Hilary returned to SUNZ as National Director in April 2018 after overseeing the Wellington Community Ministries for The Salvation Army. Hilary previously spent 15 years with SUNZ as a Children and Families Worker and later Team Leader. In her spare time, she attends Strathmore Community Church. She is passionate about helping people grow an authentic faith that will hold them close to God in hard times as well as good. She loves gardening and has beautiful grandchildren.
Please email me if you would like to receive my regular email Prayer Letter to keep up to date with my ministry.
Contact Hilary Hague:
0508 423 836
My role is to look after the national team of SUNZ Children and Families Consultants as well as overseeing the wider work of SU ministry in Otago/Southland. Our team works around the country to equip and train churches in their ministries to children and their families in both evangelism and discipleship.
I lead training for children’s ministry workers, coordinate children’s ministry support networks across denominations, share resources, and facilitate children’s clubs and camps. I am passionate about churches working in an intergenerational manner to enable effective faith formation for all generations.
I am based in the Invercargill office. I bring to my work a sense of fun, a deep love of God, and a passion for making God known by exploring the Bible with others. My work is enthusiastically supported by my wife Hannah, and children Samuel, Isabella, Benjamin and Sophie, who are actively involved in the ministry.
Please email me if you would like to receive my regular email Prayer Letter to keep up-to-date with my ministry.
Contact Nigel
03 214 1834
I have been involved in youth ministry for nearly 30 years and for much of that time, I have been a Youth Pastor based in Baptist churches. I have over that time had the privilege of working alongside and training youth workers in the UK as well as PNG and New Zealand.
I am passionate about training, supporting and equipping both leaders and young people to be all they can be in Christ. I am passionate about seeing young people take their faith into their daily lives and be Jesus to a hurting world.
As National Youth Ministry Leader, my key areas of responsibility are the oversight of the youth schools, church ministries and providing pastoral care, support, encouragement, guidance and leadership to both staff and volunteers who do the hugely vital work within these ministry areas. Serving, equipping and releasing the workers on the ground to dream big and become the followers of Christ, and the leaders, they are gifted and called to be is an exciting part of what I get to do. I am passionate about the difference we can make in the lives of the youth of NZ. Ultimately that means seeing life-long disciples of Christ.
Another part of my role is to bring a greater sense of cohesiveness between each of the youth ministry areas as well as with the other ministry areas of SUNZ. I am excited to see SUNZ continue on its journey to become everything that God has equipped and called us to be.
Please email me if you would like to receive my regular email Prayer Letter to keep up-to-date with my ministry.
Contact Neville Bartley:
0272493728 or 09 379 9363 extension 1
Having been involved in various ministry roles over the past 35 years, I now bring that experience in to my role here at SUNZ as Children and Families Consultant for the Wellington Region.
I am passionate about training, resourcing, supporting and encouraging ministry leaders and helping them with the tools they need for the work they do out in their communities. Also to provide opportunities for safe environments through camp settings for Tamariki to thrive and learn all that God has to show them through bible engagement.
I enjoy all things creative, and you would often find me upcycling and painting old school desks and chairs and making earrings from inner tube tyres, when I have the time. Most times of late, I just surround myself with all things LEGO!!
I am married to Lance and we have four adult children and one grandson, who we totally adore!!
Please email me if you would like to receive my regular email Prayer Letter to keep up to date with my ministry.
Contact Andrea Lukin
0274805322
Paul was born in Leeston on the Canterbury Plains. After secondary education in Auckland, he returned to the south for university at Lincoln. He was then Youth Pastor at Hornby Presbyterian before working at a Presbyterian summer camp in the USA, where he met his wife, Robin. Paul continued in camping ministry in the USA whilst Robin, who had been a Primary School teacher, qualified and worked as a Presbyterian Minister. Paul and Robin felt a strong call back to New Zealand just as SUNZ was looking for a new South Island Camps Facilitator! Paul was instrumental in setting up the SUNZ mental health awareness programme Āpōpō, and now is National Leadership Facilitator, coordinating the Beyond Experience leadership development programme.
Paul is an experienced outdoor leader who understands that God loves transforming the lives of young people as they adventure outdoors. In the outdoors, life gets slowed down to a few important things — and suddenly we can listen better, hear God, and communicate with each other more. Camping allows us to “learn to talk the language of listening and then get good at it” — whether that listening is to God, His creation or each other.
Contact Paul Humphreys
I assist Peilin Cheng as an Assistant fundraiser for SUNZ. I am based in the National Office. I have been involved in fundraising for 35 years (The first 21 years for WVNZ) . Then upon retirement came to SUNZ and spent some time changing the ‘look and feel’ of our materials. Adventure went from being a 12-page DLE to a 32 Page A5 at the SAME cost! WE also produce the Bible reading guides IN COLOUR with a NZ feel for less than it was in black and white imported from Australia. Also had our Logo redesigned with a Māori look and feel. Then retired again.
Then an email to Wellington folk kept asking if Anyone was interested in a day a week helping to fundraise. When I checked, Hilary did mean for me to apply! I am loving the stunning atmosphere of being back at SU.
My current role is to help Peilin getting bids for funding completed on time, thanking medium donors for their generosity, and any other issues that Peilin asks me to cover.
I love being home!
Paul Martell
0212293695
Previously engaged with Scripture Union New South Wales for 12 years and with a background in International Development, Natalie moved to Aotearoa in 2018 for an eight-month Residential Fellowship with the Venn Foundation. From 2019-2023 she has been the North Island Camps Facilitator for SUNZ and is now our National Youth Camps Ministry Team Leader.
Based in Auckland, Natalie oversees the Youth Camps Ministry team which includes focus on camp leadership development, new initiatives and resource creation as well as directing our energetic Youth Camp Ministry team to provide opportunities for young people to meet God in creation.
With her passion for the creative arts and the outdoors, Natalie uses her experience to help young people grow in their understanding of the world through their faith and be equipped to live it out on a daily basis.
Please email Natalie if you would like to receive her regular email Prayer Letter to keep up to date with her ministry.
Contact Natalie Duchesne:
027 253 3370
After 6 years as the Children and Families Consultant for the Wellington area, I was appointed to the Team Leader position mid 2021. In a nutshell, my role is to facilitate, support and develop the activities and capacity of the team, and to develop emerging opportunities. In recent years our team has been involved in:
Our team has also facilitated discussions and carried out research and critical thinking around critical issues such as why our children and young people are leaving the church and faith.
Please email me if you would like to receive my regular email Prayer Letter to keep up-to-date with my ministry.
Contact Liz Eichler :
0508 423 836
Beth is originally from Auckland and spent several years studying and living in Dunedin before recently moving to Christchurch. Her time spent studying neuroscience in Dunedin and later Christian leadership through Laidlaw College positively contribute to her ability to connect with her audience.
Beth’s role involves administering and co-ordinating SUNZ’s young adult leadership development programme, Beyond Experience. She is passionate about seeing young adults grow in their faith formation and discover their unique expression of leadership. Beth was part of the first intake of Beyond Experience participants in 2021 and now enjoys seeing the impact of the programme upon the lives of other young adults.
Contact Beth Coates:
I have been involved with SUNZ for many years volunteering, running SupaKidz clubs and using Encounter with God bible reading guides.
Now for several years I have been working 2-3 mornings per week keeping the database up to date and helping with our Way2Go children’s ministry conference registrations. I also persuaded my husband Neil to get involved with the SUNZ board so we both have a strong connection to Scripture Union’s ministry.
Janet Walbran
Annette divides her time between a role as a Children and Families Consultant for SUNZ, and as a ministry specialist for Scripture Union International. She has served with SUNZ for almost 20 years. She has a passion to see children explore the Bible with wonder and excitement, and to encounter God through it's pages. If she is not at work, she can be found paddling her bright yellow kayak on the waters of the Hauraki Gulf.
Please email her if you would like to receive her regular email Prayer Letter to keep up to date with her ministry.
Contact Annette Osborne
09 379 9363
Eli is the Waikato/Bay of Plenty Youth Consultant. The role involves supporting, training and connecting with those doing the Mahi in different contexts and faith expressions of youth ministry. Eli bounces around the Waikato and Bay of Plenty, connecting with all those involved in youth ministry and youth work. Eli wants to see the church empowered to fulfil the great commission. He has a passion for mental health and is always looking to create opportunities for conversations about mental health.
Eli is married to his wife, Noelle, and they have two boys. Eli grew up in the Waikato and went to university in Chicago. They have lived in the Waikato since returning to New Zealand about 7 years ago.
Reverend Sapati Tima is married to Meiolandre and they have 3 young children. With over 15 years of dedicated service to God in church ministry, and being blessed with various opportunities to serve the wider community, Sapati has developed a deep passion for serving God and the people of our communities. Every day, Sapati looks to learn and grow his faith, while walking alongside others on their spiritual journey. His heart is dedicated to service and always striving to be a vessel for God’s love and purpose.
Sapati was until recently the Chaplain of the Vaughan Park Anglican Retreat Centre in Auckland. He was also the Reverend Minister of the Congregational Christian Church Samoa (EFKS) in Mangere from 2013 – 2017.
Academically, Sapati is a graduate in theology from Malua Theological College, Samoa, and the University of Auckland. From the latter institution, he holds the degree of Master of Theology. He is an experienced priest and pastor in Auckland.
“Talofa lava, I hope that my faith and experience might contribute to this role which involves supporting, coaching, and connecting with youth pastors, youth leaders, and young people.”
Contact Sapati Tima
sapati.tima@sunz.org.nz
02102404534
I work 2 days a week (generally Tuesday and Friday) overseeing the main organizing and administration needs of the SUNZ Auckland office. I have worked for Scripture Union since 2010 and have managed three office shifts within that time.
Having worked in children’s ministry for 24 years I am passionate about Scripture Union’s vision to support churches in their work with children and young people. I love being called upon to help with creative ideas for the different events we run and supporting SU’s ministries in any way I can.
I love being outdoors, especially at the beach, and I enjoy attending Blockhouse Bay Community Church. I absolutely love being a grandma and adore my two granddaughters.
You can contact me on
ph: 09 379 9363
Hana grew up in Auckland and was significantly formed by involvement in youth leadership and church life. She has a background in Civil Engineering, having worked as a Water Resources Engineer for several years. She has also completed theological studies with the Venn Foundation and Otago University.
Now based in Wellington, Hana serves as the Operations Manager for SUNZ. In this role, she supports the National Director in the implementation of the strategic plan, and focuses internally and practically on managing and co-ordinating the operations of SUNZ.
You can contact me on
I love having fun and getting to play games with kids, this drew me to kids’ ministry when I was younger, but also to be intentional with them, I am drawn to fun and deep relationships and see the value in forming these relationships. Before coming to SUNZ, I was doing a theology course at the Venn Foundation, before that I did a counselling degree at Laidlaw College, and before that I was a qualified drain layer. What excites me about this role?
A few things: working for SUNZ and its incredible legacy, the people, they’re really great, but most of all the opportunity I have to be involved in something meaningful and what can be grown and developed from what has already been done.
You can contact me on
myles.b@sunz.org.nz
Meredith Mackenzie says it is an honour to chair the SUNZ Board. Her first connection with Scripture Union was at a horse camp at Happy Valley in 1984 where she got hooked on God, camps, and horses. Since then she has been camper, camp leader, camp director (now called Team Leader), Youth Staff, Deputy Director, trainer of camp leaders, cook, supporter, pray-er, and volunteer. It may seem a stretch to connect this with her veterinary career, but the leadership skills she learnt and developed through SUNZ have been put to good use in her senior management / CEO roles, and now in her HR Specialist role with Everest People. The SUNZ Board is committed to diligently carrying the governance responsibility so that staff and volunteers can continue this amazing ministry.
Neil Walbran has been on the Board of SUNZ for almost 10 years. He first got involved with SUNZ via bible reading notes way back in the early 1980s and has remained passionate about SUNZ's vision of seeing children and young people discover Jesus over the years since. He is excited about the future of SUNZ with such a great staff team and a fantastic Board.
Mark Nichols lives on the Kāpiti Coast and has been a Christian since his 21st birthday. Mark is an international leader in online, open and distance education and has a senior role in the tertiary sector. He is a keen Bible student who rejoices in young people discovering Jesus. Mark is the SUNZ Deputy Chair.
Jason Kelsey first became involved with Scripture Union in 2018, leading Snow Camps on Mount Ruapehu. In 2022, he joined the Beyond Experience programme, which led to an internship with the board and deepened his passion for governance—combining his interests in business and people. Following the internship, Jason joined the board in 2024. He has a deep love for the outdoors and is passionate about creating opportunities for young people to encounter God through His creation.
Joanna Overall attended snow camps as a teenager and found the community she developed in and around Scripture Union events a source of great encouragement in her faith. She continued leading on camps during her university years and benefited greatly from the mentoring and leadership development opportunities it gave her. Stints on Auckland CWoG and National Policy Group were early opportunities for committee responsibilities and governance experience. Joanna has strong connections to the Venn Foundation where we share many young alumni. Joanna is a Real Estate Agent in the Bay of Plenty and now sits on the SUNZ Board instead of a snow boar
