Whakamaru – Wellington City Mission

Whakamaru
verb
1.   to protect, shelter

In March of 2019 three line studio began working on the new headquarters building for the Wellington City Mission.  As the project unfolded, it became clear to us that this is no ordinary Headquarters, as indeed the Mission are no ordinary organisation.

Wellington City Mission was founded over 100 years ago in 1904 from St Peter’s Anglican Church, and was formally defined in an Act of Parliament in 1929.  Since then the Mission has helped thousands of Wellingtonians who have required support to live to their potential.  The people of Wellington have recognised this service and in turn offer generous support to this much-loved organisation.

The new Mission building will allow the services of the Mission to operate 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, which will be transformational for them and the people they serve.  The building will house a social supermarket, a social cafe, a 24 hour accessible sacred space, offices for the Mission, day conference facilities, public ablutions and laundry service, and warehousing for food storage and distribution.  Importantly it will also house 35 residential units for those in serious housing need to live in a supported and safe community.

Mana Whenua have gifted the Mission the name Whakamaru for this transformational building.  The project will start on site in early 2021.