MISSION POSSIBLE
Homelessness and poverty are growing challenges across New Zealand, touching individuals and families in every community. In Wellington, however, there’s new hope.
The Wellington City Mission’s newly completed building, Whakamaru, is giving those in need a much-needed hand-up. With five stories of purpose-built space, it brings together everything from a social supermarket and café to a medical centre, offices, and long-stay apartments. To make it all work, the City Mission tasked Think Concepts to create an IT infrastructure that was reliable, modern, and ready to handle their big plans.
Whakamaru: To give shelter, or safeguard
Like all good things, Whakamaru has been years in the making – six, to be exact. From identifying the site to getting consents, choosing builders, and finally moving in, it’s been a long but rewarding journey for the dedicated City Mission team. The result is a welcoming, inclusive facility designed to support the community in a way that wasn’t possible before.
Wellington City Mission CFO Chris Gray says the building was badly needed, too. "We had a pretty derelict, rundown couple of buildings we’d outgrown," he says. “Whakamaru brings everything under one roof – a social supermarket, café, medical centre, chapel, long-stay apartments, offices, and more. It’s now home to 100 staff and can accommodate up to 250 visitors daily, creating a welcoming space that blurs the line between those giving and receiving support.”
Make those all-important connections
Delivering all these services in a single building brought its own complexities, particularly when it came to IT. Multiple floors, dozens of users, and a diverse range of needs meant the infrastructure had to be robust, flexible, and future-proofed. That’s where Think Concepts came in, working with Spark to deliver a seamless IT solution that would not only meet the City Mission’s immediate needs but also prepare the space for years to come.
Bringing Whakamaru’s IT systems to life wasn’t a simple plug-and-play job. Think Concepts IT technicians Keiran Beytagh and Werner van Niekerk faced multiple challenges, starting with an unfinished building and a tight timeline. With a turnaround of just one week to get the network up and running before opening day, they had to move fast – all while navigating construction delays and a site full of contractors.
Spanning multiple floors, the project required coordinating three separate network racks ensuring every device, access point, and port was connected and functional. Keiren and Werner, took a hands-on approach, collaborating and communicating directly with other onsite tradies and vendors to iron out technical issues and keep things moving.
Details matter
One part of the job the team took pride in was the network racks themselves – not just functional, but also exceptionally well-organised and designed for long-term efficiency. While it’s easy to overlook how much thought goes into a network cabinet, for IT professionals, a tidy, well-planned setup can make all the difference.
"What we’ve got here is the best-looking and most functional network cabinet you’ll probably ever see," says Werner. "Even Spark, who sees this kind of work every day, said it’s the tidiest cabinet they’ve ever come across."
But it’s not just about looks – the team’s attention to detail ensures that the cabinet is as practical as it is visually impressive. Each department within Whakamaru has been allocated its own color-coded cabling, making it quick and easy to identify or adjust connections.
Fibre has been rolled out to all network gear on-site, which is not only unique but also ensures high-speed and reliable connectivity. A green plate positioned in the centre of the rack handles fibre connections directly, offering a streamlined and highly modern setup that will support the building’s needs for years to come.
Beyond the physical setup, this effort reflects the broader transformation Think Concepts delivered for the City Mission. Starting from a challenging IT state, the team worked tirelessly to clean up and rebuild a system that is now robust, intuitive, and futureproof.
"It’s all about creating a solution that works seamlessly today and continues to work well into the future," says Werner“ Keiran Beytagh and Werner made sure we had the best possible way forward,” says Chris. “It's a big building and it could easily become unstuck in the future if it wasn't clearly laid out and understandable.”
Wired for success
Beyond the physical setup, Think Concepts equipped the building with the latest technology to meet its connectivity needs. With 25 wireless access points and fibre uplinks, Whakamaru now boasts high-speed internet and seamless Wi-Fi throughout. They also took care to future-proof the system, designing it with flexibility to support new tenants and evolving requirements.
It’s this forward-thinking approach that sets Think Concepts apart – ensuring the City Mission’s IT systems are ready not just for today but for whatever challenges lie ahead.
Ready to welcome – one and all
For Chris and the team at the Wellington City Mission, moving into Whakamaru has been a transformative step forward. Gone are the days of working in rundown, outdated facilities that no longer fit their needs. Now, they have a purpose-built space that brings everything together – and reliable IT systems that ensure it all runs smoothly.
"Think Concepts have done a fantastic job of getting us up and running," says Chris. The new setup has made a world of difference, supporting critical services like the Social Supermarket and Craig and Gail’s Café. Speaking of which, the café is more than just a place to eat – it’s a symbol of Whakamaru’s mission. Whether someone’s paying for a meal, paying it forward, or simply receiving the support they need, the café creates a sense of dignity and community.
With solid IT behind the scenes, everything runs like clockwork, letting the Mission focus on what matters – the people.
Chris is full of praise for Think Concepts’ approach. "They’ve offered a solution that, by all accounts, is top-notch," he says. “From their clear communication to their ability to handle a challenging, fast-moving project, the team made sure everything was ready on time. They really went above and beyond to make it happen.”
Now, Whakamaru is alive with purpose, bringing people together in ways the Mission could only dream of before. It’s a place where everyone belongs – breaking down barriers and making people feel welcome.
"When you walk into the café, you see people from all walks of life," says Chris. "You’d never know who’s paying, who’s paying it forward, or who just needs a meal. It’s such a warm, welcoming space – it’s the heart of what we’re about. If you’re in Wellington, you have to come by and experience it for yourself."
No mission too big or small
Think Concepts specialises in delivering IT solutions that don’t just work – they empower organisations to achieve their goals. Whether it’s a purpose-built community hub like Whakamaru or a tailored solution for your business, Think Concepts brings expertise, dedication, and a people-first approach to every project.
If you’re ready to take your IT to the next level, get in touch with Think Concepts today.