MEdLead (ACU)
Dip.Teach (Dunedin College of Education)
BEd (Otago)
BTheol (Otago)
CFLE (NCRS)
TCOPR (RNZAF Wigram)
Role at Te Kupenga: Director of the National Centre for Religious Studies (NCRS)
Colin is enthusiastic about faith in Jesus and participation in the Catholic Church. He is based in Dunedin. Prior to joining Te Kupenga he had 20+ years as DRS and assistant principal, at Kavanagh College, and represented the Dunedin Diocese at the national level in Religious Education curriculum development.
Colin is a member of the Dunedin Abrahamic Interfaith Group and the Dunedin Interfaith Council and is chair of the NZ Catholic Bishops Committee for Interfaith Relations. He is married to Jan and they have one son, Callum. They are part of Whānau Aroha – Mercy Parish and are involved in leading one group and coordinating Passionist Family Groups in Dunedin, as well as being significantly involved in parish life.
Colin believes it is a privilege to participate in Religious Education, and that life-long learning is necessary for the heart as well as the head. He completed his PhD in Education through ACU in 2025.
Favorite quote/scripture: The Emmaus Story
Publications:
MacLeod, C. (2025a). They too belong here: Investigating the relationship between Catholic parishes and parish schools in Aotearoa, New Zealand [PhD, Australian Catholic University]. acuresearchbank.acu.edu.au. https://acuresearchbank.acu.edu.au/item/92102/they-too-belong-here-investigating-the-relationship-between-catholic-parishes-and-parish-schools-in-aotearoa-new-zealand
MacLeod, C. (2025b). “There’s a difference between staying a Catholic and being a Catholic”: Gathering student voice in creating a meaning-full RE curriculum for Catholic schools. Religions, 16(7), 887. https://www.mdpi.com/2077-1444/16/7/887
Carswell, M., MacLeod, C., & Lanner, L. (2025). Māori before English: Religious education in Aotearoa NZ ko tōku reo tōku ohooho, ko tōku reo tōku māpihi maurea—My language is my awakening, my language is the window to my soul. Religions, 16(8), 947. https://www.mdpi.com/2077-1444/16/8/947
National Centre for Religious Studies. (2021a). Tō tātou whakapono our faith: Religious education curriculum for Catholic schools in Aotearoa New Zealand (C. MacLeod, Ed.) https://tekupengactc.sharepoint.com/:b:/s/External/EXcyfwQz_s5OtYEzPUc91QoBo6hXmMareMCiIqVDBUDVeg?e=J5XqXL
National Centre for Religious Studies. (2021b). Wonderfully made in God’s image: A revised framing document for human sexuality education in Aotearoa Catholic schools, and companion to the ‘having life to the full’ course. (L. Smith & C. MacLeod, Eds.) https://www.tekupenga.ac.nz/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Wonderfully_Made_In_Gods_Image_5Oct2021.pdf
National Centre for Religious Studies. (2018a). The Religious Education Bridging Document
(C. MacLeod, Ed.) http://www.faithalive.org.nz/assets/REBD/The-REBD-2018-V2.pdf
National Centre for Religious Studies. (2018b). The Secondary Religious Education Bridging Document (C. MacLeod, Ed.) https://www.faithcentral.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/The-Secondary-REBD-Final.pdf
MacLeod, C. (2017). Praying with different tongues. Liturgy – Catholic Diocese of Auckland, 42(1), 22-25. https://www.aucklandcatholic.org.nz/liturgy-prayer/magazine/
MacLeod, C. (2013). Jesus gave me a Crunchie today. Tui Motu InterIslands, March, 21. Link
