Draft Programme

Day 1 – TUESDAY 17 NOVEMBER

8.30 | Doors open & registration

9.30 | Congress begins

· Session 1: What is the state of the church in New Zealand? (including a Church/Christian leaders’ panel)

· Session 2: Re-evangelising New Zealand

12.30 | Lunch

· Session 3: building a healthier church (prayer, biblical literacy, discipleship, compassionate ministries, church planting, keeping church safe)

· Tuesday electives

5.30 | Dinner

7.00 | Evening session (praise & worship, word, prayer, and speakers on discipleship, evangelism, and proclaiming and defending the faith in New Zealand)

8.30 End of day one

Day 2 – WEDNESDAY 18 NOVEMBER

8.30 | Doors open & registration

9.00 | Praise & worship, and word

· Session 5: Māori and Te Rongopai

· Session 6: Belonging and leadership: disability and participation

· Session 7: Church and society

· Wednesday electives

1.00 | Lunch break

2.00 | Session 8: Responding to the leadership crisis: raising up new generations of pastors and other leaders for the NZ church

3.00| Closing session

3.30 | Afternoon tea

4.00 | Congress ends

Some of the speakers and panellists include

On Tuesday: Richard Te Pai, Bishop Jay Behan, Dr Geoff Troughton (Victoria University), Rev Dr Stuart Lange (NZCN), Rev Dr Malcolm Falloon, Lynne Taylor (University of Otago), Kevin Wood (Tandem), Josh Irving (TSCF), Dave Mann (Shining Lights), Michael Jenkins (Catalyst Movement), Jonathan Dove, Wee-Yeong Eyou, Te Karere  Scarborough (Te Wananga Ihorangi), Ps. Sam Harvey (24-7 Prayer NZ), Dr Roshan Allpress (Laidlaw College), Frances Tangaloa (abuse survivors), Ben Kendrew (Arise Church), Phil Coates (Wellington Church Network), Ryan Pollard (Open Doors), Julie-anne Laird (City to City), Nic Blackie (Thinking Matters).

On Wednesday: Rev Dr Paul Jones (Carey), Keri-Ann Hokianga (TSCF), Henare Whaanga (Thinking Matters), Murray Sheard & Elizabeth Viljoen (cbm), Dr Myk Habets (Laidlaw College), Bob McCoskrie (Family First), Jonathan Ayling, Ps. Simon Gill (The Street Church).

Over the two days, there are also many other panellists, session chairs, and elective co-ordinators.

Electives

Elective topics will include evangelism, the conversion of secular NZ people, community ministries and new sources of funding, church planting, the wellbeing and resilience of pastors and other Christian leaders, reviewing the governance procedures of faith-based groups, disability inclusion and participation, the role of Christians in a free society, and ministering with Jesus empowered by the Spirit.

This unique and pivotal event, hosted and led by the New Zealand Christian Network, only happens every three years — and 2026 is such a year!

It’s a key gathering, where leaders from many different New Zealand churches, movements, organisations, cultures, and places will all come together for two action-packed days.

Event details

New Zealand Christian Leaders’ Congress
17–18 November 2026

📅 Day 1: Tuesday 17 November | 8:30am – 8:30pm
📅 Day 2: Wednesday 18 November | 8:30am – 4:00pm

📍 The Street Church
9 Hania Street, Mount Victoria, Wellington

Tickets

We invite you to join for the full two-day conference. But if you can’t we also have options for you join for day 1 only (17 November), the evening session on day 1, or day 2 Only (18 November). 

Ticket pricing includes meals while at the Congress.

Day 1: morning tea, lunch, afternoon tea, dinner. Day 2: morning tea, lunch, afternoon tea

NZCN Members will receive a coupon code to access the membership rate. Email Esther if you have not received a code and you are an active member. Learn more about becoming a member.

Why this Congress matters

The Congress will be a time for New Zealand Christian leaders to wrestle together with numerous challenges and opportunities in our current New Zealand context, so that together we can help strengthen and build the church in New Zealand.

Who Should Attend

The Congress is for all Christian leaders, including:

• National church leaders

• Pastors and ministry leaders

• Staff of Christian organisations

• Youth leaders

• Local church leaders (including elders)

• Students studying theology

We welcome emerging leaders, as well as experienced leaders.

This is a New Zealand Congress, with a New Zealand focus, and with New Zealand topics and speakers.

What the Congress will include

Building on the format established at the excellent 2023 Congress, there will be a mix of shorter and longer presentations, panels, round-table discussions, worship, Bible ministry, prayer, and elective workshops.

We are eager for Congress to be a time of hearing from the Spirit of God, inspiration, encouragement, learning from one another, and a seedbed for new initiatives and collaborations.