Caritas Aotearoa New Zealand

Catholic development aid and relief organisation in New Zealand

Caritas Aotearoa New Zealand

Established| 1966; 59 years ago (1966)
Founder| New Zealand Catholic Bishops' Conference
Type| Nonprofit
Registration no.| CC36055
Purpose| social justice
Location|

* Wellington, New Zealand

Coordinates| 41°16′19″S 174°46′57″E﻿ / ﻿41.2720°S 174.7825°E﻿ / -41.2720; 174.7825
Origins| Catholic Social Teaching

Region served

| New Zealand
Services| humanitarian aid, development aid, advocacy

Chief Executive

| Mena Antonio
Affiliations| Caritas Internationalis
Caritas Oceania
Council for International Development
Revenue| 5,716,611 NZD[1] (2023)
Expenses| 5,498,628 NZD[1] (2023)
Website| www.caritas.org.nz

Caritas Aotearoa New Zealand is a not-for-profit social justice and humanitarian relief organisation in New Zealand.

It is a service of the Catholic Church in New Zealand and a member of both the global Caritas Internationalis and the regional Caritas Oceania networks. It is also a member of the national Council for International Development.[2]

## History

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Following the Second Vatican Council (1962–1965) and the increased awareness on social issues and justice within the Catholic Church, the Bishops' Conference of New Zealand established a national commission to review the Church's overseas aid and mission activities. This initiative led to a conference in 1968, where the bishops decided to create three distinct organisations: the National Coordinating Committee for Catholic Overseas Aid (COAC), the Catholic Commission for Justice and Peace (CCJP), and the Catholic Overseas Volunteer Service (COVS).[3] The COAC became a member of Caritas Internationalis in 1975.[4]

In 1978, the bishops decided to merge the functions of aid, development, justice, and peace into a single entity, creating the New Zealand Catholic Commission for Evangelisation, Justice & Development (NZCCEJD). Ten years later, the organisation was renamed the Catholic Commission for Justice, Peace and Development (Aotearoa–New Zealand).[3]

In 1992, following a review of national and diocesan structures for justice, peace, and development, the Bishops' Conference established three distinct entities: Caritas Aotearoa New Zealand, tasked with overseas aid and development; the Catholic Commission for Justice and Peace, responsible for advising on social issues and educational initiatives; and the Catholic Office for Social Justice, which supported the other two bodies.[3]

Finally, in 1998, these three entities were unified in Caritas Aotearoa New Zealand – the Catholic Agency for Justice Peace and Development.[4] Its mission remains focused on educating and forming the Catholic community in social justice principles and advocating for justice both domestically and internationally.[3]

In 2023, 53% of the organisation's income was derived from individual donors, while 43% came from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade.[1]

## Work

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Internationally, Caritas Aotearoa New Zealand collaborates with the global Caritas network to deliver aid and support to communities affected by conflict, natural disasters, and climate change. It also funds development projects aimed at improving education, healthcare, and livelihoods in Africa, Asia, Latin America, the Middle-East and the Pacific.[5][6][7] In 2023, Caritas New Zealand's projects supported 240,00 people during emergencies and over 138,000 people with livelihood activities, including WASH, food security, vocational training and climate change adaptation.[1]

Domestically, the organisation works to raise awareness of social justice issues within the Catholic community, offers educational resources, and advocates for policies that address inequality, promote human dignity, and protect the environment. Its programmes engage schools, parishes, and individuals in fostering solidarity and taking practical action to combat injustice.

## References

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1. ^ a b c d "Annual Report 2023". caritas.org.nz. Retrieved 17 December 2024.
2. ^ "Members - Caritas Aotearoa". Council for International Development. Retrieved 23 December 2024.
3. ^ a b c d Caritas - 50 years of 'love in action'. Caritas Aotearoa New Zealand. 2019.
4. ^ a b "Caritas Internationalis History". fundinguniverse.com. Retrieved 23 December 2024.
5. ^ "Caritas Aotearoa New Zealand to provide aid for Gaza humanitarian response". ReliefWeb. 25 July 2014. Retrieved 23 December 2024.
6. ^ "Caritas launches Appeal to support PNG landslide survivors". Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Wellington. June 2024. Retrieved 23 December 2024.
7. ^ "Caritas Launches Appeal for Sahel". ReliefWeb. 13 March 2012. Retrieved 23 December 2024.

## External links

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* Official website

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Caritas Internationalis Member Organisations and Regional Secretariats

Caritas Africa Member Organisations

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Caritas Angola
Caritas Benin
Caritas Botswana
Caritas Burkina Faso (OCADES)
Caritas Burundi
Caritas Cameroon
Caritas Cape Verde
Caritas Central African Republic
Caritas Chad
Caritas Comoros
Caritas Congo-Brazzaville
Caritas Congo
Caritas Côte d'Ivoire
Caritas Equatorial Guinea
Caritas Eritrea

Caritas Eswatini
Caritas Ethiopia (ECC- SDCO)
Caritas Gabon
Caritas Gambia (CaDO)
Caritas Ghana
Caritas Guinea (OCPH)
Caritas Guinea-Bissau
Caritas Kenya
Caritas Lesotho
Caritas Liberia
Caritas Madagascar
Caritas Malawi (CADECOM)
Caritas Mali
Caritas Mauritius
Caritas Mozambique
Caritas Namibia

Caritas Niger (CADEV)
Caritas Nigeria
Caritas Rwanda
Caritas São Tomé and Príncipe
Caritas Senegal
Caritas Seychelles
Caritas Sierra Leone
Caritas South Africa (Siyabhabha Trust)
Caritas South Sudan
Caritas Sudan
Caritas Tanzania
Caritas Togo (OCDI)
Caritas Uganda
Caritas Zambia
Caritas Zimbabwe (CADEC)

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Caritas Asia Member Organisations

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Caritas Bangladesh
Caritas Cambodia
Caritas Hong Kong
Caritas India
Caritas Indonesia
Caritas Japan
Caritas Kazakhstan
Caritas Kyrgyzstan
Caritas Laos

Caritas Korea
Caritas Macau
Caritas Malaysia
Caritas Mongolia
Caritas Myanmar (KMSS)
Caritas Nepal
Caritas Pakistan
Caritas Philippines (NASSA)
Caritas Singapore and CHARIS

Caritas Sri Lanka
Caritas Taiwan
Caritas Tajikistan
Caritas Thailand
Caritas Timor Leste
Caritas Uzbekistan
Caritas Vietnam

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Caritas Europa Member Organisations

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Caritas Albania
Caritas Andorra
Armenian Caritas
Caritas Austria
Caritas Azerbaijan (corresponding member)
Caritas Belarus
Caritas Catholica Belgica
Caritas Bosnia and Herzegovina
Caritas Bulgaria
Caritas Croatia
Caritas Czech Republic
Caritas Denmark
Caritas Estonia
Caritas Finland
Secours catholique
Caritas Georgia

Caritas Germany
Caritas Hellas
Caritas Hungary
Caritas Iceland
Trócaire
Caritas Italy
Caritas Kosovo (corresponding member)
Caritas Latvia
Caritas Lithuania
Caritas Luxembourg
Caritas Malta
Caritas Moldova
Caritas Monaco
Caritas Montenegro
Cordaid
Macedonian Caritas

Caritas Norway
Caritas Poland
Caritas Portugal
Caritas Romania
Caritas Russia
Caritas Serbia
Caritas Slovakia
Caritas Slovenia
Caritas Spain
Caritas Sweden
Caritas Switzerland
Caritas Turkey
Caritas Ukraine & Caritas-Spes
CAFOD, CSAN and SCIAF

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Caritas Latin America and Caribbean Member Organisations

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Caritas Antilles
Caritas Argentina
Caritas Bolivia
Caritas Brazil
Caritas Chile
Caritas Colombia
Caritas Costa Rica
Caritas Cuba

Caritas Dominican Republic
Caritas Ecuador
Caritas El Salvador
Caritas Guatemala
Caritas Haiti
Caritas Honduras
Caritas Mexico
Caritas Nicaragua

Caritas Panama
Caritas Paraguay
Caritas Peru
Caritas Puerto Rico
Caritas Uruguay
Caritas Venezuela

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Caritas Middle East and North Africa Member Organisations

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Caritas Algeria
Caritas Cyprus
Caritas Djibouti
Caritas Iran
Caritas Iraq

Caritas Jerusalem
Caritas Jordan
Caritas Lebanon
Caritas Libya
Caritas Mauritania

Caritas Morocco
Caritas Somalia
Caritas Syria
Caritas Tunisia

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Caritas North America Member Organisations

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Development and Peace

Catholic Relief Services

Catholic Charities

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Caritas Oceania Member Organisations

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Caritas Australia
Caritas Fiji
Caritas Aotearoa New Zealand

Caritas Pacific Islands
Caritas Papua New Guinea

Caritas Samoa
Caritas Tonga

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