St John's Theological College is celebrating a revived on-site cohort of 45 residential students living and studying on campus for 2026. Of those, 24 hail from Pākehā and Polynesian Anglican Dioceses and 21 ākonga come from the three Hui Amorangi based in Te Tairāwhiti, Te Tai Tokerau and Te Waipounamu.
One third of residential students are freshly enrolled at St John's College this year, including an exchange student from Ming Hua Theological College Hong Kong, site of a pilgrimage visit in the 2025 St John's programme.
Hoani Tapu Acting Manukura (Principal) Dr Andrew Picard says the steady growth of residential and offsite students is the fruit of careful groundwork laid in 2025, when the College set up its two core programmes for Mihinare - Anglican ministry education:Te Takawai and Te Toi Amorangi.
Te Takawai is a part-time module-based course delivered across Aotearoa leading to a New Zealand Diploma in Christian Studies (a level 5 NZQA-accredited qualification).
Centred on the three-tikanga character of this Church and drawing on mātauranga Mihinare through online and Hui Amorangi and St John's-based learning, this course teaches Christian understanding and practice in both local and global contexts.
Te Toi Amorangi is a two-year residential course based at Hoani Tapu St John's Theological College in Meadowbank (Auckland) that combines half-time Anglican ministry formation with half-time theological study delivered through St John's New Zealand Diploma in Christian Studies or with the Trinity Methodist Theology College Bachelor of Theology programme (or in some cases degrees or post graduate study through other tertiary providers). Te Toi Amorangi focuses on formation within a fully immersive Anglican institution, through campus life, pilgrimage around the motu and the learning and practice of mātauranga Mihinare - Anglicanism within the life of this three tikanga Church, its people and places.
Acting Principal Andrew Picard says the two programmes are on a strong footing after their initial 2025 launch year.
"There was significant start-up work involved, especially in designing delivery across online, Zoom and in person modes at five locations. But the year went well, and the feedback was strong.” he said.
Student surveys at St John's College in 2025 rated courses at an average of 4.4 out of 5.0 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.”
The academic and formation team is made up of teaching staff experienced in Anglican ministry: Archdeacon Michael Tamihere leads Te Takawai and Te Toi Amorangi, Rev Mele Prescott is Pou Karakia overseeing liturgical formation, Rev Dr Jekheli Kibami Singh is Pou Wairua (Chaplain) and Acting Tikanga Pākehā Dean, while Rev Lloyd Popata is Pou Tikanga – Kaumatua.
The second-year curriculum for Te Toi Amorangi has been updated in 2026, with a stronger emphasis on haerenga (pilgrimages) and a whole college noho marae (residential experience) that will bring students and guests into shared learning.
“This offers a 24-hour residential setting with dedicated time for study and genuine access to formation." says Michael Tamihere.
“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,”
The New Zealand Diploma in Christian Studies, which is delivered through Te Takawai, has continued to mature as a programme shaped by mātauranga Mihinare and mātauranga Moana. Now into its second year, 79 students have enrolled in Te Takawai for 2026.
Two redesigned courses will be offered in 2026.
Archbishop Don Tamihere, Dr Emily Colgan (Acting Principal of Trinity Methodist College) and Rev Dr Jekheli Kibami-Singh will co-lead a course on Te Kawenata Tawhito- The Old Testament, linking wider biblical scholarship with insights from our three tikanga Mihinare context. Moana Eco-theology will be led by Tikanga Pasefika Dean Le Vaotogo Frank Smith and Archdeacon Michael Tamihere, drawing on Moana knowledge and theological reflection, and engaging pressing climate realities such as those posed by threats to oceanic health and the impact of cyclones on our communities. A fully combined wānanga with Archbishop Justin Duckworth, which is focused on discipleship is scheduled for Te Takawai in semester two.
Several leadership changes have been confirmed at the College.
Now that the previous Manukura Rev Dr Hirini Kaa has moved on from leadership of the College, Archdeacon Michael Tamihere will lead Te Toi Amorangi and Te Takawai programmes through 2026, and Rev Dr Wayne Te Kaawa will serve as Acting Tikanga Māori Dean.
The Rev Dr Jekheli Kibami-Singh will be Acting Tikanga Pākehā Dean, and Dr Andrew Clark-Howard will take up aspects of the Manutaki Akoranga (Academic Director) role and continue to lead the Te Waka Tupu (Learner Success Team).
A shift toward retaining students onsite at the College is working well with many students studying on-site through St John’s NZ Diploma of Christian Studies programme, or gaining a Bachelor of Theology through Trinity Methodist Theology College's NZQA accredited programme (where some St John’s faculty also lecture).
With the growth of students staying in Meadowbank and the increase in Te Toi Amorangi and Te Takawai students across tikanga, staff are reporting a refreshment of College culture and new opportunities for students' leadership development at St John's.
Reflecting on the year ahead for St John's at its shared opening with Trinity Methodist Theology College this February, Methodist Church of New Zealand President Dr Te Aroha Rountree challenged students and staff to hold onto the right perspective for leadership in the church.
"Leadership in the kingdom of God is not dominance.' she said,
It is responsibility."
"Salt influences quietly but powerfully.
Light serves by illuminating others.
"Your influence will be measured not by how many follow you —
but by how many flourish because of you."
For more information on courses at Hoani Tapu St John's College go to:
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