Contact: issnz(at)iss.org.nz +64 21 59 57 59 or +64 21 182 4545
The Sailors’ Society New Zealand is a registered charitable trust (Sailors’ Society New Zealand Charitable Trust – CC61926) that works to support the physical, emotional and spiritual wellbeing of seafarers visiting New Zealand’s ports . While it is affiliated with the UK‑based Sailors’ Society, it operates autonomously and tailors its services to the specific needs of crews calling at NZ ports.
Mission and services
The society’s core mission is to ensure seafarers’ overall welfare by providing a welcoming presence at ports and practical help during difficult times . Its services include seafarer welfare centres (safe spaces to rest), Wi‑Fi access for contacting families, shopping support (especially valuable during lockdowns), and chaplaincy/ship visits that offer spiritual care and companionship . Services are provided through its wholly‑owned subsidiary Maritime Welfare Ltd, the Society coordinates welfare initiatives across its network of ports, currently funded through a Maritime New Zealand grant and other grant funding.
Port locations
Welfare centres are located in the key ports of Auckland (in partnership with the local branch of Mission to Seafarers), Bluff and Picton, with a sister organisation in Dunedin/Port Chalmers that works closely but independently.
History and affiliation
The Sailors’ Society traces its roots to 1818 in the UK, and its presence in New Zealand dates to the late‑19th/early‑20th century . The NZ branch is an interdenominational charity with loose links to mainstream Protestant churches, but it is self‑governing and self‑supporting. Globally, Sailors’ Society supports over 1.9 million seafarers and their families through helplines, crisis response, wellness training, emergency grants and peer‑to‑peer programmes .
Getting involved
The Society welcomes donations, volunteers and partnerships; contact details are at the top of this page.