Please help us to help others!
In January 2019, we sensed an urgency to prepare a place near the Auckland airport for an influx of Middle Eastern asylum seekers seeking freedom after risking their lives for freedom causes in their homelands. We did some house hunting in Mangere, but nothing suited our requirements. We concluded that we will need to build a house for our specific needs.
In August 2019, the trustees proceeded to form Safe Haven Housing Trust. They embarked on an adventure to raise $890,000 to purchase and $30,000 to furnish a 5-double-bedroom house with three bathrooms and two living areas and a large kitchen very close to Auckland International Airport for new arrivals at risk of serious harm. The sale fell through before the Trust could raise enough funds.
In November 2019, the statistics related to the huge increase in asylum seekers arriving in New Zealand were released – up from 225 to 605 in one year. Our most generous donors were Chinese, Cambodian and Vietnamese churches. Their congregations are more than half full of former refugees and asylum seekers. They deeply appreciate the value of the service we are trying to provide.
On 28 January 2020, we received our confirmation that Safe Haven Housing Trust was a legal entity with donor status, and we can now receive tax-deductible donations and a gift of a section of land.
From the first 228 donors, we received $59,700. We went out canvassing family, friends, churches and community organisations to give a little. Our ‘Give a Little’ page that’s run by Spark NZ Ltd has been closed because of too little interest. We received $597.60 from Spark, and they only charged us a reduced service fee of $20. Through our communications we developed a database of 1,071 supporters, and by the end of 2021, 335 of these kind, generous supporters had donated $350,000. This was enough to secure the trust’s first house.
Since then the number of asylum seekers arriving in NZ has risen to 2,365 for the year ended 31st March 2024 and 2,270 for the year ended 31st March 2025. This is why we urgently need additional accommodation!
Our current strategy is to mobilise a fundraising representative in each city and town in NZ where we have contacts. If you would like to be that person in your town or city, please contact us for a fundraising kit and a strategic plan. E: [email protected].
How can I help?
Our volunteer team of multilingual, multicultural professional helpers have been doing great work finding asylum seekers and assisting them to find accommodation and supporting them when needed for food and medical help, etc. They care for the people living in the community until there is room in our Safe Haven Housing facilities. If you would like to join this asylum seekers’ support team, please send us an email with your biodata and expression of interest.
Currently the Trust supports asylum seekers who live in the community and those deported back to their home country where they have been severely beaten, tortured and deprived of their freedoms. The additional houses we are planning to buy will alleviate some of these accommodation pressures.
The Safe Haven Housing Trust Board also has the support of International Justice Advocates Limited and seeks out legal representation for asylum claims. Their website explains what they do to support asylum seekers.
Using Social Media
We’re building a community of support, and the most powerful tool you have is your voice. When you donate, share the news with your network—not just to showcase your support but to amplify the cause.
Follow Us on LinkedIn – Safe Haven Housing Trust Board
Tag us at #safehavenhouse and @Safe Haven Housing Trust Board and let your friends/network/followers know why this mission matters to you. By sharing your support, you help us reach people we couldn’t reach on our own.
The Power of Small Actions
Big change starts with grassroots momentum. We are actively building a foundation of 4,000+ community donors to demonstrate deep, nationwide support for this project. When major institutional funders see an engaged community backing us, it unlocks the significant grants we need to expand our reach.
How you can spark the chain reaction:
- The $20 Challenge: Challenge your friends, family, or colleagues to match your donation of $20 or $50 today.
- Pass It On: Ask them to share the link with their own network to keep the momentum moving.
When a community comes together, micro-donations compound rapidly. Your share doesn’t just bring in one donation—it creates a ripple effect that helps secure the future of our house.
Host an Event & Screen Our Video
You can champion our cause within your own network. Whether it’s your university, workplace, faith group, or local sports club, hosting a fundraising dinner or community evening is a powerful way to raise awareness.
To help you share our mission, shortly we will provide a short, impactful video showcasing our work to screen at your event. It’s a ready-to-go tool designed to inspire your community to get involved.
To coordinate an event or request the video package, please reach out to our board of trustees.