Wai Ora Christian Community Trust

What Wai Ora Christian Community Trust does

Wai Ora Christian Community Trust is a registered charitable trust (CC35808) headquartered in Whanganui, New Zealand, delivering integrated social services to vulnerable populations in the Whanganui region. Founded in 1989 by Marama Dey and registered as a charitable trust in 1991, the organization operates with 12 staff and a multi-member Board of Trustees, providing therapeutic social work and mentoring for rangatahi (youth aged 12-18) and their whānau, supported short-term accommodation (approximately 12 weeks) for individuals experiencing homelessness, vocational training in horticulture, carpentry, and literacy/numeracy, and venue hire. The organization's most recently launched initiative is Te Whare Manaaki, a project to build two affordable one-bedroom rental homes for kaumātua (elderly) at approximately $149,000 each, expanding service lines beyond youth into elderly housing insecurity.

The Trust operates on a non-profit, community-led go-to-market model anchored by government service contracts with Oranga Tamariki, Ministry of Social Development (MSD), and Youth Justice, supplemented by donations, grants, venue hire, a community op shop (Seek & Find Op Shop in Aramoho), and online donations via Stripe. Service delivery is conducted directly through the 49 Brunswick Road campus, schools, and home visits, with referrals from health providers, schools, iwi, and families forming the primary distribution channel. There is no proprietary technology platform; the organization relies on standard social services and community frameworks, with a Wix-hosted website serving as the primary digital presence.

The mission is grounded in a Christian and kaupapa Māori framework, with a 35+ year reputational track record in Whanganui. The Trust discontinued direct NZQA/TEC training accreditation in 2015 and now delivers vocational courses through partnerships (notably with Land Based Training for horticulture). Te Puna O Wai Ora Church was established as a separately-affiliated Māori Christian fellowship to support the broader mission. Revenue is not publicly disclosed.

Name

Wai Ora Christian Community Trust

Legal name

Wai Ora Christian Community Trust

Website

https://waiora.org.nz

Company type

Private

Founded year

1989

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Wai Ora Christian Community Trust is a Whanganui-based registered charitable trust delivering social work, youth mentoring, supported short-term housing, vocational training, and elderly housing projects for at-risk whānau, kaumātua, and individuals experiencing homelessness, funded primarily by government contracts and donations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Social Services

NAICS

Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (62412), Other Residential Care Facilities (6239), Residential Mental Health and Substance Abuse Facilities (623220)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Nursing & Personal Care Facilities (8050)

akta.pro primary industry

Faith-Based Social Services & Community Outreach (Food Pantries, Shelters, Counseling) (BPAGAJAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Youth Housing, Foster Care & Wraparound Support (Education-Linked) Nonprofits (BPAGADAO), Affordable Housing & Community Development (Housing, Community Land Trusts) (BPAGALAC), Behavioral Health–Capable Assisted Living (Mental Health/SUD Support) (HLADABAI)

Keywords

• Community social services
• Youth mentoring support
• Supported accommodation
• Vocational training programs
• Charitable trust services

Headquarters

HQ city

Whanganui

HQ country

New Zealand

HQ region

Oceania

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Government Service Contracts: Contracted by government agencies including Oranga Tamariki (formerly Department of Child Youth and Families) and MSD to provide social services, youth programs, and training. This represents primary funding for operations.
2. Donations and Grants: Relies on generous support from funding organisations, individual donors for regular giving, and donations towards practical projects. Registered Charity CC35808 eligible for NZ donation tax credits.
3. Venue Hire: Rents out hall space (seats 100 max) with WiFi and modest kitchen, and Wharemoe accommodation for small groups, providing rental income.
4. Seek & Find Op Shop: Community op shop operated in Aramoho, open Wed-Fri 9:30am-1:00pm, providing fair prices and cash sales or bank deposit options.
5. Grants and Funders: Funding from various grant organisations supporting infrastructure and special projects for 2023-2025, as well as service provider contracts.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Wai Ora Christian Community Trust delivers therapeutic social work, youth mentoring, and supported short-term accommodation for vulnerable populations in Whanganui, New Zealand. The Trust also operates vocational training programmes, a community op shop (Seek & Find), venue hire facilities, and is developing affordable rental housing for kaumātua (elderly). Services are funded primarily through government contracts with Oranga Tamariki and MSD, alongside donations and grants.

Product overview

Wai Ora Christian Community Trust is a registered charitable organization offering a portfolio of social services for the Whanganui community, grounded in Christian and kaupapa Māori values. The core offerings include Social Work Services providing therapeutic support for youth aged 12-18 and their whānau, Youth Services with Manaakitanga Mentoring for emotional regulation, and Supported Short-Term Accommodation providing temporary housing with case management support. The organization also operates Training and Education programmes for work readiness and horticulture, Venue Hire for community events, the Te Whare Manaaki Housing Project for elderly rental homes, the Seek & Find Op Shop thrift store, and a Volunteer Programme. These services work together to provide holistic support across housing, education, social work, and community engagement for at-risk youth and families.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Te Whare Manaaki: Housing project to build two affordable one-bedroom rental homes for kaumātua (elderly) within the existing papakāinga-style community.

Products and services

• Social Work Services Intensive, relationship-based social work for young people aged 12-18 and their whānau, providing therapeutic support, early intervention, and help overcoming complex challenges.
• Youth Services - Manaakitanga Mentoring Individual mentoring support for rangatahi to understand and manage big emotions such as anger, anxiety, frustration and stress, building positive life skills.
• Supported Short-Term Accommodation Temporary accommodation programme (approximately 12 weeks) providing safe housing for people experiencing homelessness or facing barriers to stable housing, with case management support towards sustainable long-term accommodation.
• Training and Education Programmes Work-ready skills programmes including E Tu Tangata (carpentry), Skills for Industry (building trade), Hands on Horticulture, Te Pou Hono Ki Toi (mahi toi), and Literacy and Numeracy courses. Partners with Land Based Training for Horticultural Courses Level 2-3.
• Venue Hire Community hall hire seating up to 100 with WiFi and kitchen facilities, plus Wharemoe shared accommodation for small groups, available most days.
• Te Whare Manaaki Housing Project Project to build two affordable one-bedroom rental homes for kaumātua/elderly within the existing papakāinga-style community, providing long-term affordable rental housing.
• Seek & Find Op Shop - Aramoho Community thrift store at Weka St open Wednesday to Friday 9:30am-1:00pm, providing affordable goods to the community with cash or bank deposit payment options.

Quantifiable outcome

• Short-term accommodation stays of approximately 12 weeks for housing-insecure individuals
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• City VisioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCity Vision is a network of local churches working together to strengthen community wellbeing. The partnership reflects a broad community commitment to addressing housing insecurity and improving wellbeing for older people. Volunteers from this network provide practical support during selected stages of the housing project, helping maximise the value of community investment.
• Land Based TrainingcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLand Based Training runs Horticultural Courses at Level 2&3 in Wai Ora's classroom using their gardens for practical work. This partnership enables continuation of horticulture training while maintaining Wai Ora's focus on tikanga and kawa in teaching people how to grow vegetables and eat healthy kai.
• Te Puna O Wai Ora ChurchminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTe Puna O Wai Ora Church (meaning 'The Pool of Living Water') is a Māori Christian fellowship raised up to help carry the mission of Wai Ora. This church emerged from the ministry and supports the broader mission beyond at-risk youth, serving as a spiritual foundation for the community work.
• Schools (Junior and Senior Secondary)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWai Ora developed social work support services for rangatahi in both junior and senior secondary schools. Social workers work alongside young people, families, schools and community partners to improve wellbeing, strengthen relationships, increase school engagement, and reduce need for intensive statutory intervention.
• Iwi and Health ProviderscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWai Ora works collaboratively with iwi, health providers and community organisations to provide coordinated support for young people and their whānau. These partnerships enable holistic, wraparound services addressing physical, mental, and spiritual needs.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Women's Refuge New Zealand: Federated network of community refuges providing short-term safe accommodation, social work and family support — funded by government contracts and donations. Operates a similar supported-accommodation + social work service mix to Wai Ora, though focused on family violence.
• Lifewise: Community-based charitable organisation providing supported housing, social work and disability services across Auckland. Shares the combination of residential support, wraparound social work, and mixed government/donation funding seen at Wai Ora.
• IHC New Zealand: Long-established charitable provider of disability support services, advocacy, and supported accommodation across New Zealand. Comparable as a registered charity delivering government-contracted social services and residential support for vulnerable populations.
• Salvation Army New Zealand: Large faith-based social services provider operating community ministries, social housing, and youth programmes across New Zealand. Comparable to Wai Ora in mission, faith-rooted service delivery, and mixed government-contract + donations funding model.
• Auckland City Mission: Charitable trust delivering social services, supported accommodation, and community programmes in Auckland. Operates an integrated social work + housing model funded by government contracts and donations, structurally similar to Wai Ora's wraparound approach.
• Barnardo's New Zealand: National NGO delivering child and youth social services, mentoring, family support and youth justice programmes funded largely via Oranga Tamariki contracts. Directly comparable to Wai Ora's youth social work, mentoring, and Youth Justice contracts.

Broad incumbents

• Oranga Tamariki — Ministry for Children: The NZ government ministry that commissions Wai Ora's youth and Youth Justice services. As the largest incumbent funder/buyer in the space, it sets contracting terms and is a critical counterpart rather than a competitor, but its broader in-house service delivery overlaps the same outcomes space.
• Habitat for Humanity New Zealand: Charitable organisation building affordable housing and supporting whānau in housing need across New Zealand. Comparable to Wai Ora's Te Whare Manaaki kaumātua housing work and community-fundraising-driven construction model.

Others

• Te Whatu Ora — Health New Zealand (Whanganui): Publicly funded health system delivering community health, mental health and disability support services in the Whanganui rohe. Adjacent enabling partner for Wai Ora's health and mental-health-adjacent youth and kaumātua work, not a direct competitor.

Regional players

• Community Networks Whanganui: Local Whanganui umbrella of community organisations and social service providers. Operates in the same city and catchment, often coordinating referrals and volunteer pipelines similar to those Wai Ora relies on.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/wai-ora-christian-community-trust

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Wai Ora Christian Community Trust