Our History

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.

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’.

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?"

Lifeline Christchurch Launched

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.

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.

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.

Auckland Lifeline Opens

With 80 volunteer telephone counsellors, it covered the free calling area of greater Auckland, and the Hibiscus Coast.

Lifeline Christchurch Became A 24 hour Service

Lifeline Invercargill Established

It later adopted the name 'Southland'.

The Surviving Loss by Homicide Group Was Started In Auckland

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.

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.

Lifeline Whangārei Opens

Lifeline Whangārei opened a helpline and face to face service and covered the largely urban area of Whangārei, and financed a free-phone service from Wellsford in the south, through to Cape Reinga in the north, and across to both the east and west coasts.

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.

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.

Christchurch Approach Changed

Christchurch redirected their approach to prevention rather than assistance after client suicide numbers increased.

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 were combined into the same building.

Dr D.O. Williams Given O.B.E

The founder of Auckland Lifeline was given the O.B.E for his work.

Lifeline Pukekohe Established

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.

Rev W. Falkingham Retired

Upon his retirement there were 8 Lifeline centres in New Zealand which where a direct result of his foresight.

Lifeline South Canterbury Established

Based in Timaru.

Teleprinter Line Introduced

Enabling the Auckland Lifeline counsellors to attend to the many practical problems on behalf of the deaf community.

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.

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.

Dr D.O. Williams Of Auckland Lifeline Passed Away

Kidsline Begins

Kidsline began in Auckland for children aged between 9 and 13 to call between the hours of 4pm and 6pm.

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.

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.

Chinese Lifeline Began

Offering limited hours service in Cantonese and Mandarin based in the Auckland centre.

Lifeline Tairawhiti Established

Based in Gisborne and closed down 12 months later.

Lifeline Otago Established

Based in Dunedin.

Gambling Helpline Launched

Lifeline launched a 24 hour helpline for problem gamblers.

Lifeline Auckland Gets PTE Status

Lifeline Auckland was provided with PTE status (NZQA Accreditation as a private training establishment).

Kidsline Opens In Christchurch

Christchurch Lifeline opened its 0800 Kidsline service in line with the Auckland Centre.

Lifeline Southland Ceased To Be A Member Of Lifeline NZ

Chinese Lifeline Gets National 0800 Number

Lifeline Pukekohe Closes

Lifeline Otago Closed

FAC’s 211 Line Commences

FAC’s 211 Line began in Bay of Plenty with Youthline as a pilot (MSD Funded), incorporating SHINE, and the Family Violence Information Line.

Lifeline South Canterbury Closed

National Depression Initiative Contract Awarded To Auckland

This included the National Depression Helpline and future services that will offer text, emails, phone and web chat modalities.

Suicide Prevention Education Programmes Adapted

Livingworks Suicide Prevention education programmes adapted and delivered nationally to include bicultural content.

New Contracts Introduced

Warmline (ADHB Contract) and Victims of Crime line introduced to Auckland.

MSD Fund The Canterbury Earthquake Support Line

Christchurch Lifeline Opens Email Counselling Services

Suicide Crisis Helpline Launched

Launch of 0508 TAUTOKO (Lifeline funded service with media campaign through Maori Television aimed at Maori population).

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.

Lifeline Launch Rebranding

ACC Contract Awarded

Face to Face services awarded Sensitive Claims ACC contract for services in 5 regions.

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.

Chinese Lifeline Closes

Lifeline Whangārei Closes

NZQA Approved Programme For Kidsline

Kidsline launched NZQA Approved Gateway Youth Development Programme in Christchurch.

Christchurch Branch Moves Premises

Radical Restructure Announced

All branches except Waikato, Christchurch and Auckland close. Kidsline restructure with minimised team, and funding situation (1 year reserve), made public.

Wairarapa & Taranaki Branches Closed

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 longterm funding issues.

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.

Kidsline merges with Barnardos 0800 Whatsup

Child-centred helpline Kidsline joined Barnardos, complementing its existing 0800 What's Up telephone counselling and webchat service.

Lifeline celebrates 60 years of service

Lifeline hours reduced

Lifeline hours reduced to 7am – midnight, seven days per week due to significant and ongoing funding challenges.