Te Kupenga was created by a merger of Good Shepherd College (GSC) in Auckland and the Catholic Institute of Aotearoa New Zealand (TCI). They have merged into a single organisation called Te Kupenga – Catholic Leadership Institute as of 1 January 2020.
Te Kupenga has three operating entities: the Catholic Theological College, the National Centre for Religious Studies, and the Nathaniel Centre for Bioethics. There is a permanent staff of 27, and almost 20 sessional lecturers and contractors.
Te Kupenga is owned by the six diocesan Bishops acting as Trustees and it is governed by a Board appointed by the Bishops. Te Kupenga is led by a Chief Executive who reports to the Board.
Leadership Team
Dr Areti Metuamate
BA Hons (VUW), MSt, PhD (ANU)
Chief Executive
Rev Dr Merv Duffy SM
BSc (Hons), STB, STL, STD
Dean, Catholic Theological College
Ms Susan Wilson
BTh, MTh
Programme Coordinator (L5 & L6)
Dr John Kleinsman
BTh, MTh, PhD, NZCE (Elec)
Director, Nathaniel Centre
Mr Colin McLeod
MEdLead, CFLE, Dip.Teach, BEd, BTheol, TCOPR (RNZAF)
Director, NCRS
Mrs Marina Schmits
Operations Manager
Staff
We have an exceptional team of academics, teachers, researchers, administrators, and leaders based across New Zealand. The central office is in Wellington CBD and is also the offices of the Nathaniel Centre. Our main campus of the Catholic Theological College is in Ponsonby, Auckland, and the National Centre for Religious Studies team is mainly based in Dunedin. We also have staff in Hamilton and Taihape, with local diocesan staff supporting us in Christchurch and Palmerston North.
