Te Pā Maru – Wellington City Mission

Te Pā Maru
definition
1. a place of safety and belonging

Residential Alcohol Harm Reduction Facility

There has been discussion over years past regarding the establishment of a residential facility in Wellington for those struggling with alcohol addiction.  A facility where sobriety is not a condition of providing a place to live, and one where all are afforded dignity and respect.

Wellington City Mission took over responsibility for the old Wellington Night Shelter facility in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, when Aotearoa New Zealand first moved into lockdown in March 2020.  It was a challenging time and the facility needed a re-think.  Providing a bed for a night and then emptying people back onto the streets during the day was not adequate.  Work began to make a place for those who suffer the daily struggle of addiction. 

The project brief altered significantly as it progressed.  The existing structure was well below earthquake code and required significant strengthening work, including geotechnical engineering of the foundations (through Covid lockdowns) which resulted in a much delayed project completion.  This extended time on site allowed for more fine tuning of the operation model for the facility and this has resulted in a project where the brief has been fully explored.

The facility provides 18 rooms for residents, each with ensuite bathrooms and 2 shared kitchen and living areas.  There is shared outdoor living provided at ground floor and first floor level, with associated support spaces for staff.

This project is the first of its kind in Aotearoa New Zealand, and as such it represents a brave step for a brave organisation.  It is hugely exciting for us to be involved in the provision of such a ground-breaking facility, and to walk alongside the Mission in their mahi, where everyone is treated with dignity and respect without judgement. 

Photography by André Vroon