Auckland City Mission – Te Tāpui Atawhai is deeply grateful for the Hynds Foundation and its commitment to strengthening our communities. Philanthropy plays a vital role in addressing needs that fall outside the scope of public funding, which is often constrained by strict criteria and processes. When essential initiatives cannot be supported through traditional channels, philanthropic partners step in to bridge the gap.
This is exactly what occurred with the Hynds Foundation’s support for the Mission’s Community Mental Health Nurse role. Every day, we see the profound impact of trauma, mental distress, and addiction. Many of the people we serve face multiple, overlapping challenges and often struggle to access public services due to behavioural barriers or a lack of trust.
With Hynds Foundation’s support, we were able to employ Theresa Fa’afiu Morgan, who worked directly with people at HomeGround, in the Calder Centre, and with community walk‑ins. Over the two‑year pilot, Theresa built critical connections for individuals who were otherwise disconnected from care, and we saw significant improvements in their overall wellbeing. The success of this role enabled us to present the outcomes to the Auckland Primary Health Organisation, which has now committed to funding the position long‑term.
Building on this success, we are now developing a harm reduction initiative through a dedicated community Alcohol and Other Drug (AOD) Practitioner. Substance use is a significant and complex issue within our community, and mainstream services are often not equipped to provide the level of support required. This role, like the Mental Health Nurse, will meet people where they are and provide evidence‑based, practical support that reduces harm and strengthens pathways into care.
We are grateful that the Hynds Foundation has chosen to support this next step, and we look forward to creating another meaningful and measurable impact together.
Ngā mihi
Brendan Short
Director of Housing & Health Services
Auckland City Mission – Te Tāpui Atawhai