MICHAEL
My greatest passion is making Christ known and the Bible understood in a way that brings peace with God, vitality to every aspect of life, and certainty of eternal life.
I was born in 1946 in Christchurch, New Zealand, of English and Māori heritage (Kaikoura rūnanga: Ko Takahanga te marae; Ko Ngāti Kuri te hapū; Ko Ngāi Tahu te iwi). I became a Christian in my teenage years in Hamilton, and trained as a teacher at Auckland Teachers College and the University of Auckland.
I enjoyed 50 years of teaching in state and Christian schools before retirement. Most of my teaching was in Christian schools, but also involved curriculum writing and teacher training for state and Christian schools, and advocacy for and consultancy to Christian schools.
I was Principal of two state schools, Onewhero District High School, then Orakei Primary School, before taking up the principalship of two Christian schools, Tyndale Park Christian School (which I helped establish) followed by the Christian school my wife and I founded in Auckland in 1988, Carey College.
I served as an Associate Staff Worker with the Tertiary Students Christian Fellowship (including as a University Chaplain) for 15 years. Although that came to an end in 2024, I continue in an evolving supportive role with them.
My wife Priscilla and I are members of Howick Baptist Church in East Auckland where I serve as an elder.
Previously I have been blessed to work with and minister in a number of Auckland churches including Bays Baptist Church, and in a variety of organisations including Christian Witness to Israel, the New Zealand Association of Christian Schools, the Fellowship of Reformed Baptist Churches in New Zealand, and Girls Brigade New Zealand.
Priscilla and I married in 1976 and have been privileged to nurture our four children into adulthood, one of whom is single and three of whom are married and have three children each.
I also enjoy reading and writing. Initially my writing was in school curriculum and management, with an emphasis on Christian schooling, but has more recently been in applied biblical studies.
I take lots of photos, do a bit of gardening and grow carnivorous plants.
CareyCollege
Priscilla and I were blessed to have owned and run this independent year 1-13 Christian school that we opened in 1988. Our aim was that implement its motto, "In your light we see light" (Psalm 36:9), with the Bible shaping every aspect of its curriculum. Deliberately small and family focused, the school achieved national and international academic recognition, including through Cambridge International Qualifications, and local and international Science Fairs. But our greatest joy was seeing children learning to look at the world, their study and their life as service for Christ in the light of his word. After 30 years I retired, and we passed the school on to others.
[Subsequently, the school's name was changed to Atea College, and its aim changed to teaching independent thinking, thereby enabling students to find and keep their "independent Kiwi way of life," It's present publicity makes no reference to a Christian approach to schooling, although we understand it nevertheless retains an otherwise active expression and application of Christian faith.]
Wycliffe Christian Schools
Wycliffe Christian Schools was the platform through which I promoted and supported Christian schooling and Christian home schooling in New Zealand for over 40 years. Following my retirement from regular teaching, only the publishing arm of Wycliffe Christian Schools has continued, under the imprint Wycliffe Scholastic.
Wycliffe Scholastic
Wycliffe Scholastic was established in 2017 as a publishing imprint of Wycliffe Christian Schools. While this maintains our historic link with education, it also gives expression to the fact that our present publishing programme is no longer related to schooling.
Odd Stuff!
Because I'm often asked ...
Yes, I did run a business manufacturing and marketing a teaching aid I invented and patented.
Yes, I have had a photo (that is just one photo) exhibited and published by the Tate Modern art gallery in London.
And yes, I did establish and run a Christian teachers' college for a number of years.