By becoming a Care Champion you will:
Meet Chaplain
Matt Porter
Matt Porter moved from Texas to Wellington with his family around three years ago and has been serving as a chaplain at Wellington Hospital for the past 18 months. It’s a role he speaks about with genuine passion.
Through connecting with people from all walks of life, Matt has found chaplaincy to be both deeply rewarding and a meaningful way to better understand the people of Aotearoa New Zealand and the country he now calls home.
Matt believes chaplaincy plays a vital role in the hospital environment. While patients often encounter many medical professionals during their stay, it is frequently the chaplain—sometimes after only a brief interaction—whom they remember. For Matt, this comes down to presence and continuity.
“Being truly present and listening deeply is vital.
Only by slowing down and paying close attention can I discern what support a patient might need.”
— Matt Porter
In the fast‑paced world of hospital care, Matt intentionally “moves a few steps slower,” offering an unhurried, attentive presence that signals something different from clinical care.
Each day brings variety. Matt may spend time with people who are deeply spiritual, uncertain about faith, or who have never considered it at all. What matters most to him is meeting people where they are and walking alongside them.
Many moments have left a lasting impression—from witnessing a wedding near the end of a patient’s life, to supporting a young woman navigating recovery, to sharing laughter with patients reflecting on rich and complex life stories.
Matt is also mindful of how often people reach later life feeling isolated, a reality he believes invites us to live more intentionally and remain connected with others throughout our lives.
He is passionate about encouraging younger people to consider pastoral care as a vocation, describing chaplaincy as one of many meaningful ways to serve the body of Christ.
Above all, Matt hopes others will see the value in slowing down, noticing those who may be overlooked, and offering companionship in times of need. He believes that such presence reflects Christ’s love in powerful and practical ways.
Matt and his family are well settled in Wellington, where their home also serves as a comfortable retirement haven for Punch, a former racing greyhound.
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Chaplain Matt Porter believes the opportunity to offer support and companionship to those in need is a special privilege.
Thanks to an amazing community of supporters, Matt is able to do this for people facing some of the toughest times in their lives.
You can be part of that journey and enable chaplains like Matt to be there when it's needed most.
Because we all need a little extra care at times