Wellington Charity Helps 155 People Find Jobs in One Year

When Miko Morris couldn't find work two years ago, she started volunteering at Dress for Success Wellington. Last week, she celebrated her final day there after landing paid employment she credits the charity with helping her secure.

"It gave me the skills that I needed and the confidence as well as the connections," Morris said. Her success story is one of 155 people the Wellington branch helped move into employment over the past year.

The charity opened its new, larger store on Willeston Street this week to meet growing demand. With Wellington's unemployment rate hitting 5.4% in early 2026, manager Taslim Parsons says the timing couldn't be more important.

Dress for Success offers more than the free interview outfit most people expect. Clients receive career training, resume help, and work experience opportunities. When someone lands a job, they get a full week's worth of work clothing to start their new role with confidence.

"If you've been unemployed for a while, you really do lose your confidence, and so you can come to us, and it's not just the clothing," Parsons explained. The charity serves everyone from recent school graduates to professionals who lost jobs after 20 years in the same role.

Andrea Ayaquil and her husband came from the Philippines and struggled to break into New Zealand's job market. They volunteer at Dress for Success while gaining local work experience and learning what employers expect. The charity helped them update their resumes, understand application requirements, and practice expressing themselves confidently in English.

The Ripple Effect

The impact reaches beyond individual success stories. Last year, Dress for Success Wellington held career development programs and workshops for 692 people. The charity also kept over 4,000 kilograms of donated clothing out of landfills by giving suits, dresses, and accessories new life with job seekers.

The store's racks now overflow with professional attire, and every purchase from the retail section funds the charity's free services. Government grants and donations fill the rest of the budget, allowing the organization to say yes to anyone who needs help.

Founded in America in 1997, Dress for Success has operated in New Zealand since 2001. The Wellington expansion reflects both increased need and proven success at turning volunteering into employment and unemployment into opportunity.

One person at a time, the charity proves that sometimes all someone needs is the right outfit and the right support to change their entire future.