Wilberforce Community News
Kia ora e te whānau Wilberforce,
April is flying by, and we are already looking ahead to May. May is shaping up to be a month of opportunity, learning, and connection. In this edition, you’ll find a mix of ways to step in, step up, and stay informed.
🔹 Join the Christian Against Poverty team
Read more about the job opportunity with Christians Against Poverty.
🔹 The Well announce three upcoming events this May
See more information and where to get tickets.
🔹 Register for the new Equip series this May
Mental health training for home group leaders
🔹 Join ANZERA's 'Evangelism Academic Conference'
Tickets available for this engaging 2-day conference
🔹 Maxim Institute warmly invites you to this year’s Sir John Graham Lecture
For more information and to book your tickets, see the full article
🔹 Get tickets for the Henry Williams: Envoy of Peace to Tauranga Moana lecture by Dr. Samuel Carpenter
This June at The Elms Chapel, Mission St, Tauranga
🔹 Join Elevate Christian Disability Trust as their new Programme Facilitator!
Ready to make a difference? Then read more about this exciting opportunity
🔹 Deepen your faith at Venn Evening School in Auckland or Wellington!
Register now for this great opportunity.
now
🔹 Do you know what's coming up in the Māori calendar?
We have you covered with what is happening next
Find out more about each of these below.
If you have content you'd like us to include in a future edition of the Wilberforce Community News, you can email news@wilberforce.org.nz. Please note that requests must be submitted by the first Friday of the month to be included in that month's newsletter.
Ngā mihi,
The Wilberforce Foundation Team
P.S. Please feel free to forward this newsletter to others you think may be interested in the content. The best way to do this is by using the 'FORWARD' button at the bottom of this page. This will ensure all the links work correctly. Look for the envelope symbol below.
Job vacancies at Christians Against Poverty NZ
As an integral member of the CAP Executive Leadership Team, you will have the exciting opportunity to lead our People & Culture function. You will play a pivotal role in shaping organisational strategy, strengthening culture, and driving people initiatives that help to enhance impact and release more families from money chaos in Aotearoa.
If you have strong end-to-end HR expertise, enjoy fast-paced environments, leading through seasons of growth, and can skillfully balance people priorities and organisational excellence, we’d love to hear from you. (Auckland based role)
The Well presents:
Real Stories of Faith at Work
The Well are excited to announce three upcoming events this May, featuring an outstanding panel of speakers and engaging conversations for the business community.
After a sold-out Auckland event last time, demand is expected to be even higher across all locations:
AUCKLAND
8th May 2026, 6:30am
Hyundai Marine Sports Center
TAURANGA
11th May 2026, 6:30am
Trinity Wharf Hotel
HAMILTON
12th May 2026, 6:30am
Made Hamilton
These events offer fresh insights, practical ideas, and the chance to connect with like-minded professionals in a welcoming, high-quality setting.
Book Early
Seats are limited, so we encourage you to secure your tickets soon to avoid missing out.
The Equip Series
There is a new national network forming of Christian counsellors, trainers and church leaders to resource the wider church to address mental health needs. We are delighted to bring a series of training evenings, especially designed for home group leaders and others who offer pastoral care. Monday evenings, once a month, with top speakers from diverse backgrounds. Koha registration.
Starting Monday 4th May with an introduction to mental health.
Contact Silvia Purdie for more information:
silvia.purdie@gmail.com
Evangelism Academic Conference
ANZERA is committed to fostering “academic research that contributes to the evangelisation of Aotearoa New Zealand and the world.”
Join this engaging two-day conference, “Reframing Evangelism for the Contemporary World,” as it explores fresh, thoughtful approaches to evangelism for today’s rapidly changing context. Attendees will be invited into meaningful dialogue around current research and practice shaping mission for “now.”
The conference features keynote speaker Dr Darrell Bock (Hendricks Center, Dallas Theological Seminary), alongside a range of academic presentations from selected papers.
With opportunities for learning, discussion, and connection throughout, catering is provided across both days, including morning tea, lunch, and afternoon tea.
Sir John Graham Lecture 2026
Maxim Institute warmly invites you to this year’s Sir John Graham Lecture with Dr Sarah Irving-Stonebraker.
6pm Friday 17 July 2026 | The Pullman Hotel, Auckland CBD
For more information and to book your tickets:
About the speaker
Dr Sarah Irving-Stonebraker is an Australian-based historian who specialises in British history and the intersection of religion, science, and politics. She received her PhD in History from Cambridge University and held a Junior Research Fellowship at Oxford University. Dr Irving-Stonebraker is the author of two books, Priests of History: Stewarding the Past in an Ahistoric Age and Natural Science and the Origins of the British Empire.
Henry Williams:
Envoy of Peace to Tauranga Moana
Join us for a significant historical lecture by Dr. Samuel Carpenter as we commemorate the bi-centenary of the arrival of Henry Williams (Karuwhā) into Tauranga Moana.
Event Details
Date: Thursday, 25th June
Time: 1:00 pm
Location: The Elms Chapel, Mission St, Tauranga
About the Speaker
Dr. Samuel D. Carpenter (Ngāti Pākehā/ Ngāi te Tiriti) is a distinguished historian, author, and Lecturer in History and Research Fellow at Laidlaw College. As a founding trustee of the Karuwhā Trust, his work focuses on early New Zealand political thought. His highly anticipated biography of Henry Williams is set for publication in 2026.
Job vacancy with Elevate Christian disability trust
We are seeking someone to facilitate and further develop a recently started programme on Thursdays at our Centre in Onehunga, Auckland. Our new Elevate Youth Collective started in February and is for young people with cognitive disabilities. The programme includes opportunities to practice life skills, try new things, volunteer with local community groups, learn about God and connect with other young people with disability.
The role is a part-time position, 12-16 hours per week for 10 weeks a term (40 weeks annually). As this is a new programme there is a need to establish and develop the programme, with support from our Centre Manager. We will look to begin an additional programme day, so there is potential for additional hours. The programme runs for nine weeks of the term.
There is also potential to combine this role with a soon to be advertised office role which includes assisting in the coordinating and running of our Elevate Family Camp for families with a child with disability.
Venn Evening School—Autumn
Venn Evening School is a learning journey in Christian essentials—thoughtful and practical night classes in Bible, Doctrine and Christian Living.
Evening Schools run over three weeks each season. Join us for enriching teaching, worship, conversation, and kai this May. Choose which course you would like to attend and register online.
Auckland
Dates: 6, 13 & 20 May, 7:00–9:30pm
Location: Hillsborough, Auckland
Cost: $60
Courses on offer:
- Gospels: Matthew
- Who is God?
- Praying the Psalms
Wellington
Dates: 12, 19 & 26 May, 7:00–9:30pm
Location: Hataitai, Wellington
Cost: $60
Course on offer:
- Who is God?
Do you know what some of the most significant dates are on the Māori calendar?
Check out these dates and add them to your diary and or save the date:
29th April 2026:
Pukehinahina Commemoration
21st June 2026:
Te Ranga Commemoration
Early September:
Koroneihana – Anniversary of Māori Queens Coronation
14-20th September 2026:
Māori Language week
14th Sepember 2026:
Māori Language Day
5th November 2026:
Parihaka Day
July 10th 2026:
Matariki
22-27 Feb 2027:
2027 Te Matatini
P.S Please feel free to forward this newsletter to others you think may be interested in the content. The best way to do this is by using the 'FORWARD' button at the bottom of this page. This will ensure all the links work correctly. Look for the envelope symbol below.
