Background

Vahefonua Tonga Methodist Mission Charitable Trust (SIAOLA) is a working arm of the Vahefonua Tonga Methodist Synod (VTOA) under the umbrella of the Methodist Church of New Zealand Te Haahi Weteriana o Aotearoa. It trades under the name of SIAOLA. SIAOLA is responsible for the education, health and socio-economic development of the Tongan and Pasifika community throughout New Zealand. SIAOLA has been operating since 2006 on a voluntary basis and with the good will of passionate members of the Vahefonua called the SIAOLA Committee.  

In 2012, SIAOLA was registered as a Charitable Trust.  With the backbone support of the Methodist Alliance (previously the Methodist Mission Aotearoa) and the Methodist Connexional, SIAOLA is now governed by a Board of Trustees.  

SIAOLA is grounded in the Methodist Church of New Zealand/Te Haahi Weteriana o Aotearoa commitment to Te Tiriti o Waitangi and the bi-cultural journey.  

Vision

A just and inclusive society in which all peoples flourish. 

(Aligned with the Vision of the Methodist Church of New Zealand)

Mission

To commend and affirm the journey of the Pacific people within Aotearoa and Vahefonua Tonga members of the Methodist Church of New Zealand to lead successful lives nourished by our Methodist theological understandings and Pacific and Tongan values.

SIAOLA is an active member of the Methodist Alliance

We are the Methodist of New Zealand Te Hahi Weteriana Missions, parishes and Community based Social Services and Trusts throughout New Zealand. SIAOLA provides support for all Tongan & Pacific families within Aotearoa.
“The Methodist Missions are some of Aotearoa’s largest providers of social services, which includes early childhood education, parenting, social work support, community development projects, budgeting, youth development, social and emergency housing, youth transition housing, Housing First, addiction, disability and mental health services, and residential elder care. Although the Methodist Missions are part of the Methodist Church, the services they provide are available to all people regardless of their faith. The Methodist Missions have a long tradition of providing care and support which started back in 1885, with the first Mission in Auckland. Today, over 1,200 staff and volunteers support some of the most vulnerable and marginalised people in Aotearoa.”
– Methodist Alliance, Carol Barron, National Director

To find out more about the work of each particular Methodist Mission, visit their website below:

• Lifewise (Auckland and Rotorua)
• Airedale Property Trust (Auckland)
• Methodist City Action (Hamilton)
• Palmerston North Methodist Social Services
• Wesley Community Action (Wellington)
• Christchurch Methodist Mission (West Coast, Nelson and Blenheim)
• Methodist Mission Southern (Dunedin and Invercargill)
• Puna’Oa – Sinoti Samoa Methodist Mission