Wellington City

What Wellington City does

The Wellington City Mission (legal name: The Wellington City Mission Anglican Trust Board) is a registered charitable trust and faith-based community social services organisation established in 1904 by St Peter's Anglican Church and headquartered in Wellington, New Zealand. It serves individuals and families experiencing homelessness, housing instability, food insecurity, mental distress, addiction, financial hardship, and unmet healthcare needs across the Greater Wellington region, with primary segments being rough sleepers, those in emergency accommodation, and low-income families. The organisation operates an integrated wraparound model centred on its Whakamaru community hub (opened November 2024 at 4-8 Oxford Terrace, Mount Cook), which co-locates supported transitional housing (Te Ō, Te Pā Pori, and the Whakamaru site), a crisis recovery café, a Social Supermarket, free dental services (delivered via partner Ora Toa), peer support workers with lived experience, financial mentoring, free showers and laundry, and Craig & Gail's contribute-what-you-can café. Three charity retail stores in Wellington and Petone, alongside meeting room hire, provide earned-income support, while the Mission also administers the Wellington City Council Mayoral Relief Fund (including a NZ$100,000 flood-relief component post-April 2026) and operates the Kemp Home & Hospital aged care facility.

The Mission's revenue model is diversified across individual donations (one-off and ChangeGavers regular giving), trusts and foundations, gifts in wills, government grants from Te Whatu Ora, MSD, and ACC, charity retail sales, and social-enterprise café revenue. Most client-facing services are provided free at point of use; the café operates on a pay-what-you-can model, and the Social Supermarket offers groceries at reduced unit prices (NZ$60 single adult, NZ$230 family of four). The go-to-market motion is community-led, relying on walk-in access at the Whakamaru hub, referrals from government agencies (MSD, Kāinga Ora), healthcare partners (Ora Toa), and partnerships with commercial donors such as Foodstuffs/New World. Distribution is regional across Wellington, with all operations confined to New Zealand and no global footprint.

Operationally the Mission is staff-intensive (11-50 employees), with 71,277+ manuhiri served in Whakamaru's first year, 32,966 hot meals served in 2025, 6,475+ free shower/laundry uses, 180+ residents in transitional housing, and 40+ rangatahi housed since opening. Strategic partnerships span Wellington City Council, MSD, Kāinga Ora, Te Whatu Ora, ACC, Ora Toa, Foodstuffs, and the Wild Game Recovery Trust, and the Mission publicly advocates on social policy, including opposing criminalisation of rough sleeping via a Justice Select Committee submission.

Name

Wellington City

Legal name

The Wellington City Mission Anglican Trust Board

Website

https://wellingtoncitymission.org.nz

Company type

Private

Founded year

1904

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Wellington City Mission is a 1904-founded New Zealand charitable trust providing integrated homelessness, transitional housing, food security, peer support, and free dental services through its Whakamaru community hub, serving vulnerable Wellington residents via government referrals, donations, and social enterprise.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Social Services

NAICS

Community Housing Services (62422), Emergency and Other Relief Services (624230), Community Food and Housing, and Emergency and Other Relief Services (6242), Temporary Shelters (624221)

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

Homelessness Prevention, Shelter & Supportive Housing Services (BPAIANAC), Housing Assistance & Homeless Services (BPAGAEAB)

Keywords

• Social services
• Community support
• Transitional housing
• Homelessness services
• Food security

Headquarters

HQ city

Lower Hutt

HQ country

New Zealand

HQ region

Oceania

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: One-time and recurring donations from individuals supporting the Mission's work, including regular giving programs (ChangeGavers) and one-time contributions.
2. Trusts and Foundations: Partnership funding from charitable trusts and foundations that support specific programs and services.
3. Gifts in Wills: Legacy giving through bequests and planned gifts from supporters.
4. Government Funding: Funding from Te Whatu Ora, MSD, and ACC for specific services including dental care and emergency housing support.
5. City Mission Stores: Revenue from retail stores selling donated goods including clothing, furniture, books, and homeware. Proceeds fund Mission services.
6. Craig & Gail's Café: 'Contribute what you can' café model where customers pay what they can afford, supporting both revenue and community connection.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Wellington City Mission is a faith-based charitable trust that delivers wraparound social services from its Whakamaru community hub in central Wellington. Its core offerings include supported transitional housing, crisis recovery support, food security programmes (Social Supermarket and a 'contribute-what-you-can' café), free trauma-informed dental care, peer-led mental health and addiction support, financial mentoring, and basic amenities (showers and laundry). The organisation targets people experiencing homelessness, families in financial hardship, and individuals with unmet healthcare needs across the Greater Wellington region.

Product overview

Wellington City Mission operates as a community social services organisation offering an integrated portfolio of support services centred around its Whakamaru community hub. The core offering includes Supported Transitional Housing (Te Ō, Te Pā Pori, Whakamaru) for individuals experiencing homelessness, combined with practical support services (peer support, financial mentoring, community support), food security programmes (Social Supermarket, Craig & Gail's Café), crisis intervention (Kua Mākona i Whakamaru Crisis Recovery Café), and healthcare access (dental service). Additional services include emergency assistance through the Mayoral Relief Fund, basic amenities (laundry/showers), charity retail stores, and meeting room facilities. The organisation serves Wellington's most vulnerable populations through a holistic, wraparound model.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Craig & Gail's Café & Catering: Contribute What You Can café offering meals and hot drinks to community members
• Social Supermarket
• Kua Mākona i Whakamaru
• Supported Transitional Housing
• Whakamaru Dental Service
• Te Ō
• Te Pā Pori

Products and services

• Supported Transitional Housing at Whakamaru Transitional housing for young people and individuals experiencing homelessness, providing 12-month contracts with 24/7 staff support, structured programmes, and pathways to independent living.
• Te Ō Independent rental apartments for individuals who have completed transitional housing, providing ongoing support while residents work toward long-term stability.
• Te Pā Pori Men's transitional housing facility offering morning programmes, group activities, and support services to help residents develop life skills and find permanent housing.
• Community Support Services Practical assistance and advocacy including help with benefits, housing applications, appointments, and connecting people with appropriate services.
• Peer Support One-on-one support from workers with lived experience of challenges such as mental distress, addiction, or homelessness who walk alongside people navigating their own journeys.
• Financial Mentoring One-on-one support to help people manage finances, budget effectively, and access entitlements and benefits.
• Social Supermarket Affordable food shopping where individuals and families can access groceries at reduced costs, with support available for those in need.
• Craig & Gail's Café & Catering A contribute-what-you-can café open to the public, serving hot meals and beverages while fostering community connection across all backgrounds.
• Kua Mākona i Whakamaru (Crisis Recovery Café) A peer-led crisis recovery café providing immediate support for people experiencing distress, offering a safe space with peer support workers available day and night.
• Whakamaru Dental Service Free, trauma-informed dental care provided by Ora Toa dentists for eligible clients, addressing oral health needs for those facing barriers to traditional dental services.
• Mayoral Relief Fund Emergency financial assistance administered on behalf of Wellington City Council for people experiencing crises such as power disconnection, eviction, or family crisis.
• Laundry and Showers Free shower and laundry facilities available to anyone in need, with internal facilities open 9am-3pm Monday-Saturday and external showers available 24/7.
• City Mission Stores Three charity retail stores in Wellington and Petone selling pre-loved clothing, furniture, books, and homewares, with proceeds supporting Mission services.
• Bookable Meeting Rooms Meeting rooms including a 20+ seater boardroom available for booking by workplaces, community groups, and organisations for planning sessions and events.
• Kemp Home & Hospital Aged care facility providing residential care for older people, offering nursing care, activities, and support services for residents.

Quantifiable outcome

• 71,277 manuhiri welcomed in first year of Whakamaru operations
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Wellington City CouncilcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 April 2026Collaboration on Mayoral Relief Fund for flood relief. The Mission administers the $100,000 fund on behalf of the Council for Wellingtonians affected by April 2026 severe weather.
• Wellington City CouncilcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAdminister Mayoral Relief Fund on behalf of the Council. Working alongside Council staff on emergency responses and support services.
• Foodstuffs (New World)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner for Family2Family food drive campaign. Donations collected at participating New World stores go directly to the Social Supermarket. Seven Wellington stores participating.
• Wild Game Recovery TrustminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSelected as recipient of Game Changer NZ initiative, transforming donated wild game into nutritious meals for the Social Supermarket.
• Ora ToacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOra Toa operates their medical practice on the first floor of Whakamaru, providing healthcare services to the community. Integrated partnership within the Mission hub.
• Ministry of Social Development (MSD)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGovernment agency providing referrals and funding for emergency housing and social services. Case managers refer clients to Mission support services.
• Kāinga OracoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGovernment housing provider working with Mission to house clients. Advocacy support and social housing placement assistance.
• Te Whatu OracoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGovernment health agency providing funding for the dental service. Covers adolescents receiving OHSA up to age 18.
• ACCminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGovernment accident compensation scheme funding dental treatment for eligible clients with active ACC claims.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights3 records

Regional players

• Women's Refuge New Zealand: National network of shelters and services for women and children fleeing family violence. Comparable in operating transitional/safe housing funded by donations and government grants, but focused on a narrower population subset.

Direct peers

• Auckland City Mission: New Zealand's largest city mission, operating an analogous wraparound social services model in Auckland including the HomeGround transitional housing development. Directly comparable as a faith-rooted, donation-funded mission serving an urban homeless and vulnerable population through integrated housing, food, and health services.
• Lifewise: Auckland-based Methodist social services agency providing transitional housing, homelessness support, and community services. Comparable in operating model and target population, though faith-anchored via a different denomination.
• Christchurch City Mission: South Island counterpart operating transitional housing, food banks, social services and addiction support in Christchurch. Same city mission tradition, similar service mix, and comparable funding model of donations plus government contracts.
• Methodist Mission Northern: Auckland-based Methodist social services organization providing foodbanks, community support, and transitional programmes. Comparable in faith-based social service model and target demographic.

Others

• Habitat for Humanity New Zealand: Nonprofit focused on affordable housing provision and advocacy in NZ. Comparable in addressing housing insecurity and donation-based funding, but with a home-ownership/build orientation rather than transitional housing.
• KidsCan: NZ charity addressing child poverty through food, clothing, and health programmes in low-decile schools. Comparable as a high-profile donation-funded NZ nonprofit, but distinct in target demographic and service model.

Broad incumbents

• The Salvation Army New Zealand: National faith-based nonprofit providing emergency housing, foodbanks, addiction services, and social support across NZ. Comparable service categories but vastly larger geographic scope, brand, and government contracting footprint.
• Society of St Vincent de Paul New Zealand: Catholic faith-based charity providing foodbanks, home visits, welfare assistance and emergency relief nationwide. Comparable faith-rooted donations-funded service model for vulnerable populations but with broader geographic distribution.

Emerging players

• LinkPeople (formerly Emerge Aotearoa): NZ provider of community housing and support services for people with mental health, intellectual disability, and homelessness needs. Comparable in housing-plus-support model but operating under government contracts rather than donation-driven.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/wellington-city

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 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 Wellington City