Te Wahi Āwhina opened in May 2021 as a time-bound community support initiative under Pōneke Promise.  In late 2023, Ministry of Housing & Urban Development (HUD) confirmed funding to extend Te Wāhi Āwhina operations for a further 12-months.  HUD have confirmed that no further funding is available for this service.    

It has been important in understanding the impact of providing a visible and increased Council presence in the Te Aro Park area, at a time when safety in the area was a key concern.    

However, it was always intended to be a time-bound initiative, and two additional community spaces have since opened in the central city. These are Te Pokapū Hāpori community centre on Manners Street and Te Tai Ohinga youth hub on Willis Street.    

We will continue to work with city-based support organisations like yours who provide direct services to communities in need and the city’s most vulnerable.     

Between now and 20 December, we will be encouraging service seekers to come in and chat through any concerns they have, and we will provide advice to them on where they can go to get support in the future.  

Once the centre is closed, we intend to have a large sign over the external doors to provide more information about where service seekers can go for support.     

We appreciate this is a challenging time for some of the city’s most vulnerable and we want to reassure you that council officers will be doing their best to ensure everyone impacted is notified in time and understand where to next.     

If you have any queries about this, please don’t hesitate to reach out.   

Ngā mihi

Mark 

Mark Farrar (he/him)
Acting Manager Connected Communities
Business Performance Manager
Connected Communities | Wellington City Council
Hapori Tūhono | Te Kaunihera o Pōneke