We stand alongside people in our community who are facing poverty, homelessness, hunger, or isolation.
From food and housing to healthcare and detox services, Auckland City Mission – Te Tāpui Atawhai supports thousands of Aucklanders every year. We combine compassionate service with wraparound care to help people not just survive, but thrive.
Auckland City Mission - Te Tāpui Atawhai vision, mission and values
Mission
We provide immediate relief and pathways to long-term wellbeing for people in greatest need, through connection and access to kai, kāinga and hauora.
Vision
A Tāmaki Makaurau where everyone can thrive.
Living our values
Manaakitanga
We recognise and value the mana of every person as equal or greater than our own through hospitality, generosity, aroha and respect.
Rangapū
We seek to engage in authentic partnerships characterised by mutual trust, integrity, respect, transparency, commitment and collaboration. We demonstrate our commitment to Te Tiriti o Waitangi through our actions.
Atawhai
Compassion, care and grace guides our every interaction.
Manatika/Mana Ōrite
Committed to equity and seeking dignity for all, we will fearlessly advocate with and for people experiencing greatest need.
A legacy of care, a future of change
Born out of hardship, the Auckland City Mission began in 1920 when Reverend Jasper Calder saw his city struggling in the wake of war and the Spanish Flu. He responded with practical compassion - a tradition that still guides us today.
More than a century on, we continue to walk alongside people in greatest need, providing care, respect, and genuine help in ways that are right for them.
Our journey now is one of transformation. As the Auckland City Mission - Te Tāpui Atawhai - a name gifted to us that speaks to connection, compassion, and the interwoven strength of a ngāhere (forest), we are committed to honouring Te Tiriti o Waitangi and building an equitable Aotearoa.
We’re deepening this commitment through kaupapa Māori practice across our services, including Te Whare Hīnātore and He Ara Whakamana Tāngata, and through guidance from mana whenua Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei. Within HomeGround, tikanga and te ao Māori are woven into daily life - from pōwhiri and waiata to romiromi and regular te tiriti learning.
Our Māori leadership rōpū Manurau helps steer this work, supported by strong Māori governance at Board level. In 2023, we were honoured with the Supreme Award and Ngā Āhuatanga o te Tiriti Award at the Diversity Awards NZ, recognising our progress and ongoing journey.
As we move into our next hundred years, our purpose remains clear: to stand in partnership, act with compassion, and work toward a city - and a country - where everyone can thrive.
He waka eke noa.
For people, with people, always
For more than a century, we’ve stood with Aucklanders. Behind every meal, home, and moment of care is a story of courage and possibility. Our impact is shaped by the people we walk alongside, and the collective strength that grows when we care for each other.
Governance and Leadership
Auckland City Mission – Te Tāpui Atawhai is shaped by leaders who care deeply about people and purpose. Our Manutaki / Chief Executive, Senior Leadership Team and Board work together to ensure every decision upholds our values, honours Te Tiriti o Waitangi, and strengthens the Mission’s impact across Tāmaki Makaurau.