Te Whanganui-a-Tara Programme
Daily Schedule
The Te Whanganui-a-Tara leg of Little Revolutions is held at Prefab Hall on Jesse Street, with breakout sessions at Salmond House just across the road. Morning Tea and Lunch is provided each day.
8.30am
9am
11am
12pm
1pm
3pm
4.10pm
5.40pm
Arrival, coffee and tea provided.
Morning Main Gathering
Mihi Whakatau on Day One
Workshops Session 1
Workshops Session 2
Lunch
Workshops Session 3
Evening Main Gathering
End of Day
Main Gathering Keynotes
Monday Morning Gathering
9.00-10.50am
Faithful Resistance: Naming the Powers, Embodying Hope
JR Woodward, V3 Movement Seattle
Monday Evening Gathering
4.10-5.40pm
The Revolution Will Not Be Televised
Scottie Reeve, Catch Network Aotearoa
Tuesday Morning Gathering
9.00-10.50am
From Illusion to Reality: The Road Less Traveled
JR Woodward, V3 Movement Seattle
Tuesday Evening Gathering
4.10-5.40pm
Persevering in the Pain of Renewal
Bishop Anashuya Fletcher, Diocese of Wellington
Workshops
-
Prefab Hall
Culture is the invisible force shaping everything in a church, often more than vision or strategy. Like gravity, it’s rarely noticed but always present, either pulling us toward comfort or lifting us into mission. In this workshop, we’ll explore how to intentionally create a missional culture that forms people for maturity, fuels Spirit-led movement, and aligns the church with God’s purposes in the world.
Resources: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1PBkwGwdZslcVcGxS-orm1bak0NGM1V4Y?usp=sharing -
Whataitai
Church-planters are often required to be nimble and adaptable, navigating a wide range of relational and logistical challenges. Yet in the midst of this busyness, it’s easy to become consumed by tasks while neglecting prayer—the lifeblood of any new Kingdom venture. In this workshop, Sam explores how prayer can be woven into the very DNA of new worshipping communities and the lives of those called to lead them.
-
Pīwakawaka
Te Herenga Waka’s chaplaincy has been on a journey of experimentation with evangelism and discipleship through student-led residential community and chaplaincy. In this case study, Mel reflects on Spirit-led mission, life with a young family, the challenge of discipling Gen Z, and the spirit-led surprises of parish renewal, incredible spiritual conversations, Alpha courses, and countless meals with those longing to know Jesus. -
Ngake
The UK Bible Society’s recent report, The Quiet Revival, reveals that over two million more people are now attending church compared to 2018—driven largely by a young and remarkably diverse demographic. In this workshop, Chris Clarke unpacks these surprising findings and hosts a conversation about what they might mean for the future of the Church in Aotearoa New Zealand.
Monday
11am-12pm
Monday
12pm-1pm
-
Prefab Hall
Imagine a community of sixty cynical, jaded, and spiritually burnt-out young adults—drawn in and then spat out by the traditional church. Now picture an Anglican priest forming a kind of monastic order out of precisely these people, and journeying with them for over three years. That’s the story of Vocatio. Drawing from Spanky’s new book, this workshop explores what discipleship can look like among those who are done with church—but maybe not done with Jesus.
-
Whataitai
We live in a polarised cultural moment, and yet Jesus called His Church to be “one”. What it does it look like to hold love and unity alongside deep differences and disagreements? Dale will share from ACN’s experiences building a broad coalition of very different church leaders in Auckland.
-
Pīwakawaka
Over the past two years, Vivek, along with others, has been participating in a collection of house churches in West Auckland that gather in a fortnightly rhythm—alternating between in-home meetings and a larger 'all-in' gathering. In this case study, Vivek draws on John Paul Lederach’s image of ‘critical yeast’ to reflect on how ordinary homes become catalytic spaces for discipleship and mission. He will explore how the use of houses in Luke–Acts is informing this work, and share ongoing learnings from the frontlines of house church planting in a West Auckland context.
-
Ngake
A financial cliff is coming for much of the Aotearoa Church. From large institutions to local parishes it is becoming increasingly difficult to sustain ministries as we once did. But this crisis also offers new opportunities for lighter, more nimble expressions. Our panelists bring a wealth of experience on how we get away from the ABCs (attendance, buildings, cash) and reorient our resources towards mission.
Monday
3pm-4pm
-
Prefab Hall
In a world shaped by the Powers, the church is often tempted to reflect the culture rather than Christ. To be faithful and fruitful in the mission of Jesus, discipleship must move from the margins to the centre of church life, guided by structure, shaped by the Gospels, and rooted in the Sermon on the Mount as our eschatological manifesto. This workshop will help you design a discipleship pathway that forms everyday followers of Jesus who resist the Powers and embody His way in the world.
Resources: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1PBkwGwdZslcVcGxS-orm1bak0NGM1V4Y?usp=sharing -
Whataitai
Church plants often begin with small, committed teams. Building a worshipping community takes time and perseverance—and that can be tricky when we feel our kids are missing out. In this workshop, Diana will explore how we can create meaningful spaces where all generations can participate, even before we have momentum or critical mass we might hope to have later.
-
Pīwakawaka
Spark Australia has been a key supporter of pioneering ministry across Australia and New Zealand in recent years. Through this investment, they’ve gained valuable insight into emerging faith trends and the shifting landscape of the Church in our region.
This workshop will unearth some of that data—sharing stories, patterns, and surprising findings—and invite conversation around new opportunities for growth, collaboration, and Spirit-led innovation.
-
Ngake
"How do you change the culture of a church?", that's the question Nathan set out to answer in his Master's thesis. He interviewed pastors who’d successfully led their churches through substantial change and discovered that successful change depends on emotionally healthy leaders. This workshop will unpack his findings, and will help you to identify ways to move forward on the journey of church renewal.”
Tuesday
11am-12pm
-
Prefab Hall
Spark are relentless advocates for church planting across Australia and New Zealand. In the past five years, they’ve supported over 180 new church plants—and in the process, gathered a wealth of insights about how the Church is changing. This workshop takes a deep dive into Spark’s church planting portfolio, uncovering key trends, data-driven learnings, and what they’re discovering about the future of faith communities in our part of the world.
-
Whataitai
Ministry is rapidly shifting toward more self-supporting and bi-vocational models as the Church faces ever greater financial challenges. Yet this shift also offers new possibilities for how we live lives of deep purpose while also managing the financial realities of everyday life. In this workshop, Justin draws on three decades of experience navigating this tension, offering practical tools to help leaders think creatively and sustainably about their calling.
-
Pīwakawaka
Te Kāinga o Rukua te Rētōtanga is a unique expression of Māori Christian community. Based at Faith Bible College, this new multigenerational kāinga (village) is a place where te reo Māori is the everyday language, tikanga shapes every rhythm of life, and whakapono (faith) is embodied and celebrated. This case study explores the heart behind ‘Rukua’—a dream planted by God for a living, breathing Māori Christian village rooted in place, culture, and gospel.
-
Ngake
For many, evangelism has become a loaded word—entangled with coercion, manipulation, colonialism, and methods that feel more like marketing than Good News. And yet, deep down, many of us still ache for a way to speak meaningfully about what Jesus has done for us and the world. This panel invites us to reimagine evangelism: conscious of its complex past, but courageously dreaming of new, beautiful ways to share the story of Jesus in our time.
Tuesday
12pm-1pm
-
Prefab Hall
The fall of high-profile leaders has become a tragic norm, exposing a crisis that strategies and systems alone can’t resolve. In this session, we’ll unmask the Powers of domination that distort leadership in the church and explore a deeper, Jesus-shaped remedy. Christlike leadership is not about control or charisma, but about self-emptying love, humility, and faithful service. We will either become a scandal ourselves, or embrace the redemptive scandal of leading in the self-giving way of Jesus.
Resources: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1PBkwGwdZslcVcGxS-orm1bak0NGM1V4Y?usp=sharing -
Whataitai
Over 2,000 years, the Church has repeatedly drifted into compromise and idolatry—yet time and again, renewal has come through small communities making radical commitments to the way of Jesus. In this workshop, Roshan Allpress draws on history and theology to ask: What can these patterns teach us about renewal in our own moment? And what might it look like to recover our holy vocation today?
-
Pīwakawaka
Countless books have been written about urban ministry, but a quiet revolution is unfolding in the overlooked corners of Aotearoa. Luke and Amilie Paynter’s work in Ohakune is one such story. In this workshop, they share their journey of church planting and community building in a rural town—offering a glimpse of grassroots revival spanning soccer clubs, marae, and everything in between.
-
Ngake
The past five years have been a time of monumental shift in the Aotearoa Church. Covid-19, political polarisation, and church scandals. This panel of experienced leaders will explore the challenges they see as most crucial for the Aotearoa Church today.
Tuesday
3pm-4pm
-
Prefab Hall
This workshop explores the vital role women play in pioneering new expressions of church and advancing innovative ministry.Through stories, strategies and practical tools, participants will gain insight into how to foster the environments that champion and women as they lead in mission and church life. Join us as we challenge barriers, celebrate calling, and envision a future where women lead boldly in the mission of God.
-
Whataitai
When we’re called to minister to a people and a place, our families come with us—often experiencing the full range of church life’s highs and lows. In this workshop, Diana offers a holistic view of ministry leadership and invites us to imagine a vision of whānau on mission—where all ages are honoured, and everyone is encouraged to bring their unique gifts and passions into the shared life of the community.
-
Pīwakawaka
Re-New Communities began from a church of 50 young adults and has grown into an church-planting movement accross four locations with a deep value on being ‘local’. Re-New has both thrived and struggled in the attempt to weave together the best of their past experiences with Church through four values held in tension: Anglican tradition, pentecostal spirituality, missional zeal, and costly community. This case study will explore their charism, and unpack learnings form their unique challenges.
-
Ngake
The Little Revolutions Curriculum is a 9-month journey for leaders and small groups who want to plant new churches or grow worshipping communities in their local context. Over the past year, we’ve supported eight communities to plant or renew—and we’re launching new cohorts in July and August. Come along and see if it’s for you.