Who We Are

From just a handful of visionaries and a couple of sports chaplains, we have grown to a ministry that impacts sports communities throughout our nation.

We provide pastoral care and support to Aotearoa New Zealand's sports communities. We do this by identifying, training, appointing and guiding Sports Chaplains who are available as volunteers to serve sports communities at all levels.

Read our full story here!​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

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​​​​​​​Our vision is to provide mental, emotional and spiritual wellbeing support to Aotearoa New Zealand's sports communities through accredited Sports Chaplains who provide pastoral care and mentoring to all codes of sport and at every level.​​​​​​​


​​​​​​​Our kaupapa is to provide Sports Chaplains who offer pastoral care, mentoring and support to athletes, organisations and the wider sporting community, irrespective of ethnicity, religion, gender, sexuality, or disability.​​​​​​​


​​​​​​​Whanaungatanga / Relationship – we build and maintain strong relationships with all whom we live, work and serve.

Whakapono / Faith – we hold a vibrant personal faith in Jesus Christ and believe that this should be clear to others by the way we live and work.

Whaiaro / Character – we uphold integrity, responsibility, loyalty, diligence, decency and humility in the way we live and work.

Whakaute / Respect – we believe that all people are created in God’s image and worthy of love, honour, kindness and understanding.

Rangapū / Partnership – we acknowledge that Te Tiriti o Waitangi as the foundational partnership in Aotearoa New Zealand and collaborate with those who share our values.

In a nutshell...

​​​​​​​Sports Chaplains are volunteers in sports communities providing free, accessible pastoral care, support and mentoring to athletes, staff officials and their whānau on site and at the point of need irrespective of religion, lifestyle and beliefs.

​​​​​​​The effect of Sports Chaplains placed in sports communities is improved mental, emotional and spiritual wellbeing leading to better people, better lives, better outcomes and better communities. Sports Chaplains are not sports psychologists, replacements for player welfare officers or trained counsellors. Sports Chaplains act as first responders to assist people in need to professional services.

Our History

The seeds of Sports Chaplaincy NZ were laid in 2011 when the Rugby World Cup was being hosted in Aotearoa New Zealand.
Read our full history here.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

Our People

​​​​​​​As of 2023, our board holds seven very committed men and women, and the SCNZ Staff has grown to three National Staff, and eight Regional Leaders. Meet the team here!​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

How can you help?

We need more chaplains! Luke 10:2 says "The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few". More here on how you can become an accredited Sports Chaplain.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

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