Ōtepoti Dunedin Whānau Refuge celebrates 50 years with ambitious plans for new community hub

Ōtepoti Dunedin Whānau Refuge is marking 50 years of dedicated service by launching a major fundraising initiative to build a new, purpose-built safe community hub. The organisation, which supports women and children, celebrated its half-century milestone on Wednesday, 21 October 2026, by announcing the $2 million project intended to provide a sanctuary for those navigating family violence and hardship. According to reporting by RNZ, the refuge has experienced a significant surge in need, triaging nearly 150 referrals in September 2026 alone. This is a sharp increase from previous averages of 45 to 60 referrals per month. Refuge manager Simone Claire-Waring said the current 12-bed Kāinga Ora safe house is no longer fit for purpose or large enough to handle the escalating demand, which is being driven by complex factors including the cost of living and housing challenges. The proposed hub aims to be a space focused on healing and resilience. Claire-Waring noted that the goal is to create a secure environment where māmās and tamariki can recover and move toward hope. Board chair Zoë Bristowe described the vision for the facility as a place of "warmth and dignity and belonging," where whānau have the necessary support to determine their own futures. The refuge has a long history in the city, beginning in February 1976 when founders Suzanne Menzies-Culling and Yoka Neumann held a public meeting to gauge community support for a safe house. Menzies-Culling, who attended the anniversary celebrations, reflected on the organisation’s evolution from its humble beginnings in a Dundas Street flat to the professionalised service it is today. The formal fundraising campaign for the new hub is set to launch early next year to ensure the refuge can continue its vital work for another 50 years.