazareth (New Zealand): A Catholic women's religious order with a presence in New Zealand running schools, retreats, and community ministries. Comparable as a peer women's religious congregation with similar spirituality, education, and community outreach activities in the same geographic market.
• Sisters of Mercy of Australia & Papua New Guinea: The Australian province of the same Sisters of Mercy religious order, operating an analogous portfolio of education, healthcare, and social outreach ministries across Australia and PNG. Directly comparable as a sister congregation of the same global order with similar mission and ministry mix.

Broad incumbents

• Methodist Church of New Zealand: A major Protestant denomination operating parishes, social service arms, and community programs across New Zealand. Comparable as a large faith-based organizational peer running community-facing ministry and outreach programs in the same country.
• Anglican Church in Aotearoa, New Zealand and Polynesia: The Anglican province covering New Zealand and the Pacific, operating parishes, schools, and social service agencies across the same geographies including Polynesia. Comparable as a major faith-based institutional operator with overlapping education and Pacific mission footprints.

Regional players

• Catholic Diocese of Wellington: The Catholic diocesan authority in the same Wellington geography, operating parishes, schools, and social services under Catholic mission. Comparable as a fellow Catholic institutional body operating faith-based community programs in the same region, though structured as a diocese rather than a religious order.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat2 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/sistersofmercynz
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/mercy-women-nz

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Subsidiaries4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Mercy Women NZ