Clayton Kimpton is Chair of the Iosis Board, and part of Windsor Park Baptist Church in Auckland.
The Board Directors of Iosis is pleased to announce that, as of 1 July 2026, Iosis has formally become part of the Visionwest Waka Whakakitenga whānau.
Iosis traces its roots to 1893, when Baptist preacher Reverend Birch rescued two children living in a barrel — the seed of a children's home later entrusted to the Baptist Union of New Zealand. In 1914 the Manurewa Children's Home opened, and over the following decades the Baptist City Mission (1960), Merivale Centre for Women and Families (1981) and Baptist Family Services (1982) grew alongside it. In 2006 these three ministries amalgamated to form Iosis, a fresh agency for families facing complex challenges. Since then, Iosis has deepened its commitment to Pasifika and Māori whānau and has continued to transform family life across South Auckland. This longstanding legacy of care will now continue, strengthened by shared purpose and a wider network of support.
Throughout the recent months of consultation between Iosis and Visionwest, we have been struck by the strong alignment in kaupapa, history, and purpose. This includes a strong Baptist whakapapa and a clear commitment to faith-led service, and a longstanding focus on supporting whānau facing hardship, trauma, or complex challenges.
A positive opportunity for all
This marks a significant moment for both organisations and for the communities that are being served. It brings together two stories of practical compassion, local presence, and long-term commitment to whānau wellbeing.
It is not simply one organisation merging with another. Rather, it is about carrying forward what has already been built, honouring the relationships already formed, and strengthening the support available to whānau in the communities Iosis has served.
For Visionwest, this creates an opportunity to strengthen the connection between their existing housing services in South Auckland and locally based wrap-around support for whānau. The services being offered by Iosis dovetail well with those offered by Visionwest in West Auckland, including youth development, kaupapa Māori trauma-informed counselling, financial mentoring, parenting support, and other practical services that help whānau move toward stability and wellbeing.
Over time, this new development will create clearer opportunities and pathways for whānau to access the right support at the right time, whether that begins with housing, counselling, financial mentoring, parenting support, or another point of connection. It also gives Visionwest the opportunity to learn from the Iosis team, their history, and their relationships in South Auckland.
A new chapter
This marks the beginning of a new chapter for both organisations. It brings together experience, capability, and shared purpose, while keeping the needs of whānau and communities at the centre.
As Iosis becomes part of the Visionwest whānau, we are grateful for all that has gone before and hopeful about what lies ahead.
We look forward to seeing the Iosis work continue with integrity, care, and hope.
We also thank all the people and churches that have worked passionately, provided care or funding over decades for Iosis, and before that Baptist Family Services, Merivale Centre for Women and Families (Merivale Women’s Refuge), Baptist City Mission, and Manurewa Children’s Home. The legacy of your work and support now continues with Visionwest.
