Hoani Tapu | St Johns Theological College is on a mission to rebuild as a leading place of global theological scholarship, strengthening its mātauranga Mihinare studies and formation, and growing a residential community that reflects the diversity of Te Hāhi Mihinare.
There are now 45 residential students living and studying on campus. Of these, 21 are Tikanga Māori ākonga, including nine new ākonga who have joined from Te Hui Amorangi ki Te Tairāwhiti, Te Hui Amorangi ki Te Tai Tokerau, and Te Hui Amorangi ki Te Waipounamu.
In total, 15 new ākonga have enrolled this year, including exchange student Simon Tsang from Ming Hua Theological College Hong Kong.
Dr Andrew Picard, Acting Manukura, says the steady growth is the fruit of careful groundwork laid in 2025. “Last year we set up Te Toi Amorangi and Te Takawai. There was significant start up work involved, especially in designing delivery across online, Zoom and in person modes. But the year went well, and the feedback was strong.”
Student surveys in 2025 rated courses at an average of 4.4 out of 5 across all measures. “That consistency across every course was encouraging,” Dr Picard says. “It tells us students are experiencing both academic rigour and formation that is meaningful for ministry.”
One year since it was introduced, Te Toi Amorangi remains a distinctive model, integrating 50 percent formation and 50 percent theological study for an intentionally designed short two-year course. It focuses on formation as Mihinare within a fully immersive Anglican Institution, through campus life, haerenga around the motu, and the learning and practice of mātauranga Mihinare within the life of this province, its people and place.
The formation team is made up of priests with vast experience in Anglican ministry: Venerable Michael Tamihere (leader of Te Takawai and Te Toi Amorangi), Reverend Mele Prescott (Pou Karakia), Reverend Dr Jekheli Kibami Singh (Pou Wairua and Acting Tikanga Pākehā Dean), and Reverend Lloyd Popata (Pou Tikanga – Kaumatua).
The second-year curriculum for Te Toi Amorangi has been updated, with a stronger emphasis on haerenga (pilgrimages) and a whole college noho marae that brings students and guests into shared learning. A fully combined wānanga with Archbishop Justin Duckworth, which is focused on discipleship is also being planned for Te Takawai in Semester Two.
“This offers a 24-hour residential setting with dedicated time for study and genuine access to formation, something many Māori in full time ministry with hapū commitments do not easily receive.
Here, ākonga can take part in daily karakia and engage in multiple services each week, presiding, leading, and preaching, experiencing in a month what might otherwise take a year.
It is immersive and reflective, forming leaders through worship, scripture, and shared practice, with space to ask how they can grow and improve,” says Ven. Michael.
The New Zealand Diploma in Christian Studies, which is delivered through the Te Takawai network, has continued to mature as a programme shaped by mātauranga Mihinare and mātauranga Moana. Now into its second year, 79 students from ngā Hui Amorangi are enrolled.
Two redesigned courses will be offered in 2026. Kawenata Tawhito, with an impressive teaching staff of the Most Reverend Dr Don Tamihere, Dr Emily Colgan and the Reverend Dr Jekheli Kibami-Singh, will reframe Old Testament study within the lived contexts of the Church. Care of Creation, led by Fr Frank Smith and Ven. Michael, will draw on moana knowledge and theological reflection, engaging pressing climate realities in Hui Amorangi such as Te Tairāwhiti.
Several leadership updates have been confirmed at the College.
The Venerable Michael will lead Te Toi Amorangi and Te Takawai for the year, the Reverend Dr Wayne Te Kaawa serves as Acting Tikanga Māori Dean, the Reverend Dr Jekheli as Acting Tikanga Pākehā Dean, and Dr Andrew Clark-Howard takes up aspects of the Manutaki Akoranga role alongside leading Te Waka Tupu. The Reverend Mele Prescott is reshaping chapel life around the daily office, forming people for ministry through steady rhythms of prayer.
There has been a shift to retaining students onsite at the College. Students primarily now study onsite through the St John’s NZDipCS or with Trinity Methodist Theological College (in which St John’s faculty now teach). With the growth of students onsite and the increase in Te Toi Amorangi and Te Takawai students across Tikanga, there is a refreshment of college culture. There are simply more people present on campus, and a renewed community.