Speakers

Dr Melissa Derby (Ngāti Ranginui) has been a senior lecturer at the University of Waikato, teaching early literacy and child development with a specialist interest in Māori education. She holds a Graduate Certificate in Indigenous Studies from Columbia University. Her scholarship has been recognised through a range of awards, including a Fulbright Graduate Award, a SAGE Young Writer’s Award, and Te Kōpūnui Māori Research Award and the Falling Walls award from the Royal Society of New Zealand.

As the Race Relations Commissioner, she leads the Commission’s work in the race relations priority area. The Commission’s primary statutory functions include “encourage[ing] the maintenance and development of harmonious relations between individuals and among the diverse groups in New Zealand society” and “promot[ing] racial equality and cultural diversity”. The portfolio focuses on eliminating racism by leading discussions for the Commission in relation to race relations, providing advice and leadership on race relations matters that arise during the performance of the Commission’s functions (both when engaging in those activities and when consulted) and contributing to the public debate on race relations matters. 

Diane Bellamy is a Registered Psychologist with over 40 years practice as a psychologist in Australia and Aotearoa.

She has worked as an ordained chaplain in industry and responded to many critical incidents over the years. Her Masters in Criminology focused on trauma recovery. She runs Positive Psychology South practice in Otago and values real resilience and proactive practical responses to life struggles and difficulties. She has applied this in her personal life and particularly in being a recent widow.

Diane grew up as a committed Catholic and joined the Anglican faith community as an adult - although she welcomes worship in other faith traditions.

An interactive workshop about including the sacred and spiritual within medical and health and business settings. Examples given and prompted from participants.

• How we honour this in patients and clients without preaching or assumptions or bias 

• Using spiritual gateways to healing - eg suicide aftermath 

• Grief and loss of many colours 

• Family Violence Prevention 

• Crisis response 

• Professional supervision and reflection 

Wibha Desai is a dedicated professional, certified coach, and community leader who uses her unique lived experience to build enduring interfaith bridges and plant seeds of cross-cultural unity. Holds a Bachelor of Technology from Massey University—where she works daily with individuals from diverse religious, national, and cultural backgrounds.

Of Indian ancestry and Fijian heritage, Wibha’s worldview is deeply grounded in a profound respect for Te Tiriti o Waitangi. She actively champions diversity and harmony across multiple platforms, serving with the Pacifica team at Massey University, the Manawatū Multicultural Council, the Manawatu Interfaith Group, the Manawatu Hindu Society, the NZ Hindu Council, and The Theosophical Society.

Seeds of Unity, Fruits of Hope: Poipoia te kākano kia puāwai — Nurture the seed and it will blossom.

This beautifully echoes the ancient Sanskrit philosophy of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam (“vasudha”meaning the earth, “eva” meaning indeed, and “kutumbakam” meaning family). Together, they declare a profound reality: the entire world is one single family.

This workshop will focus on awareness that we are naturally family-oriented. Within a family, individuals possess unique strengths and diverse temperaments, yet they remain bound by an unconditional responsibility to care for one another. When we expand our hearts to see the whole world as our household, our circle of care widens to include everyone.

The deep understanding and embodiment of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam are the Seeds of Unity. When we nurture this vision, it fundamentally transforms our choices, our actions—our Karma—transform into selflessness, empathy, and collective care, ultimately blossoming into the vibrant Fruits of Hope for a shared future.

Richard Egan is an Associate Professor in Public Health at the Dunedin School of Medicine, University of Otago. He co-directs the Social and Behavioural Research Unit and is a former director of the Cancer Society Research Collaboration. Richard's research focuses on spirituality, health and end-of-life care, supportive care in cancer, and assisted dying. He has over 80 peer-reviewed publications and has held leadership roles in public health organisations. Richard is an Honorary Research Consultant for Meaningful Aging Australia, a member of the Global Network for Spirituality & Health, collaborates with Hospice NZ on spirituality matters, and works with interfaith partners, including the Religious Diversity Centre Aotearoa New Zealand, on spiritual care in healthcare.

Spirituality is increasingly recognised as a dimension of holistic health, yet remains inconsistently addressed within healthcare systems. This presentation reports findings from a Health Research Council (HRC)-funded national mixed methods study examining spirituality in healthcare across Aotearoa New Zealand (2024–2027).

Findings indicate that spirituality is widely understood by New Zealanders as meaning, purpose, connection, and wairua, extending beyond formal religious affiliation. Participants emphasised spiritual wellbeing in illness, ageing, and end-of-life care. However, a gap remains between recognition and practice: many healthcare settings lack capability, confidence, and systems to respond to spiritual needs in culturally safe ways.

The research highlights Te Ao Māori perspectives, where wairua is integral to hauora and cannot be separated from physical, mental, and whānau dimensions. These insights reinforce the need for models that move beyond bioreductionist approaches towards relational, culturally grounded, and spiritually inclusive care.

Implications and recommendations are discussed across upstream policy, midstream service design and workforce development, and downstream clinical practice. This presentation contributes to national and international conversations about spirituality in health, offering evidence-based pathways for integrating spiritual care into healthcare systems while honouring diverse worldviews and indigenous knowledge.

Chris Hawkins is an Anglican student at the University of Otago. He has been involved in climate justice advocacy since his teen years, including through faith-based organisations such as Common Grace Aotearoa.

Climate change and ecological collapse are surely among the greatest long term challenges facing humankind. Some people report experiencing emotions of despair or even grief when engaging with these topics, while others shut them out entirely.

This workshop is a chance to explore how our faith traditions help us to understand, to process, and to act upon the ecological crisis of our time.

Beate Matthies is the Co-President on the Auckland Inter-Faith Council, having been appointed by the Catholic Bishop of Auckland. She is also the Auckland representative on the national body of the Catholic Church for inter-religious dialogue, the NZCBCIR - the New Zealand Catholic Bishops Committee for Interfaith Relations. and is a member of the Auckland Diocesan Committee for Interfaith for the Catholic Church, ADCEIR.

Beate is engaged in interreligious dialogue in many ways, including podcasts and interviews on her programme "Muffin Talk".

The Auckland Inter-Faith Council (AIFC) has been organising a series of events with the title "Exploring Sacred Spaces" since 2017. During a period of a few weeks per year, the members of the AIFC Executive Committee organise visits to one of their sacred spaces. The goal is to visit different places every year and to spread the events across the city. At these public events, the hosts give some background to their specific place, and together with the AIFC representative of the particular faith, they introduce their faith practices and answer questions. The events conclude with a cuppa.

All events are captured with photos and annual reports. 2027 will be the 10th anniversary of this initiative.

Peter has been a Dunedin Tibetan Buddhist Centre trustee of 30 years, and is an executive of NZ Buddhist Council. He is a founding and active member of the Dunedin Interfaith Council and a facilitator. A blue collar worker in Dunedin.

This workshop will reflect on how, as the country becomes less religious, and our economic conditions worsen, community support groups are becoming increasingly needed and valued. With many people coming from difficult circumstances, the way which they relate to others can strain communities. By producing a manual, or constitution for how best to think, speak and act in communal situations, in this situation it might be adopted or coopted by groups to guide the less fortunate to be more accepted and involved in community groups.

Dr Pushpa Wood ONZM

Pushpa is the Director of the NZ Financial Education and Research at Massey University. Dr Wood was appointed as an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit in the Queen’s 90th Birthday Honours List for 2016 for her services to financial literacy and interfaith relations. She is the first person in the country to be awarded such an honour for services to interfaith relations and financial literacy. She is also the first Indian women in the country to be awarded with such a high honour and in two areas.

Dr Wood is one of the founding and life members of the Wellington Interfaith Council and has been involved in interfaith activities for over 35 years. She is regarded as a pioneer in starting interfaith movement in NZ and Hindi language teaching to adults.

She is really passionate about encouraging and developing initiatives that promote social harmony in various forms including religious and spiritual harmony. Her PhD thesis explored Religious Dimensions of Medieval Hindi Literature with special reference to Kabir and Tulasi.

We are living in a world marked by rapid change, uncertainty, and increasing personal and professional pressures. In these uncertain times, resilience and hope have emerged as essential foundations for wellbeing, learning, and success. This interactive workshop will explore how individuals and communities can cultivate these strengths to navigate challenges, adapt to adversity, and thrive in the face of change.

The workshop will explore practical strategies for developing a resilient mindset, managing setbacks, fostering emotional wellbeing, and maintaining hope during difficult times. Participants will also reflect on the protective factors that support resilience, including positive relationships, purpose of life, self-efficacy, and social connection.

Through discussions, reflective activities, and real-world examples, attendees will gain actionable tools that can be applied in educational, workplace, and community settings. The session will aim to encourage participants to shift from a deficit-focused perspective to life to one that recognises strengths, opportunities, and the potential for growth through adversity.

By the end of the workshop, participants will be better equipped to nurture resilience in themselves and others, build a stronger sense of hope for the future, and work towards creating an environment where individuals can flourish, contribute, and achieve sustainable wellbeing.