Lifewise Merge Café 453 Karangahape Road, Ponsonby, Auckland 1010

Welcome to Lifewise Merge Café, located at 453 Karangahape Road in Auckland, New Zealand. As a unique institution, Merge Café stands out from the rest by using every dollar you spend to support individuals experiencing homelessness. By simply enjoying a meal and engaging in meaningful conversations, you can contribute to changing the world.

Since 2010, Merge Café has been a welcoming and supportive space for people from all walks of life. Our award-winning establishment is known for its exceptional food, excellent coffee, friendly service, and cool atmosphere. Whether you're seeking a satisfying meal or a chance to make a difference, we invite you to join us at our shared tables, where you can indulge in delicious food and enjoy the company of others.

Merge Café plays a vital role in supporting Auckland's street whānau (family) and those facing homelessness. We strive to break down societal barriers and provide a warm, safe, and supportive environment where everyone is welcome. Kia ora – nau mai haere mai (welcome)! We would love to meet you and serve you. Our doors are open on weekdays from 7:00 am to 2:00 pm.

In our commitment to accessibility, we charge as little as possible for our meals. If you are able, we encourage you to pay it forward by adding a few extra dollars to help your neighbors enjoy a hot, delicious meal or a cup of coffee. Our breakfasts and lunches are subsidized to ensure that individuals who are homeless or living on the margins can eat well every day.

A hearty lunch at Merge Café costs $8.70 to produce, which is why we have introduced special pricing. If you are fortunate enough to have a roof over your head and food in your fridge, we encourage you to Pay in Fullness for your meal. This helps us provide free meals to those in need and allows us to continue fulfilling our mission.

Merge Café is a place where you can eat well, feel good, and do good simultaneously. If you are interested in hosting an event at our café, please reach out to Manu at manuk@lifewise.org.nz.

While visiting, you can take advantage of our free Wi-Fi and iPad access, simply ask our café manager for the details. Connect with the community through our Merge Café noticeboard, where you can find and post job vacancies, event updates, and information about places to stay.

Experience our alfresco area, where we host BBQs and muso (musician) events. Even on rainy days, Merge Café can be your place in the sun. If you prefer some quiet time, join the Merge Café Book Club or peruse our collection of books and magazines.

The Merge Community team provides guidance and advocacy to individuals in the homeless community. Operating from Merge Café and upstairs, Merge serves as a gateway to support and opportunities.

Before becoming the modern establishment you see today, Merge Café was the Airedale Community Centre. This bustling and well-known soup kitchen served over 40,000 meals a year to Auckland's homeless population since 1885. However, we realized that despite the best intentions, the soup kitchen was only maintaining the issue of homelessness rather than solving it. This realization prompted Lifewise to re-evaluate its approach.

In November 2010, we made the brave decision to close the soup kitchen and open Merge Café in its place. Merge Café aims to create a space where anyone and everyone is welcome, regardless of their background or social and economic status. Our goal is to merge individuals together and provide an environment that embraces choice, dignity, and respect.

Merge Café supports Lifewise's approach to tackling homelessness by connecting patrons with wrap-around services that offer pathways out of homelessness. The café has proven to be successful in both providing meals and supporting individuals in need. As one of the few cafés of its kind worldwide and the only one in New Zealand, Merge Café is truly unique.

If you have visited us and enjoyed your experience, we invite you to recommend us on Trip Advisor. For information on fundraising or donating to Merge Café through Lifewise, please visit our website. If you need to contact us, our postal address is PO Box 5104, Victoria Street West, Auckland 1142. You can also reach us via email at lifewise@lifewise.org.nz or by phone at 09 302 5390. For additional addresses and phone numbers, please refer to our Get In Touch page.

Merge Community is dedicated to helping individuals find compassion and belonging, secure safe housing, develop skills, and build confidence. However, we are currently facing a funding gap. Can you help us close the gap and make a difference in the lives of those in need?