NZ Christian Proprietors Trust | A Charitable Trust providing National Synergy with Local Identity as the Proprietor of a Network of State-Integrated Schools in New Zealand since 2008
Chair AGM Report 2025
It is my privilege to present this report, which highlights the activities and achievements of the NZ Christian Proprietors Trust (NZCPT) during 2025.
The mission of NZCPT is to partner with communities across New Zealand to expand the provision of quality, state-integrated Christian schooling that is authentically Christ-centred in belief and practice. We seek to be a preferred partner of the Crown and of local communities desiring Special Character education for their children, and to grow the number of Christian schools where there is need.
This has been a year of steady, purposeful progress attending carefully to the responsibilities entrusted to it: strengthening Special Character, supporting school boards and land trusts, responding to leadership and property pressures, and preparing a clearer platform for future growth. Through these matters we have seen evidence of God’s faithfulness and provision.
Leadership and Governance
2025 has been the third year of CEO Philip Mark Bradley’s leadership. The Trust continues to benefit from his strategic and relational approach, his increasing knowledge of the state-integrated school sector, and his active engagement across school boards, land trusts, principals, sector colleagues and government processes. His work has brought greater coherence to the NZCPT network and has strengthened the systems by which the Trust fulfils its proprietorial responsibilities.
A review of the NZCPT Deed of Trust was completed and executed. Work also progressed on policies and procedures required to give effect to the updated Deed.
A significant development was the preparation and ratification of the NZCPT Strategic Plan 2026–2028. This plan affirms the Trust’s core values of Christ-centredness, Holy Scripture, servant leadership, and partnership and community. It also clarifies NZCPT’s long-term purpose and its mission to support accessible, high-quality, Christ-centred and Bible-based education; to strengthen schools’ capability to uphold and deliver their Special Character commitments; and to empower schools to inspire and equip students to love God and His Word so they make a meaningful impact on the world around them.
The national triennial school board election cycle required considerable attention. Proprietor appointees were reviewed, reappointed or newly appointed, with 21 reappointed representatives and four new appointees confirmed by the end of the year. Induction materials were developed to help new school board.
Strategic Priorities
During 2025 the Trust made progress against its prior strategic priorities while also preparing for a new strategic planning cycle.
The level of school board engagement remains substantial, with NZCPT representation required across nine school boards and with additional time given to extraordinary matters such as recruitment, ERO processes, complaints, suspensions, property matters and strategic planning.
Collaboration with other Christian proprietors and sector bodies continued to strengthen.
Special Character and Theology
Special Character remained central to NZCPT’s work throughout the year. Dr Jacqui Lloyd’s role as Theological Advisor and Educator continues to be a significant blessing to the network. Her work with principals and Special Character leads has strengthened theological clarity, supported staff induction and professional development, and provided practical resources for schools seeking to align culture, curriculum and classroom practice with the NZCPT Special Character documents.
Three Special Character Reviews were undertaken or substantially progressed during the year at Excellere College, KingsGate School and Wellington Hills Christian College.
The reports and visits confirmed the importance of ongoing support for schools in embedding the seven core practices of the NZCPT Special Character Guidelines. They also confirmed the value of maintaining a triennial review cycle so that boards, land trusts, principals and the proprietor have a shared understanding of strengths, risks and development priorities.
There were many encouraging signs across the network. Excellere continued to strengthen prayer, worship and new teacher induction. Horizon’s Special Character lead provided formation plans and resources for teachers and continued to help staff connect faith and learning. KingsWay maintained strong Special Character leadership, new teacher induction and staff development, while hosting a very successful NZACS conference in July. Jireh’s school musical, “The Greatest Love Story,” was an encouraging expression of Special Character through the arts. KingsGate developed new initiatives around staff devotions and team building. Hāwera staff were encouraged by provision for a new permanent site. Wellington Hills showed strong early foundations, and KingsView continued to benefit from the work of its Culture and Character coordinator.
The Trust also progressed the development of an online community platform. Following feedback from principals and Special Character leads, a preferred platform was selected. Initial work began on making new teacher Special Character induction material available for the start of the 2026 academic year. The intention is that this platform will become a practical hub for resources, professional learning and shared practice across schools.
A further important development was the movement toward network-wide online professional learning. Plans were made for initial sessions in 2026, including “Ideas for Devotions” and “Bible Overview in 60 minutes.” These sessions will assist geographically distant schools while complementing, rather than replacing, on-site visits and school-specific support.
Growth, Property and the Network of Schools
Student numbers continued to grow across the NZCPT network. Total reported student numbers increased from 3,340 at the end of February to 3,477 at the end of October. This reflects ongoing demand for Christ-centred education across the country, while also highlighting the need for careful property planning, staffing, governance and financial stewardship.
Harvest Christian School experienced a demanding year, including the unexpected resignation of its principal, interim leadership support, recruitment of a new principal and engagement with ERO matters. The appointment of Joe Amundrud as principal brought a growing sense of hope and community. The Faith Harvest Trust continued to provide practical support and sustained commitment to the school.
Excellere College maintained steady numbers and continued to strengthen its culture under principal Andy Mouat’s leadership. Its Special Character Review was a significant encouragement. Four new primary classrooms were scheduled for use at the start of 2026, providing important capacity for the school’s continued development.
Horizon School continued to consolidate under new leadership. Additional facilities were provided by the land trust, Special Character leadership strengthened, and the school considered opportunities such as an international student programme.
KingsWay School continued to experience strong demand and remains the largest school in the network. Major building and modernisation work continued, including the Senior Campus Arts Centre, with completion expected in 2026. Its special character professional learning frameworks are world class. The need for clear Ten Year Property Planning and prioritisation frameworks has become increasingly evident as the school and The KingsWay Trust attend to both major maintenance and new capital works.
Jireh Christian School continued to be constrained by property limitations, but an important milestone was reached when long-awaited resource consent was obtained, enabling the possibility of future expansion projects.
KingsGate School continued its growth into secondary year levels. Construction of its secondary school pavilion was completed, providing capacity for further development. Its Special Character Review was also completed during the year.
Hāwera Christian School and the Hāwera Christian Education Trust secured a new permanent school site at 2 Manawapou Road, Hāwera. This is a matter for great thankfulness, given the uncertainty the school community has carried and the faithful work of the land trust and proprietor to secure a future pathway.
Wellington Hills Christian College completed a foundational year with strong demand and encouraging Special Character development. A waiting list emerged, and NZCPT submitted an application to increase the school’s maximum roll. Work also continued with The Peniel Charitable Trust Board Incorporated to consider longer-term property models for future growth.
KingsView School saw student numbers recover and move above the level budgeted earlier in the year. The land trust continued to engage with lease matters and the longer-term need for a suitable future site.
Online School and Network Expansion
NZCPT continued to explore opportunities for growth beyond existing schools. A second-round sponsor application was submitted to the Charter School Agency for Braddock Christian College, an online Christian school. Although the application was again unsuccessful, the process enabled further development of the concept, financial modelling and strategic thinking about how online Christian education might serve families, home educators and schools in the future. The Trust will need to consider carefully whether, and in what form, this work should continue.
The Trust also considered the possibility of partnering in the development of a future Mangawhai school. This remains an area requiring discernment about capacity, timing, local demand, property pathway and NZCPT’s ability to support any prospective development responsibly.
Policy, Compliance and Public Positioning
The year required careful attention to compliance, policy and public communication.
The Trust continued work with sector partners on proprietor and land trust lease templates, seeking a form that meets the operational needs of land trusts while satisfying Ministry of Education requirements. Supplementary agreements were also progressed for Harvest Christian School, KingsGate School, Jireh Christian School and Wellington Hills Christian College.
The NZCPT website was updated and launched in August and with it the Gender Position Statement was published. This work reflects the increasingly complex environment in which Christian schools operate. NZCPT must continue to be clear, careful and charitable in how it communicates biblical convictions, supports school boards, and engages with families, media, government and the wider public.
Future Focus
As NZCPT moves into 2026, the key task will be implementation. The new Strategic Plan provides the framework. The Trust’s work must now be organised around its three mission areas: supporting local school communities, strengthening Special Character capability, and empowering schools to inspire and equip students to love God and His Word.
Important priorities for 2026 include:
-
implementing the Strategic Plan and aligning future reporting to it;
-
completing the next round of Special Character Reviews;
-
continuing and strengthening the Theological Advisor and Educator role;
-
appointing and establishing a Community of Practice Facilitator role;
-
launching and developing the online Special Character community platform;
-
strengthening induction and support for proprietor appointees and new school boards;
-
seeing Ten Year Property Planning frameworks and lease template work continue;
-
supporting land trusts with major property and roll-growth pressures;
-
continuing collaboration with Christian proprietors and sector bodies;
-
considering the future of the online school concept and any new school opportunities;
-
growing funding streams.
Acknowledgements
I am deeply grateful to my fellow trustees for their wisdom, service and prayerful commitment. I thank Philip Mark Bradley for his faithful and energetic leadership as CEO, and the NZCPT administration and finance team for their diligent work in supporting the Trust’s responsibilities across the network.
I also acknowledge Dr Jacqui Lloyd for her significant contribution as Theological Advisor and Educator, and the many principals, Special Character leads, presiding members, school board members, land trust trustees and proprietor appointees who serve the work of Christian education with perseverance and faith.
The Trust’s work is only possible because many people are willing to serve beyond their formal obligations, often unseen, for the sake of students, families, staff and communities. We give thanks to God for His provision and ask for His continued wisdom as NZCPT seeks to steward this work faithfully.
Mark Larson
Chair, NZ Christian Proprietors Trust