Our Organisation

Our Beginnings

The history of LifeLine New Zealand began in 1960 when the Methodist Central Mission in Christchurch had been gathering information world-wide, looking at those services where the telephone was being used as a means of communicating help and hope to people in crisis. In 1963 a Telephone Ministry was established with four answering machines playing recorded messages relating to specific needs, and with a team of counsellors available as follow up.

Around the same time, in Australia, a Telephone Ministry was being set up. This was an initiative of the late Revd Alan Walker, Superintendent of the Sydney Methodist Mission, after he received a call by a distressed man, who three days later took his own life. Determined not to let loneliness, isolation or anxiety be the cause of other deaths, Sir Alan launched a crisis line, which operated out of the Methodist Central Mission in Sydney. The name of the service was suggested by a newspaper headline, "A Life Line for Sydney ".

The Christchurch Mission looked at the Australian training methods, approved standards and administrative procedures, and, with certain modifications, adopted these for their Telephone Ministry. In June 1964, Life Line Christchurch began, involving counsellors from all Churches associated with the National Council of Churches plus the Roman Catholic Church.

Meanwhile, in May 1964, the Auckland Methodist Mission held an inaugural meeting to plan the establishment of a counselling Centre. Most churches were represented, and a year later, counselling rooms were opened, at first to provide Face to Face Counselling. The Auckland Life Line Telephone Service began in February 1966 in rooms made available by the Auckland City Mission with Revd D.O. Williams as the first Director.

Between 1964 and 1996 eleven further Centres were established in New Zealand. Many of these Centres, like Christchurch and Auckland, have their roots in the Christian church; others are community based. Since 2005 a national 0800 number (0800 543 354) covers the whole country.

Many Centres also provide a range of services that are specific to the needs of their local communities, this can include programs such as; financial counselling, crisis support, face-to-face counselling, gambling counselling, disability services, rural outreach, youth services, migrant support, aged care, indigenous support programs, rural outreach, counselling for children and family mediation services and many more.

Our Board

Bob Blyth:
Chairman of LifeLine New Zealand since October 2007, Former Chairman of LifeLine Christchurch. Bob has a Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering from Edinburgh University and holds the qualification of a chartered professional engineer both in UK and New Zealand and is a member of the Institute of Directors New Zealand, New Zealand Society of Risk Management, the Institution of Civil Engineers (UK), the Institution of Highways and Transportation (UK) and the Institute of Professional Engineers New Zealand.

A past President of the Rotary Club of Christchurch South; Chairman of the Southern Environmental Trust; Trustee and Deputy Chairman of Art & Industry Biennial Trust (SCAPE); presently a Project Director in the New Zealand multidisciplinary practice, Beca, managing the professional services business in South Island, Bob adds experience in governance and management to the LifeLine New Zealand Board

Colleen Donnelly:
Appointed Treasurer in October 2007. A telephone counsellor from 1996 to 2001, Colleen is a qualified Chartered Accountant belonging to NZICA, a member of the Institute of Chartered Secretaries, and has a post-graduate Diploma in Business Communication from Massey University.  Colleen worked as Audit Manager with Coopers & Lybrand for 8 years, specializing in internal audits, and has since been financial controller of two large private industrial companies.  She now works for the Ministry of Social Development as a financial analyst.    

Doug Dempster:
Doug has a B.Sc in Mathematics and Dip Teach. H.O.D Mathematics at Rangitoto College eventually becoming one of the Deputy Principals. Was part of the growth of Rangitoto as it doubled in size to 3000. Previous member Anglican Diocesan Council, the Anglican Trusts Board and the Northern Regional Ecumenical Chaplaincy Board.Currently synods rep for St Johns Northcote, and on Anglican Care Council, Anglican Care Network(NZ wide), LifeLineNZ and LifeLine Auckland (for 10 years, 5 as chair) member Rotary Club of East Coast Bays, now a Trustee.

Rachel Karalus:
Rachel has been involved in Lifeline since 2003 serving one year as a counsellor and three years as a board member for LifeLine Waikato until mid-2007. She is a civil litigation lawyer who has and still enjoys being involved with LifeLine whether at regional and/or national level.

Dorothy McCarrison:
A board member of LifeLine Auckland and member of LL Auckland since 1980, Dorothy is a member of the NZAC (previously on the national executive). Amongst her numerous achievements she has a B.Ed; post graduate in Guidance in Counselling; post graduate Dip.Ed. post grad. Dip in Teaching. Dorothy has a part-time private practice in Supervision and Counselling and is involved in restorative justice.

Download our 2008 - 2009 Annual Report [pdf 2.2MB]