Christine Waitai-Rapana

Proprietor Representative

Kia whai korōria hareruia ki a Ihoa o ngā mano tuāuriuri whaioiō kii tonu te rangi me te whenua ki te nunui o tōna korōriatanga.

E noho ana ahau ki Whanganui engari e toro ana taku whakapapa ki Ngāti Whātua, Ngāti Tuwharetoa, Maniapoto, Ngārauru Kiitahi, Te Aupouri me Ngāti Apa. Ko Christine Waitai-Rapana tōku ingoa.

I currently sit as a Proprietor on the Board. I hold firmly to the belief, found in Scripture, that when we train our children up in the ways of the Lord, they will not depart from it Proverbs 22:6. I am committed to ensuring our tamariki receive a strong and fair start in life, giving them the tools needed to build on a firm foundation, Christ our Cornerstone, so that when the time comes, they are equipped to make the most important decision, to live for Christ, bonding in His love, and blessing future generations.

I am the Youth Pastor at Faith City Church and am part of both the Board and Eldership. Nationally, I serve on the Māori Council for the Assemblies of God Movement New Zealand.

I come from a background beginning in shearing, rousie and farm work, and factory roles, through to teaching, education, youth work, research and innovation, and communications management. I have worked alongside iwi, health services, and whānau in a range of settings. I am bi-vocational and also work full-time at Te Rūnanga o Ngā Wairiki Ngāti Apa as a Whānau Engagement kaimahi within Te Puna Education and Employability. In this role, I work across schools in the Rangitīkei, South Taranaki, and Whanganui regions, supporting mentoring in kura, providing PLD for kaiako to strengthen transitions between primary and secondary school, and helping remove barriers so whānau can access education and improve attendance. I’m always up for a good coffee, so if you’d ever like to connect for a kōrero, feel free to stop by the church office.

Ngā manaakitanga