Archbishop Justin Duckworth has pointed to the Wellington City Mission's new community hub and social housing complex, 'Whakamaru' as a symbol of a commitment to care. And that's a vision he's calling on all New Zealanders to share.

Archbishop Justin made his call after the brand-new Whakamaru site was jointly blessed by Te Āti Awa and Ngāti Toa at dawn last Wednesday and Governor General Dame Cindy Kiro, GNZM, QSO had officially opened the building.

Archbishop Justin said that the Whakamaru community hub will foster a culture of inclusion. Concluding the opening speeches from Kura Moeahu, Minister for Social Investment Hon Nicola Willis, Wellington Mayor Tory Whanau and City Missioner, Murray Edridge, he spoke about the new building as the realisation of a dream.

"Whakamaru is a 15 million dollar dream that was built with no money in the bank. It was built during a global pandemic, it was built when New Zealand itself was facing economic problems, and somehow this miracle came into being."

Archbishop Justin acknowledged Whakamaru owed a lot to the empowering network of partnerships that had made it a reality. But he pointed to a higher power too, quoting from Baptist missionary James Hudson Taylor.

"For any great work of God, three things are true.

First, it was impossible. Then it was difficult. And then it was done."

"This building needs to be a symbol that we take out of here, that we can continue to dream. That at this time when the world looks like it's falling apart, when we're struggling as a country – this is the exact time that we need to dream."

"Let's gather together – against the odds – and create things that make a difference.

Speaking at the Whakamaru opening on Wednesday, Wellington City Missioner, Rev Murray Edridge celebrated the values of respect and mutuality that will form the new community at Whakamaru. 

“Everyone who comes into this space will be a distinguished guest, because that’s what we built it for. This building is built on the premise of creating a community where there is no ‘us and them’."

"Whether you come to this building because there’s something you need, or whether you come because you have something to offer, you will be treated exactly the same. Together, we build community, and that’s what this place is all about.”

Archbishop Justin exhorted those gathered at the opening to avoid clapping their hands and walking away, content with Whakamaru's commitment to care.

Instead he quoted Henri Nouwen, pointing out that while we often expect to pay professionals to care, 90% of wellbeing takes only simple acts of friendship and inclusion. 

"It's really important that we don't outsource our care."

"I want you to look at Whakamaru, at a place where there's no 'us and them', where kindness and compassion are the native tongue, and take that, and say 'I want to be the person who cares'".

"Whakamaru is not a place, it is a way of life that we are invited into."

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Whakamaru is designed to be a transformational community facility for everyone in Wellington. Operational 24/7 for those in need, the Wellington City Mission’s new development aims reshape the way the Wellington city community supports and cares for itself.

Alongside existing Wellington City Mission services like the Social Supermarket and its network of community practitioners, Whakamaru will be home to 35 long-term transitional housing apartments, a medical centre operated by Ora Toa and a laundry/shower service freely available for all to use.

Operational 24/7 with staff on site at all times, the Mission’s network of support services will be available to anyone who steps through its doors, as well as the residents housed within.

Its Crisis and Recovery Café will provide a 24-hour mental health crisis prevention and response service in a non-clinical environment

Operating under a ‘contribute-what-you-can’ model, Craig and Gail’s public café will bring the community together in one place, while a suite of well-equipped meeting spaces will make Whakamaru a centre for collaboration across the wider community.

You can read more about Whakamaru, and the wide range of services on offer here.

 NB: The title Te Āti Awa gave Wellington City Mission is ‘Hei Whakamaru o te Korowai o te Panepane o te Ika a Maui’, which can be shortened to ‘Whakamaru o te Korowai’ for everyday use. The literal translation is ‘The shelter of the cloak of protection of the wider Wellington region’.