Who We Are

We have a large team of chaplains. Our common ground is our deep faith in God and care for the University. We all have different backgrounds, gifts and passions that help us do our work well. Scroll down to meet the team!

Kia ora, I'm Mel. I'm at Ramsey House on Tuesdays- Fridays. I LOVE talking to people to explore all the dimensions of life, faith, relationships, and vocation - and just to be a warm listening ear about anything going on. I'm an Anglican and Ecumenical (across churches) Chaplain and also trained as in Spiritual Direction. My background is working in politics and as a lawyer in refugee family reunification, so I'm always up for chewing over whatever issues are facing students and staff at the moment and ideally doing something constructive to transform challenges and build deeper connections with others. I'm married to Rev. Tim McKenzie who is the vicar at St Michael's Kelburn, and we have three children Eliot, Jamie and Grace.

Rev. Mel Mckenzie

Kia ora – I'm Matthew Bartlett, part of the chaplaincy team. My background is in social entrepreneurship (Citizen AI and Loomio), software startups and book publishing. I’m married to Eliza and we have three-ish children. I'm passionate about making sense of the world, society, the economy and spirituality, and I want to help build an Aotearoa where all people and the land can flourish. I get lots of energy from meeting new people and trying on new perspectives. God bless you all!

Matthew Bartlett

Kia ora tātou! Ko Pukenamu te Maunga

Ko Wainui, ko Te Ngaere ngā awa

Ko Ngāti Moetonga, ko Te Rokekā ngā hapū

Ko Te Rarawa te iwi

ko Māmari ahau.

I work as a part of the chaplaincy team, as Māori Chaplain. My focus is on enhancing Māori Christian fellowship at Victoria University. I worship at St Michael's Kelburn. I am currently a reader in law at Victoria's law faculty, but more importantly, I am married to Maynard Gilgen and and we have three tamafreakies, sorry, children: Te Rangihuia, Havelund, and Jessica-Lee Ngātaiotehauauru. Nei rā te mihi ki a tātou.

Rev. Māmari Stephens

Kia ora, I’m Virginia, aka Ginni.  My family and I moved to Wellington from Christchurch at the end of Jan 2024 to take up a new adventure, here at the chaplaincy (Tues-Thurs) and at St Michael’s parish in Kelburn.  After studying English and History at Canty Uni, I went on to be a high school teacher, before pursuing theological studies at Regent College in Vancouver, Canada.  My family had high hopes I might meet a handsome Canadian whilst there, but I surprised them by coming back married to an Aussie!  My husband and I have two children, Zoe and AJ, and a cat called Caramel. I love learning, caring for people and talking about the deep things of life, and am excited to journey alongside students in this season.

Ginni Shaw

Hi, I’m Karel. I have been on staff at the Chaplaincy since 2012 and currently work 28 hours a week over 4 days. I do a range of things including working with Mel in leading our Chaplaincy team; Facilitating hospitality in the house; Connecting with people as they use our space; Providing music for our worship together; Offering encouragement and pastoral support for students and staff. My other vocational hats involve running after-school guitar tuition, working as a CliftonStrengths coach, and providing training for schools who run the KiVa Bullying Prevention programme. I am also part of the St Tom's (Newtown) and St Anne's (Northland) faith communities here in Wellington. I'm married to Philippa and have three adult children Arlo, Sol and Sacha. In my spare time I love to kick a football around, listen to and make music, and cook (and eat) yummy food!

Karel Van Helden

Kia ora tātou! I'm Noah and I am a part of the Kelburn chaplaincy team on Wednesday to Friday. Originally from California (USA), I have been involved in cross-cultural ministry for over 20 years. This has taken my wife, Wendy, and I throughout the world where we have worked alongside young adults typically found on the fringes of society. After a year in the UK and three years in Germany, we moved to New Zealand in 2017. 

I love people and am passionate about them discovering the hope, peace, and joy found in Jesus! My favourite form of exercise is laughing and my perfect day would be walking around the city with a great cup of coffee and no set destination. Along with our daughter, Moira, we are a part of St. Tom's parish in Newtown.

Noah Schneider

Tena Koutou.

I'm Andrew and I am the International Chaplain. I did a BA in Geography and Anthropology at VUW as an international student almost 30 years ago. Since then I have worked in Singapore and for the past 11 years in Hamilton, working with university students and then as a pastor.  I am really pleased to be back in  Wellington working with my fellow chaplains and international students and staff. I  treasure deep conversations, casual banter and a good cup of coffee. I am always ready for a good chat about faith and culture and the Hurricanes or about anything really. I am married to a Vic graduate, Lilian who is a high school teacher. Our daughter is currently a Vic student.

Rev. Andrew Lim

Kia ora tātou, I’m Matt.

I’m one of the Anglican chaplains at Te Herenga Waka, new here in 2024. My focus is pastoral support to staff, and I’m also helping organise special events. I’ll be on Kelburn and Pipitea campuses on Wednesday afternoons and happy to meet other times outside business hours (my other work is at the Waitangi Tribunal).

After several years living and teaching university English in the United States, and having been a student here in the 90s, I’m delighted to be back at Vic to serve. I love meeting people and chatting about life, faith and ideas like mimetic theory. I’m married to Rebecca, and we worship together at St Michael’s in Kelburn. 

Rev. Matthew Packer

Adrian Casey

Kia Ora! I’m Adrian. 

I've been a Chaplain for nearly 4 years, having previously worked as a Business and Technology Consultant, I started Chaplaincy Studies at Otago and volunteered at Auckland University.

You can find me at Pipitea on Monday morning and at Ramsey House in the afternoon and Fridays. The middle of the week you’ll find me at Massey as part of the team there. With an MBA from Victoria and undergraduate studies at Kelburn both campuses are very familiar to me, although there have been massive changes both in teaching methods and campus layout over the years.

I'm a widower, grandfather, long time learner and have recently moved to the hills above Wellington so there's always something to talk about. I’m interested in music, travel, photography, and faith.

I absolutely love hearing people's stories, discovering their creativity, and their passion for life.

Kia ora/Merhaba, I'm Hannah and I'm a part-time chaplain based at Pipitea campus​. I'm also a full-time tutor manager in School of Information Management and School of Government, so you'll most likely find me down Te Puna Karaiti (RHMZ20) during lunchtimes.

I'm married to wonderful Kurdish man and have two pretty special kids.

I love meeting new people, exploring different cultures and seeing the rich diversity of people whom God has created. I'm always keen to hear people's stories and feel it's a privilege to journey with people through the hard stuff, as well as the good.

Hannah Donmez

Tapu Vea

Malo e lelei, my name is Tapu Vea and I am your Pasifika Chaplain.  I hail from the beautiful Kingdom of Tonga, villages are Nomuka (Father) and Kolovai (Mother).

I am the youngest of three children (all girls) and was born and raised in Lower Hutt. I am a graduate from Victoria University of Wellington and currently work in the Pasifika recruitment space. People and place are my thing hence being a Human Geographer by trade!

I enjoy doing life with people and learning about their perspectives on faith.