Welcome to the United Seafarers' Mission – Tauranga

Early Beginnings

The ministry to seafarers in Tauranga traces its roots back to 1959, when local fisherman Bill Dowman, newly inspired in his Christian faith, began befriending visiting crew members at the wharves. Together with Bruce Caldwell and others, he welcomed them into his home, offered meals and overnight stays, took them on sightseeing trips, and provided Bibles through the Scripture Gift Mission.

By the 1960s and ’70s, Fred and Ruth Haar had joined the work, which became known as the Galilee Mission under the covering of Mount Maunganui Baptist Church. During this period, they met Jin Kim, a Korean ship’s officer, and his wife San, who later returned from theological training in Australia to serve Korean fishermen operating from Tauranga. Their ministry was based in Oceania House at the port.

Formal Founding of the Galilee Mission

In 1990, Rev. Ray Coster of St Andrews Presbyterian Church worked with the early volunteers to establish the Galilee Mission in a more formal way. A mission presence was set up in the Northern Roller Mills building on a trial basis — a “trial” that lasted many years. Later, the mission moved to premises outside the Hull Road Gate, purchased for the work by Mr and Mrs Wilson. These premises were later sold, with the proceeds used to create the Bay of Plenty Seafarers’ Trust, which continues to help fund the mission today.

Around this time, the Galilee Mission partnered with the Anglican Mission to Seafarers in shared premises at Oceania House.

The United Seafarers Mission

In 2001, three like-minded seafarer welfare organisations joined forces:

Galilee Mission to Seafarers – a local ministry formed in the 1960s under Mount Maunganui Baptist Church

Mission to Seafarers – the international Anglican seafarer welfare society

Apostleship of the Sea (Stella Maris) – the international Catholic seafarer welfare organisation

They recognised that their mission would be stronger and more effective together, leading to the creation of the United Seafarers Mission Tauranga. This ecumenical organisation continues to serve visiting seafarers with hospitality, practical help, and pastoral care.

Continuing the Mission

For more than 60 years, this ministry — from its informal beginnings to the present-day United Seafarers Mission — has carried on the biblical call to welcome the stranger, offering care and friendship to thousands of men and women whose work brings them to the Port of Tauranga.