Christchurch City Mission's new leader says she has her work cut out for her with a winter of "constant demand" ahead.
Corrine Haines is Christchurch's first woman city missioner. Photo:
Corinne Haines was appointed as city missioner this week after filling in for the last two months since the previous one stepped down.
Haines is the first woman city missioner in the organisation's 93-year history.
She expected to retire this year after 40 years in the IT sector, but said she is "up for the challenge".
There couldn't be a more challenging time to fill the role - pressure on services has not slowed since the pandemic arrived.
Requests for food parcels at the mission have increased by 30 percent, and support services for homelessness and mental health are also under pressure.
"It's pretty constant," she said.
"It's not just the traditional clients that have got these issues, it's now going down to the next level, people who would never have imagined themselves coming to the mission."
"Mental health issues are way more prevalent than in the community and in our clients than perhaps it ever has been before, and the government is trying really hard in this area, but they can only help people who are at the tip of the iceberg."
Haines said the series of disasters that have taken place in the Christchurch have contributed to the problem, including the earthquakes, mosque attacks and pandemic.
With the City Mission's services showing no signs of slowing down, Haines plans to refresh the organisation's strategic direction and improve efficiency.
"There's a hundred and something employees who need to be fed, who need to be led, who need to be mentored, and who need to have somebody that's got that overarching responsibility for the company."
But she said it is not all about change.
"We've been around for 93 years, we have to keep doing what we're doing because what we're doing is really important."