Hospital chaplains are specifically trained for hospital ministry and visit the wards each day.  They are available to staff, patients, whanau and family and are an integral part of the healthcare team.

The chaplain’s role is to support a person facing challenging life issues that are having an impact on their sense of wellbeing.

Hospital chaplains offer:

  • time to listen
  • friendship
  • encouragement
  • guidance
  • prayer
  • bedside communion
  • anointing
  • formal services for baptisms, weddings, celebrations and funerals.

Both Nelson and Wairau hospital chapels are always open for rest, peace, quiet and worship. They offer an inclusive religious and cultural space that welcomes everyone of all faiths or none.

 At Nelson Hospital bedside communions are available on Sundays between 10am and 11.15am, and there is a time of hymn singing in the AT&R lounge at 11:15am. A Prayer List is available for those who would like to pray for the hospital.

 At Wairau Hospital, an ecumenical service is held every Wednesday at 11am in the chapel off main corridor (past Lab entrance). All are welcome.

Hauora Maori chaplains

Hauora Maori chaplaincy services provide spiritual and cultural support to Maori and their whanau who are receiving inpatient hospital care.

They are trained and qualified voluntary chaplains. The services they offer include karakia, emotional care, advice to whanau and looking after tikanga Maori. The chaplains can be accessed at Jack Inglis Friendship Hospital (Motueka), Nelson Hospital and Wairau Hospital. You can access them through He Pukenga Hauora as a service referral or by making a request to the Charge Nurse Manager responsible for your care. Most days the Hauora chaplain will receive a patient list and then visit.

To request a chaplain visit

  • Contact the chaplain directly through hospital switchboard (03) 546 1800 Nelson and (03) 520 9999 Blenheim.
  • Request a nurse to call for a chaplain.
  • Referrals are welcome from the community.

Chaplains will visit the wards during weekdays but can’t guarantee they will see every patient. The chaplaincy team is available after hours for patient, whanau or family requests and for emergencies.

Contact the Nelson Hospital and Wairau Hospital chaplains

Patients and relatives can request a nurse to call for a chaplain. Referrals are welcome from the community.

If you would like a chaplain to visit contact:

Nelson Hospital chaplain
Direct line: (03) 546 1818 – leave a message if there’s no answer
(03) 546 1800  – ask to page the chaplain on call

Wairau Hospital chaplain
Direct line: (03) 520 6479
(03) 520 9999  – and ask to page the chaplain on call