OUR BOARD

James Coleman | CHAIR

James Coleman is a senior tax counsel with over 30 years of tax litigation experience. He has also spent 10 years writing a tax column for the New Zealand Law journal, as well as writing for taxation today and for the Thompson Reuters NZ publication New Zealand Taxation Principals, Cases & Questions 2016. James is the author of a textbook on Tax Avoidance Law in New Zealand, as well as In Spirit and In Truth – Being Jesus people in a secular culture.

James is married to Julia, has 2 sons and 1 grandchild.

James has been involved with governance of the Bible Society for 7 years and believes that it discharges a very important role for the common good of the whole country.

David McLay

David McLay is a barrister specialising in tax, trusts and charities with almost 40 years of legal experience. He has governance experience in local and regional church bodies, as well as in a number of charities.

David lives in Taitā, Lower Hutt, with his wife Robyn who is an Anglican priest. They have three adult sons and three grandchildren.

David has been involved with the Bible Society, originally through the former Bible Society Development Fund, since 2010.

Bishop Kito (Te Kitohi Pikaahu)

Te Kitohi Pikaahu “Bishop Kito” began ministry in 1986 in the Auckland Anglican Māori Mission. He has been the Bishop of Tai Tokerau since 2002. At the heart of his ministry is the proclamation of the gospel message in the Bible, which is at the centre of God’s mission in the world. The liturgy and worship of the church, evangelism, pastoral care, catechesis, apologetics are all an important part of his role.

Bishop Kito lives in the Bay of Islands. With his grandson now living with them, it means he and his wife have new priorities to adjust to, bringing much joy and gladness.

Robert Hagan-Pratt

Robert Hagan-Pratt resides in Wellington and he is the Chairperson of Trinity Union Parish Newtown. He and his wife, Valerie, enjoy Chamber Music.

Robert started his Electronics career with NZ Post Office, progressing on to the Satellite Earth Station infrastructure design for NZ and overseas, and then to Interspersed with submarine cable design for 1984 ANZCAN Cable. Robert spent 5 years on the sale of Telecom NZ to Alcatel-Lucent moving on to contracting design of Trunk Microwave linking for Transpower using Alcatel systems, before starting contracting for Satellite and other Radio infrastructure design. As the Chair of the Property Committee, Robert has overseen the sale of Wellington, Tory St property, and assisted with establishing the Group Office and warehouse at Wiri, Auckland.

Dr Penelope “Nep” Roberts

Penelope “Nep” Roberts is a trained Dental Surgeon, and Secondary Teacher, currently studying Te Reo Māori at Te Wānanga o Aotearoa, wife to Nick, mother of 2 sons and 2 daughters, farmer, and friend.

Nep has a heart for evangelism, education and mission who finds being a Trustee on The Bible Society Board exciting because the Scriptures are at the heart of all. She also has a passion for the Scriptures being read by people in their own languages which is part of the reason she is studying Te Reo Māori.

Hana Seddon

Hana Seddon is a Salvation Army officer, leading the church and social services in Rotorua and a proud mum of two adult sons. A social worker by trade, with a passion for education, social justice and public health leadership, she has had the privilege of working in several different communities over the past 20 years.

Hana is currently studying theology with the University of Otago, with a focus on theologies from Indigenous perspectives. In between singing and storytelling, Hana is often found facilitating conversations around Tiriti-based leadership in faith communities.

Dr Eddie Tupa’i

Dr Eddie Tupa’i currently serves as the Lead Pastor - President of the NZPUC (New Zealand Pacific Union Conference). Eddie spent six years as a computer geek for Mobil New Zealand before becoming a church geek (pastor!). He is passionate about effective leadership in healthy Adventist churches. His D.Min. examines the ‘Healthy Adventist Churches’ initiative he led as president of the NNZ Conference.

He has served as a pastor in various contexts including local church, youth, family and church development. While in administration, Eddie has remained involved in pastoral ministry and local church leadership. He currently pastors a local church in addition to his role as Union president. He is married to Tessa (PhD in music) along with being dad to four young adult men - and a cheeky cavoodle - ‘Chiko’.

Monsignor Gerard Burns

Monsignor Gerard Burns is a Catholic priest of the Archdiocese of Wellington of Irish descent and is currently engaged in various areas of pastoral ministry. One is in a parish for Māori based in Porirua, another is chaplaincy with the Latin American community and the other is as an adviser to our Archbishop. Gerard was born in Wellington and has lived mainly around the city since then, apart from theological training in Hawkes Bay and Dunedin. He also spent 8 years working as a priest in coastal Peru, a highly formative experience, part of which was the reading of the Bible from the perspective of very poor and marginalized people. Gerard has also spent time visiting and working for brief periods in some of the other islands of the South Pacific.

PRESIDENT

TAK BHANA

Ps Tak Bhana is the Senior Pastor of Church Unlimited, a large multi-cultural church in West Auckland, with seven campuses. He graduated from Auckland University in law and commerce and practised as an accountant before going into full time ministry.

Tak spent three years as a missionary in the Philippines and travels around New Zealand and the nations speaking at conferences, seminars and churches fulfilling his deep passion is to see the rapid growth and passion for the Holy Spirit, prayer, the Word of God, faith, winning souls and nations.

Tak hosts a national conference called New Zealand And Beyond which has a vision to equip leaders and churches to reach New Zealand and nations with the gospel. He also has a radio and television program called Running with Fire which broadcasts in New Zealand and many other nations. His church produces a magazine with the same name which is distributed in over 70 countries. He is the author of the books – Wired for the Supernatural and Power Unlimited.

He is married to Adrienne and they have one married daughter and two grandchildren.

CEO

Neels Janse van Rensburg

Neels firmly believes that the Bible is for everyone, and that every life that encounters God through His Word, will be transformed for the better and for good. He has been with Bible Society New Zealand for 10 years and feels leading as CEO during this season, is both a privilege and an honour. He has a Bmin and LTH degrees in theology and has been a pastor for the last 31 years.

Neels is married to Jeanine and they have 2 daughters. Outside of Bible Society, as a family, they attend Doxa Deo Church where he also serves as an associate pastor. He serves on the board of Faith4Families and a proprietor for Kingsway Trust, serving on the Kingsway School board.