Our Story

Our story began over 100 years ago, it’s about helping people change for the good of their family.

1893

A Baptist preacher, Reverend Birch, took in two children he found living in a barrel, and from there established the beginnings of what would eventually become an orphanage in Manurewa.

1914

The current Administration office was once the Matron’s home, and the Family Learning Centre was once used as the orphanage's isolation unit for children with infectious diseases!

1960

The Baptist City Mission was established in Mt Eden and grew to offer a range of services to help those in need.

1972

The Domestic Purposes Benefit was introduced, providing struggling families with the financial support they had previously lacked and making it possible to keep children with their parents in the family home.

1982

Baptist Family Services was established. The first social worker was employed, and as a result other new operations began. These included Counselling, Parent Support, and in the late 1990s the Supervised Contact Centre.

1989

Children Youth and Families Act of 1989 moved to put children in foster homes rather than orphanages.
The Manurewa Children’s home* closed and the work was moved into family homes with caregivers. By then Merivale was established in Epsom as emergency accommodation for women and children, operating under the Baptist City Mission. In time it became an independent operation under Baptist Social Services, with a primary focus on women and children fleeing situations of family violence.

*For historical information and queries about the Manurewa Children’s Home please email  childrenstrust@baptist.org.nz

1995

The Domestic Violence act led to an increase in work at Merivale as over 120 families a year were housed short term and established in the community in safe accommodation.

2003

Merivale moved to Mangere.

2006

Iosis was formed amalgamating Merivale Women's Refuge, Baptist City Mission and Baptist Family Services. Iosis adopted a fresh vision and created an agency for families facing complex challenges.

Today

Iosis is proudly located on the former orphanage site in Manurewa. Innovative services and programmes have been established to give all families the opportunity to parent well. Iosis continues to run the Merivale residential programme for mothers and children in Mangere, and extends into Papakura with social workers in many primary and secondary schools.