1963
Beginnings
Lifeline was founded in Sydney, Australia in 1963 by the late Reverend Dr. Sir Alan Walker. Sir Walker had received a call from a distressed man who later took his own life. Determined not to let isolation and lack of support be the cause of more deaths, Sir Alan Walker launched a crisis support line after two years of planning and preparation.
18 January
1964
A Life Line for Sydney
The Christchurch Methodist Community Mission Superintendent Rev W. A. Falkingham was studying social work programmes in Australia and discovered that Sydney was preparing to launch a Telephone Ministry using a name coined from the newspaper ‘ a Life Line for Sydney’.
30 June
1964
The First Call
Geof Hill took the first New Zealand Life Line call, answering the call to 32-370 with the words “This is Life Line. May we help you?”
1 July
1964
Lifeline Christchurch Launched
On 1st July Lifeline Christchurch was officially launched to provide personal and telephone counselling to those in need and services the Mid and North Canterbury regions, Kaikoura, Christchurch city, and the West Coast.
October
1964
Early Beginnings Of Lifeline Auckland
In Auckland, a group of ministers of various denominations, driven by Dr D.O. Williams met together to organise a counselling centre in the new Methodist building on Queen Street.
May
1965
The Interchurch Counselling Centre Opened
Based on Queen Street, the office operated with a face to face team, and an outreach team for people in crisis. It was then decided to incorporate a telephone counselling service to be known as the Samaritan Lifeline in Auckland.
21 February
1966
Auckland Lifeline Opens
With 80 volunteer telephone counsellors, it covered the free calling area of greater Auckland, and the Hibiscus Coast.
December
1966
Lifeline Christchurch Became A 24 hour Service
November
1967
Lifeline Invercargill Established
Later adopted the name ‘Southland’.
January
1970
The Surviving Loss By Homicide Group Was Started In Auckland
July
1970
Lifeline Hawkes Bay Established
Based in Taradale about halfway between Napier and Hastings and covered the free-calling area of Hawkes Bay. Originally there were Centres in both Napier and Hastings.
March
1971
Youthline Begins
Sponsored by Lifeline to cater for the needs of young people up to the age of 25. A team of 26 people aged 18-25 provided help to other young people struggling with dilemmas of adolescence.
October
1972
Lifeline Whangarei Opens
Lifeline Whangarei opened a helpline and face to face service and covered the largely urban area of Whangarei, and financed a free-phone service from Wellsford in the south, through Cape Reinga in the north, and across to both the east and west coasts.
March
1974
Lifeline Nelson Established
Servicing the free calling area of Nelson; provided a free-phone service from Murchison in the South to Collingwood in the North West.
February
1975
Rev W.A Falkingham Honoured With An M.B.E
In her birthday honours, the Queen honoured the founder of Lifeline Christchurch Rev W.A Falkingham with an M.B.E for his work in the social services field.
March
1977
Christchurch Approach Changed
Christchurch redirected their approach to prevention rather than assistance after client suicide numbers increased.
May
1977
Auckland Lifeline Moves To Airedale Street
Lifeline Auckland moved to new premises at the ‘open circle’ on Airedale Street. For the first time the Face to Face service and the Telephone helplines where combined into the same building.
September
1977
Dr D.O. Williams Given O.B.E
The founder of Auckland Lifeline was given the O.B.E for his work.
April
1981
Lifeline Pukekohe Established
October
1981
Christchurch Gets Third Line And Teleprinter Service
A third line was installed in Christchurch and Lifeline began a Teleprinter service linking the profoundly deaf with the hearing world.
June
1982
Rev W. Falkingham Retired
Upon his retirement there was 8 Lifeline centres in New Zealand which where a direct result of his foresight.
October
1982
Lifeline South Canterbury Established
Based in Timaru.
July
1983
Teleprinter Line Introduced
Enabling the Auckland Lifeline counsellors to attend to the many practical problems on behalf of the deaf community.
February
1984
Lifeline Marlborough Established
Located in Blenheim and covered the free-calling area that extended from Kekerengu to the south, the Rai Valley in the west, and the Marlborough Sounds to the north.
January
1986
Lifeline Wairarapa Established
Based in Masterton, the centre was originally known as South Wairarapa, and was based in Carterton, but dropped ‘South’ when the Samaritan centre in Masterton closed. Covered as far north as Eketahuna, and as far south as Featherston, and all the towns in between.
December
1986
Dr D.O. Williams Of Auckland Lifeline Passed Away
June
1988
Kidsline Begins
Kidsline began in Auckland for children aged between 9- and 13 to call between the hours of 4pm and 6pm.
February
1990
Lifeline Auckland Moves
Auckland Lifeline moved into rent free space provided by Presbyterian Support Northern at 95 Great South Road, Remuera where it is still located today.
January
1992
Lifeline Waikato Established
Located in Hamilton and serviced the Greater Waikato, King Country, Thames, Coromandel and Bay of Plenty – including both small urban and rural communities.
March
1993
Chinese Lifeline Began
Offering limited hour’s service in Cantonese and Mandarin based in the Auckland centre.
July
1993
Lifeline Tairawhiti Established
Based in Gisborne and closed down 12 months later.
September
1996
Lifeline Otago Established
Based in Dunedin.
January
1998
Gambling Helpline Launched
Lifeline launched a 24 hour helpline for problem gamblers.
March
1998
Lifeline Auckland Gets PTE Status
Lifeline Auckland was provided with PTE status (NZQA Accreditation as a private training establishment).
February
1999
Kidsline Opens In Christchurch
Christchurch Lifeline opened its 0800 Kidsline service in line with the Auckland Centre.
August
2001
Lifeline Southland Ceased To Be A Member Of Lifeline NZ
March
2002
Chinese Lifeline Gets National 0800 Number
February
2004
Lifeline Pukekohe Closes
December
2004
Lifeline Otago Closed
April
2005
FAC’s 211 Line Commences
FAC’s 211 Line began in Bay of Plenty with Youthline as pilot (MSD Funded), incorporating SHINE, and Family Violence Information Line.
September
2005
Lifeline South Canterbury Closed
July
2006
National Depression Initiative Contract Awarded To Auckland
This included the National Depression Helpline & future services that will offer text, emails, phone and web chat modalities.
January
2009
Suicide Prevention Education Programmes Adapted
Livingworks Suicide Prevention education programmes adapted and delivered nationally to include bi-cultural content.
March
2009
New Contracts Introduced
Warmline (ADHB Contract) & Victims of Crime line introduced to Auckland.
August
2010
MSD Fund The Canterbury Earthquake Support Line
October
2010
Christchurch Lifeline Opens Email Counselling Services
April
2011
Suicide Crisis Helpline Launched
Launch of 0508 TAUTOKO (Lifeline funded service with media campaign through Maori Television aimed at Maori population).
October
2012
Auckland Office Refurbished
ASB Community Trust funds a full refurbishment of Great South Road offices.
Prison Helpline Pilot
Three month pilot for ‘Prison Helpline’ partnership with Northern Region corrections Facility.
1 April
2013
Lifeline Launch Rebranding
1 July
2013
ACC Contract Awarded
Face to Face services awarded Sensitive Claims ACC contract for services in 5 regions.
23 December
2013
Lifeline Merge
Eight of the nine Lifeline affiliated offices merge to form one single Lifeline Aotearoa with a support head office in Great South Road. These include Northland, Auckland, Waikato, Hawkes Bay, Taranaki, Wairarapa, Marlborough and Christchurch. One single telephony and database platform are established. Lifeline Nelson vote to stay independent and change name to Life Linc.
1 April
2015
Chinese Lifeline Closes
1 June
2015
Lifeline Whangarei Closes
6 February
2016
NZQA Approved Programme For Kidsline
Kidsline launched NZQA Approved Gateway Youth Development Programme in Christchurch.
12 May
2016
Christchurch Branch Moves Premises
June
2016
Radical Restructure Announced
All branches except Waikato, Christchurch and Auckland close. Kidsline restructure with minimised team, and funding situation (1 year reserve), made public.
1 July
2016
Wairarapa & Taranaki Branches Closed
1 December
2016
Lifeline Merge With Presbyterian Support Northern (PSN)
One of the largest non-government organisations in the health and social service sector, PSN, committed to 18 months of operational support while looking to also help solve Lifeline’s long-term funding issues.
May
2018
Text Support Launched
Lifeline launched its free text support service – HELP (4357) as part of its suicide prevention strategy to increase access to support for people in distress.
December
2020
Kidsline merges with Barnardos 0800 Whatsup
Child-centred helpline Kidsline joined Barnardos, complementing its existing 0800 What’s Up telephone counselling and webchat service.