Zara is a Professional Teaching Fellow who teaches Laidlaw’s youth and young adult Practical Theology papers. She is also overseeing the development of Laidlaw’s new Level 5 Youth Work qualification. She is passionate about equipping any and all who work frontline with young people: specifically how classroom concepts, models and theories play out in ministry practice. She loves to teach through stories, research, and cultural observation and critique. She aspires to model and teach loyal leadership shaped by steady character, self-development and proactive wellbeing. Zara spent 2 years based at the Henderson campus. Her and her young whānau are now based in her hometown Ōtautahi where she teaches from the Christchurch campus.

Personal Bio

A busy working mum of two young girls, Zara juggles her roles as clergy wife, rising domestic goddess and distracted parishioner at the Cardboard Cathedral. Her hobbies include holding tension in her shoulders, breastfeeding and sometimes even finding time to shower. She loves animals, dabbles in plant propagation, the occasional novel, enjoys a coffee she didn’t make herself and food with a view.

Qualifications & Awards

• BSocServ - Bachelor of Social Services, Otago Polytechnic, 2021.
• DipMin - Diploma of Ministry, Vision College, 2011.
• CertTeReoMāori - Certificate of Te reo Māori (Te Pōkaitahi Reo), Te Wānanga o Aotearoa, 2019.
• CertYthWk - Certificate of Youth Work, Careerforce, 2016.
• CertTh - Certificate of Theology, Australian College of Ministries, 2010.