Christian schooling throughout New Zealand is usually initiated and sustained by:
a local community that has a passion for and commitment to Christian schooling
a group of parents who wish their children to have a Christian education, and
a legal entity (normally a Trust) that owns the land and buildings.
NZCPT wishes to support and nurture this approach to Christian schooling, as it is consistent with the biblical mandate of parental responsibility for the education of children, and it is proven to work.
The NZCPT model leaves ownership of the school assets in local hands (ie. The Land Trust). The NZCPT Vision is to empower the local group to be vision carriers as well as owners.
Faith Harvest Trust
Presiding Member: Rose Whitehead
Rose and her husband John have been passionate supporters and highly involved with Christian education over the past 18 years, having had their five children all benefit from Christian education in the primary years. Rose is one of the founding members of the Faith Harvest Trust and now the presiding member. Rose currently is a company director and trustee on multiple trusts and manages the accounts and oversees the office operations in their family-owned business. Rose attends the Kerikeri Baptist church where she has served in multiple areas and currently leads several women’s ministry groups. Rose currently sits on the Board of Trustees for the Harvest Christian School as a Proprietors Rep.
In 2019 the Faith Harvest Trust (FHT) was formed as a land and building Trust with the vision to start and establish a Christian School in Kerikeri. FHT then approached NZCPT to become the proprietor and to support us in achieving our vision for a stand-alone state-integrated Christian School. NZCPT was integral in helping FHT establish what is now Harvest Christian School, which opened on the 1st of July 2021. The school is currently in a short term leased premises whilst Faith Harvest Trust is developing a new school site in the heart of Kerikeri.
We give all glory to God for everything that has been achieved so far, for His faithfulness and guidance throughout the project thus far. We’ve truly seen God's hand at work in so many ways and are thankful to the many prayer warriors and those in our community who have stood alongside us and supported us both financially and prayerfully on this journey which we take step by step as we feel Gods leading.
Christian Schools Association of Queenstown
Chairperson: Steven Batstone
This bio is being updated.
Wellington Christian Education Trust
Chairperson: Matt Mansell
Matt is the founding member and chairperson of the Wellington Christian Education Trust. Matt trained as a secondary school teacher and, while he has since left teaching, is passionate about Christian education in New Zealand. Matt currently works as a strategic change management consultant helping companies become learning organisations. Matt is currently a part of the Story Vineyard church plant in Wellington. Prior to this he was a member of the Capital Vineyard Christian Fellowship for 19 years.
Hāwera Christian Education Trust
Chairperson: Sam Stewart
My name is Sam Stewart, I am originally from Northern Ireland and have been in New Zealand for the last 23 years with my Kiwi wife Jenny.
I have worked in the oil and gas industry for the last 22 years in various roles and am currently the Production Co-Ordinator for Ballance Agri-Nutrients, Kapuni site.
I am heavily involved in the Hawera Baptist Church, where I am an Elder.
I have been working with the Hawera Christian School for the last 4-5 years as the HCET Board representative.
I have recently taken over the role of Chairperson for the HCET due to the retirement of John Omundsen in December 2022.
I have a great passion for Christian education and work hard to ensure the school has the best possible facilities and that it maintains its special character in all aspects of school life.
KingsWay Trust
Chairperson: Allan Bates
Allan and his wife are strong supporters of Christian Education, with their three children all graduating from KingsWay School.
A life-long journey of faith began as a teenager, attending a variety of church fellowships across Auckland, most recently as a contributing member of the Massey Riverhead Presbyterian parish.
Allan completed a graduate Diploma in Theology at Laidlaw College in 2014 with additional studies ongoing. Adding to his credentials as a Chartered Accountant, his experience in banking as a senior executive and more recently in a business advisory capacity, makes his a valuable contribution to the work of the Trust going forward.
Allan has been a board member of Jireh Christian School and KingsWay School since 2016, and he and his wife have owned and managed an early learning centre, until recently.
Allan has been elected Chair of the Trust from 2020, succeeding the retiring and long-serving Vaughan Darby, who has taken ‘one step back’ towards a well-deserved retirement in Tutukaka.
WHANGĀREI Christian Education Trust
Chairman: Vaughan Darby
Vaughan has recently stepped back from his extensive involvement in State-Integrated school Christian education. He is the past Chair of the Kingsway Trust, a role that he faithfully filled for over 20 years. He is the past Chair of the Association of Integrated Schools (AISNZ) and The Association of Proprietors of Integrated Schools (APIS). He continues as a Trustee on the NZCPT where his vision for a connected network of Christian schools across Aotearoa continues undiminished.
Vaughan and Mary are planning on stepping back into a well-earned retirement in Tutukaka. As a ‘local’ now, he continues to offer his energy and vision to the WCET, leading the Trust with his typical enthusiasm and optimism for the continued growth of Excellere College. The North is indeed fortunate to have his services available to them.