The Mission had been in Wellington since 1899 and opened a mission centre four years later, to serve as "a home away from home" for seafarers visiting the port, and also a base for the Chaplain's ministry on board ships.

Over the years shipping has changed and so has the city and port. After 70 years in one spot we've operated from several sites, sometimes in partnership with other maritime missions. Our aim has been to be close to the ships (and the seafarers) as close as possible.

The Wellington Seafarers Centre is a partnership between The Mission to Seafarers and The Apostleship of the Sea (often called Stella Maris) (Click here for the AoS website).

We moved into our present clubrooms in 2001, and with generous help from the ITF Seafarers Trust and CentrePort (the port company) have established a very friendly and welcoming centre almost in the middle of the main wharf (see our "location" page)