In response to sharply rising homelessness and housing hardship figures, non-profit organisation Orange Sky Aotearoa has opened a new permanent laundry facility in Māngere, South Auckland.
The initiative, launched today, is a collaboration with local kaupapa Māori health provider Turuki Health Care and commercial laundry service Alsco Uniforms. It marks a move towards more permanent infrastructure for Orange Sky, an organisation primarily known for its distinctive orange vans offering mobile laundry and shower services across New Zealand since 2018.
This is Orange Sky’s second permanent laundry “pod” in Auckland, established as demand for essential services intensifies. Recent 2023 Census data revealed a stark picture of increasing hardship, showing a 29.5 per cent rise since 2018 in Kiwis without shelter and a significant 63.7 per cent increase in those living in temporary accommodation.
Officials estimate that around two per cent of New Zealand’s population faces severe housing deprivation, defined as living without basic amenities like reliable cooking facilities, safe drinking water, a private bath or shower, and electricity.
The new Māngere facility aims to provide consistent access to laundry services for those facing such difficulties. It will operate Monday to Friday, with sessions from 9:30 am to 11:30 am and midday to 2:00 pm.
The first year of operation is being sponsored by Alsco Uniforms New Zealand. Monique Welsh, Alsco’s General Manager for New Zealand and Asia, described the collaboration as a “natural fit,” noting both organisations’ commitment to hygiene and essential laundry services. Alsco has an existing partnership with Orange Sky in Australia.
Kat Doughty, Senior Impact Manager at Orange Sky, emphasised the service goes beyond simply cleaning clothes. “This new permanent laundry service in Māngere offers more than just clean clothes – it’s about restoring a sense of pride and providing a safe space for people to access essential services,” she said. “We’re grateful for the opportunity to partner with Turuki Health and Alsco Uniforms to help make a meaningful difference.”
While expanding its permanent footprint, Orange Sky continues its mobile operations in Auckland, Hamilton (Kirikiriroa), Wellington (Te Whanganui-a-Tara), Porirua, Christchurch (Ōtautahi), and Hawke’s Bay (Te Matau-a-Maui).
Supported by over 250 volunteers nationwide, the organisation reports having completed more than 29,900 loads of laundry, provided 14,460 hot showers, and dedicated over 44,225 hours to conversations with community members since its New Zealand launch.
Orange Sky was founded in Brisbane, Australia, in 2014 as the world’s first free mobile laundry and shower service for people experiencing homelessness.
