Our goal is to help sustain communities in which people live lives they value. We support their creativity to foster ecosystems that are just and restorative. We know this requires radical change at all levels.
We are committed to becoming a kaupapa te Tiriti organisation – one that actively works to honour te Tiriti o Waitangi.
We are evolving as we resist the dominant ‘doing to’ people approach (colonisation) to one that supports people ‘to do’ (Rangatiratanga).
Te Ara Wēteri / The Wesley Way is at the heart of our work. It guides all our relationships, both inside and outside the organisation.
Te Ara Wēteri is based on four pou / principles and eight touchstones.
Wesley Community Action is a part of the Methodist Church of Aotearoa. We grew out of the Wellington Methodist Parish and we were incorporated as the Wellington Social Services Trust in 1950.
Methodism has a strong connection to Te Tiriti o Waitangi which is reflected in our commitment to become a kaupapa te Tiriti organisation (an organisation that actively works to honour the Treaty).
Methodist missionaries were among the first Pākehā to live in New Zealand and they played a significant role in facilitating the signing of Te Tiriti o Waitangi in 1840. The largest signing took place on February 10, 1840 at Mangungu, the Methodist Mission Station in the Hokianga.
Methodism was established in Te Whanganui a Tara (Wellington) in 1839 by Minarapa Rangihatuake, a Māori minita-a-iwi (minister of the people). He established the Te Aro Wesleyan Mission and was the first Methodist Minister to lead it.
Our work and reach has evolved to respond to changing issues and context.
We have changed our name several times and increased the number of locations we work from to just one to seven.
We have a range of accreditation and memberships that ensure we remain tika and well connected.
