138 | Wellington City Mission & Naylor Love New centre belongs to everyone The building’s facilities include 35 transitional housing apartments designed for individuals and families rebuilding their lives. COMMUNITY T T Bernadette Cooney Wellington City Mission has officially opened its transformative new facility, Whakamaru, located on Oxford Terrace in Mount Cook, replacing its previous premises in Gordon Place, Newtown. The development marks a bold new chapter for the mission on its 120th anniversary and Whakamaru – meaning to shelter, safeguard, and protect in te reo Māori – is designed to provide comprehensive support while fostering an inclusive, vibrant community space. ‘’Whakamaru belongs to all people of Wellington. There is no them and us here, and Whakamaru is more than a social services hub. It’s a place where everyone can find support or contribute to helping others,” says Wellington City Missioner Murray Eldridge. Initially envisioned as a $5 million renovation project, the vision expanded to a $50 million purpose-built facility. Main contractor Naylor Love coordinated the monumental effort spanning four years. The construction process was a collaborative triumph, with builders, architects, and tradespeople united in their commitment. “This was never just about a building, it was about creating something meaningful for the community. Naylor Love and all the associated trades have been amazing in understanding our vision,” Murray says. Whakamaru is not just another building but a symbol of what is possible when compassion and collaboration unites. This is embodied in the building’s design and facilities, which include 35 transitional housing apartments designed for individuals and families rebuilding their lives. These safe, modern spaces provide the stability needed for residents to recover and thrive. Whakamaru also houses a medical centre operated by Ora Toa Health Services, complete with GPs, mental health professionals, optometrists, podiatrists, and a new dental clinic. Additionally, a laundry and a shower service are available to all. Staff are available around the clock to help with anyone who steps through Whakamaru’s doors. A crisis and recovery service offers a 24-hour access a non-clinical setting, meeting a critical need in the community. A social supermarket operates in place of the traditional food bank model, offering a more dignified shopping experience where recipients select groceries that suit their needs. This helps empower choice and reduces food wastage. Whakamaru features a 24/7 chapel, meeting rooms, and a popular contribute-what-youcan café. “Craig & Gails café is open to the public, and it’s been awesome in creating a broader sense of community, bringing together neighbours and local businesses who call in for morning tea or lunch and use the facilities. Ultimately fostering connection and dialogue between Wellingtonians, learning from and supporting one another, which is exactly what we hoped for when we originally planned Whakamaru. “This building belongs to you. It only works when we’re all a part of it,” Funding for the new Wellington City Mission came from diverse sources, including central and local government, community and individual donors. “The generosity of Wellingtonians has been evident throughout our ongoing fundraising efforts,” says Murray. A feature wall within the building, painted by local artist Ellie Compton, depicts the 120year history of the mission, and is a special element of the building design Murray says. Governor General Dame Cindy Kiro officially opened the building in November, following a dawn blessing by Te Āti Awa and Ngāti Toa, who also gifted the mission its te reo Māori title - Hei Whakamaru o te Korowai o te Panepane o te Ika a Māui – The shelter of the cloak of protection of the wider Wellington region. Murray has been the Wellington City Missioner for seven years, and creating the new facility has been a large focus of his time at the helm. “We’re 400 metres away from the Basin Reserve and we back onto Government House. My new office overlooks the Governor General’s Garden. It’s quite beautiful.” BUILD LIKE THE WORLD DEPENDS ON IT Proudly supporting wellington city mission & naylor love xlam.co Aged care | Commercial | Residential | Education | Government businesscentral Each edition priority delivered to your door. . Stay informed; we work with business owners and decision-makers across all economic sectors, pro iling their success. i ; i i i i - ll i , ili i . www.waterfordpress.co.nz/subscriptions . . . i i 03 983 5525 Your Business, Your Industry, Your News. Volume 6 | Issue 2 | April 2021 www.waterfordpress.co.nz ‘Excellence in Energy’ Taranaki’s Todd Energy will have a key role to play as New Zealand moves toward a low emissions economy. Page 8 Waikato farmers Dean & Ang Finnerty have expanded their dairy cow operation into a successful goat milking enterprise as well PAGE 10 Turning challenge into opportunity AUTUMN 2022 www.waterfordpress.co.nz Volume 6 | Issue 3 | July 2021 www.waterfordpress.co.nz Making waves Back on track New Zealand hydrofoil maker Armstrong is generating interest around the world with its high performance products. Work on the ambitious NZCIS facility in Upper Hutt is progressing well after Covid disruptions. PAGE 70 PAGE 10 Healthy delivery A new elective surgery facility in Hastings will provide a big boost to the region’s operating capacity. PAGE 52 Volume 6 | Issue 5 | December 2021 www.waterfordpress.co.nz Cheers Boys! YoungWellington irm3Māori Boys is creating a buzz with it’s ground-breakingWai Manuka natural beverage. PAGE 45 Passion and pride New Plymouth’s Energyworks has forged a strong reputation in 50 years of business. PAGE 64 Seaview upgrade CentrePort’s SeaviewWharf facility is set for a major upgrade to bring it up to international standards. PAGE 14
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy NDc2Mzg=