Mrs Eseta Ioane Roach (BA Hons, Ministry Internship Dip Tchg, Graduate Dip TESOL, Diploma BS, SALT Cert,The Salvation Army Officer Training College, Teacher’s Certificate Western Samoa)
College Principal

Eseta studied at Victoria University and Wellington Centre of Bible College of NZ. She was the inaugural teacher of the Samoan Programme in 2002. Her vision has brought the Wellington Pacific Bible College into reality. Eseta is the first Principal of the College and has two sons, Abner and Abraham.

Dr Chris Marshall (BA Hons, BD, MA, PhD)
College Professor

Chris is St John’s Associate Professor of Christian Theology in Religious Studies, Victoria University. Prior to taking up this position in 2004, Chris taught New Testament at Bible College of NZ in Auckland for 19 years. He is the author of five books and over 50 articles on biblical and ethical themes. Chris is Eseta’s tutor and supervisor at Victoria University. He is married to Margaret and has two sons, Andrew and Peter.

Reverend Perema Leasi (BTh, Dip of Teaching, Dip of Ministry, Teacher’s Certificate Western Samoa)
Chairman of the board

Perema is the Minister of the Porirua Presbyterian Pacific Island Church. Since 2004 he assisted in the Samoan Programme, teaching pastoral care, preaching and church history. Perema trained as a Primary School teacher, taught at Avondale Primary School and then went to Knox Theological College. He is married to Faaolataga Misikopa and has six children.

Mr Peter McKenzie Q.C. (BD, LLM, VUW & London)
College Legal Advisor

Peter has been associated with the Wellington Centre of Bible College of NZ for almost 26 years. He has taught many courses, mainly in the Gospel of John and Church History. Peter has been National President of Bible College of New Zealand. He is married to Jocelyn and has four children.

Mr Taniela Vao (BA Hons)
Tongan Representative

Taniela is an elder and worship leader of the Tongan Methodist Church in Petone. He is married to Evesi and has four children. Taniela is the Tongan representative of the Pacific Arts Committee of Creative NZ, and an interpreter and translator for Wellington Community Interpreter Services. Taniela was a tutor at Victoria University in Anthropology in 1998 and is a former Deputy Principal of ‘Atenisi High School in Tonga.

Viliame Bokini Naliva (PG Dip.Law (VUW), Bachelor of Law, Bachelor of Ed, PDLP, Certificate in Homiletics (Trinity College NZ))
Fijian Representative

Viliame Bokini Naliva is a lay preacher for the Wesley Wellington Methodist Parish, and the All Nations Christian Fellowship, Wellington. He serves as Legal Information & Law Reform Officer at the Hutt Valley Community Law Centre. Before coming to NZ, he served as legal advisor in the Fiji Human Rights Commission. He continues to serve the community in an advisory role on matters relating to personal, legal (immigration, human rights, others), social, spiritual and others, and represents the Fijian community in Wellington on various committees and forums. Viliame is interested in empowering people with the Word of God so that they may experience the liberating power of God.

Tanielu Koro
Tokelauan Representative

Tanielu is married and has 4 children. He is a deacon at the Porirua Presbyterian Pacific Island Church. He was involved in starting the translation of the Tokelauan Bible and speaks 3 languages. Tanielu is a Tokeluan language announcer on Access Radio.

Ewart McMillan
Treasurer

Ewart is a businessman and company director in Wellington CBD and has been for the past 27 years. He has been associated with the Wellington Centre of the Bible College of New Zealand for many years. He latterly served on the board of that college before it was closed down. At present he is studying for a B Theol degree at Laidlaw Bible College Auckland as a CDL student.

Vinise Moananu
Student Representative to the Board

Vinise is an elder and is involved in the Children’s Ministry for the Pacific Islanders’ Presbyterian Church in Newtown. She joined the college in 2010 and is currently studying for her Certificate of Biblical Studies in English.