SPIRITUAL DIRECTORS REGIONAL GROUPS

Regional Networks of Spiritual Directors

Are you a spiritual director wanting to connect with other spiritual directors in your region?

Browse below to discover regional groups providing collegiality for spiritual directors and contemplative offerings in key regions throughout Aotearoa, New Zealand. Please note that these regional groups are not formally part of Spiritual Growth Ministries. However, there are rich relational connections and many of the spiritual directors in these groups have completed the SGM Spiritual Directors Formation Programme. If you are looking for contemplative retreats in your region, please visit the SGM Calendar of Retreats/Events.

If you would like to request edits or changes to your region please contact Kathryn Cass on kathryn@sgm.org.nz

Nationwide

Spiritual Directors Virtual Support Group

Contact Person: Petra Corbett
Phone: 021 738 675
Email: petracorbett@gmail.com

  • Our virtual support group for spiritual directors has members from the length of New Zealand and even beyond our shores. We meet monthly on Zoom for one hour, with an optional catch up conversation beforehand.

    We meet on the first Tuesday of the month (unless it's a public holiday), February to November.
    7 pm - optional cuppa and catch up
    7.30 - 8.30pm - meeting

    We take turns at contributing the various elements - devotions, professional development topic related to our role as spiritual directors, and sharing of resources. We keep great notes, and also have shared files of resources.

    We warmly welcome new members, whether you are an experienced spiritual director, still in formation or somewhere in between! Please contact Petra if you would like to join us.

Northland

Northland Spiritual Directors Network

Contact Person: Naomi Holt
Email: naomi.f.holt@gmail.com

  • Northland-based spiritual directors meet twice annually, in May and October, for mutual encouragement, information and up-skilling. Venues to be confirmed. For further information, contact Naomi Holt (contact details above).

    Please view the SGM Contemplative Retreat/Event Calendar for details of contemplative retreats coming up in our region.

    Visit Find a Retreat Centre to discover retreat centres in Northland.

Auckland

Spiritual Directors Network Auckland

Contact Person: Nicky Browne
Phone: 021 993 917
Email: sd@nickybrowne.co.nz

  • All spiritual directors, and those in training, are most welcome to be part of this support group which holds meetings throughout the year. Guest speakers are selected for each gathering where there is opportunity for professional development, spiritual refreshment and building community with other spiritual directors. We welcome all spiritual directors (not just Aucklanders). Please come and join us!

    A ‘refresher day’ kicks the year off each February, followed by evening meetings in August and October. In May we meet by Zoom. Meetings involve connection with each other in friendship, connection with God in contemplative prayer, connection with our presenter and engaging in discussion.

    For further information or to join our email list please contact Nicky Browne. (Contact details above)
    Please check out our website for events and more info: www.sdnetworkauckland.org

    Please view the SGM Contemplative Retreat/Event Calendar for details of professional development events and contemplative retreats coming up in our region.

    Visit Find a Retreat Centre to discover retreat centres in Auckland.

Waikato/South Waikato

Connection Point

Contact Person: Jan Sampson
Phone: 027 480 5188
Email: spiritualdirector3@gmail.com

  • We don’t currently have an established spiritual directors group in the Waikato region. If you are a spiritual director looking to connect, or are interested in helping to establish a group here please contact Jan Sampson at spiritualdirector3@gmail.com

    Please view the SGM Contemplative Retreat/Event Calendar for details of contemplative retreats coming up in our region.

    Visit Find a Retreat Centre to discover retreat centres in our region.

Bay of Plenty

Bay of Plenty Spiritual Directors Group

Contact Person: Katrina Tulip
Phone: 021 150 1128
Emailkatrinamtulip@gmail.com

  • We are a well-established group of warm and welcoming spiritual directors who seek to grow in the contemplative life. We invite local spiritual directors to participate in our gatherings, whether you are experienced, starting out, retired or in formation! Spiritual directors from neighbouring regions are also welcome to join us either as a one-off guest or on an on-going basis.

    We meet seven to eight times a year in a variety of settings, including in our homes. We typically begin by having lunch together, which helps friendships to form and be sustained over time. After lunch, we then move into a time of contemplative enrichment or professional development finishing around 2.30pm. We brainstorm topics of interest together and various group members volunteer to prepare and facilitate a session on their chosen theme.

    For further information or to join our email list please contact Katrina Tulip. (Contact details above)

    Please view the SGM Contemplative Retreat/Event Calendar for details of specific retreats coming up in our region.

    Visit Find a Retreat Centre to discover retreat centres in the Bay of Plenty.

Taranaki

Taranaki Rōpū Hoa Wairua o Taranaki ~ The Taranaki Spiritual Companions Group

Contact Person: Heather Lofthouse
Phone: 021 617 894
Email: heather1349@gmail.com

  • We offer individual spiritual direction, guided silent prayer mornings, guided reflective quiet days and residential retreats in various venues across Taranaki. Quiet mornings / days are planned throughout the year.
    For further information, contact Heather Lofthouse (contact details above).

    Please view the SGM Contemplative Retreat/Event Calendar for details of specific quiet mornings and contemplative retreats coming up in our region.

Manawatu/Whanganui

Manawatu Spiritual Directors Support Group

Contact Person: Elsa McInnes
Phone: (06) 323 9276 or 021 072 8382
Emailelsamcinnes@inspire.net.nz

  • The Manawatu Spiritual Directors’ Support Group meets bi-monthly from 12.30 to 2.30pm, generally in Feilding. The group’s purpose includes opportunity for collegiality, nourishment, refreshment, peer supervision, meditation, reflection and discussion around an agreed theme and prayer. Spiritual directors and those in training to become spiritual directors are invited to join the group. For further information contact Elsa McInnes or any of the Association members in Feilding, Palmerston North, Levin or Whanganui.

    AREA CONTACTS:
    Feilding: Elsa McInnes (06) 323 9276, 021 0728382 elsamcinnes@inspire.net.nz
    Palmerston North: Pauline Simonsen 021 119 6103 rpsimonsen@inspire.net.nz
    Foxton/Levin: Hannah Rowan 027 215 8544 revdeaconhannah@gmail.com

    SPIRITUAL DIRECTORS’ PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT (MANAWATU)
    Occasional training days for spiritual directors in the central region are held two to three times a year generally on Saturdays for about 3-4 hours. If you are interested in being on the email list for information about these training days, please contact Pauline Simonsen at: rpsimonsen@inspire.net.nz

    Please view the SGM Retreat/Event Calendar for details of quiet days and contemplative retreats coming up in our region.

    Visit Find a Retreat Centre to discover retreat centres in our region.

Wellington

Wellington Spiritual Directors Group

Contact Person: Jane Wilkinson
Phone: 021 244 3220
Email: janeinwelly@gmail.com

  • Kia ora Whanau,
    The Wellington Spiritual Directors group meets three to four times a year for peer support and professional development. We always have a generous amount of kai at the heart of our get-togethers. We are friendly, spacious and welcoming group of people who offer spiritual direction, retreats and quiet days and we come from a range of Christian traditions and backgrounds.

    The majority of our group have trained with SGM but not all. There are some distinctives to our group and our individual ministries which are shaped by living in the capital city, its geography, the tertiary providers, and treasured places of retreat and refreshment. We always welcome new people to our group who may be in training or offering spiritual direction.

    Visit the Wellington region on the SGM Calendar of Retreats/Events for specific retreat offerings.

    Visit Find a Retreat Centre to discover retreat centres in our region.

Wellington

Spiritual Growth Ministries Wellington

Contact Person: Jo Anastasiadis
Phone: 04 3844991
Emailmail4jo@xtra.co.nz

  • SGM Wellington are a group of spiritual directors who promote contemplative spirituality in the Wellington region. Contact Jo Anastasiadis (contact details above) if you want to learn more about spiritual direction, contemplative spirituality or any of the retreats/events we organise.

    Visit www.sgmwellington.nz or refer to the Wellington region on the SGM Calendar of Retreats/Events for specific retreat offerings.

    Visit Find a Retreat Centre to discover retreat centres in our region.

Kapiti

Kapiti Spiritual Directors Group

Contact Person: Bev Phillips
Phone: 021 077 9655
Emailbev99phillips@gmail.com 

  • Kapiti spiritual directors meet three or four times are year for fellowship and professional support. Our gatherings are in the afternoons from 3.15 to 5.30, beginning with afternoon tea together. Not all of us trained through Spiritual Growth Ministries and that adds a richness to our times together.

    We are a friendly group, welcoming all spiritual directors and those in training. At the end of each year we decide together what topics we would like to discuss for the following year, focusing on subjects appropriate for developing our ministries as spiritual directors.

    Sessions are mostly led or introduced by group members who have a wealth of experience and wisdom to share.

    Please contact Bev Phillips (contact details above) if you would like to connect with us.

    Visit the Wellington/Kapiti region on the SGM Calendar of Retreats/Events for specific retreat offerings.

Nelson/Tasman

Nelson Spiritual Growth Group

Contact Person: Ilene Alan
Phone: 021 102 6778
Email: athlene16@gmail.com

  • We are a group of spiritual directors in the Nelson/Tasman area who seek to foster contemplative prayer and practices in our churches and communities.

    CONTEMPLATIVE TIME ASIDE

    We continue to offer a monthly time aside to “Be still and know that I am God.” These are held on the last Friday of the month from February to November at different venues. We begin at 9.30am with morning tea, which is provided. The leader introduces the theme and provides possibilities for the morning. We finish at 12.30pm. All venues have splendid landscapes to enjoy beauty, peace and space in God’s creation and to relax with a listening heart in God’s presence.

    See the Nelson section of the SGM Retreat Calendar for venues, dates and registration information.

    SPIRITUAL DIRECTION

    The following group members are available for spiritual direction.

    Lori Brudvik Lindner 021 02793563 lablindner@gmail.com
    Lisette Cautley 026 545 7011 lisettec@xtra.co.nz
    Sue Cunningham 027 698 7055 sue.spiritualdirection@gmail.com
    Gabrielle Daly-Fong 021 112 6804 compassio@xtra.co.nz
    Karen Moynagh (03) 544 0551 karen@moynagh.co.nz
    Watiri Maina 021 707 370 watiri.maina@gmail.com

    RETREATS

    We are also available to lead retreat days and/or weekends for your church or group. Please contact Ilene Allan (021)102 6778 athlene16@gmail.com to begin a conversation.

West Coast

Connection Point

Contact Person: Sharryn McAuliffe
Phone: 027 612-3418
Email: mj.sp.mcauliffe@outlook.com

  • Occasional contemplative days are offered in our region. Please contact either of us for further information. We welcome other spiritual directors in our region to connect with us.

    Greymouth
    Sharryn McAuliffe
    Ph: (04) 384 4991, 027 612 3418
    E: mj.sp.mcauliffe@outlook.com

    Hector, Westport
    Margaret Young
    Ph: (03) 280 8013, (021) 236 5831
    E: krimaawa@gmail.com

    Margaret Young offers customised retreats at her home-based retreat venue, Kawatiri Karakia Korero Kai Koha (K5). Visit Find a Retreat Centre for details.

Canterbury

Christchurch Spirituality Network (CSN)

Contact People: Janna Young
Email jannayoung17@gmail.com

  • The Christchurch Spirituality Network (CSN) meets at the Arahura Counselling Centre, Barrington Street, alternating between Fridays from 12pm. – 1.30pm and Thursday evenings 5.30pm to 7pm. We share kai (BYO) for the first half an hour followed by input and discussion on some aspect of Christian spiritual direction. Spiritual directors in the area are welcome to connect with us and join our gatherings.

    Contact People
    Janna Young e: jannayoung17@gmail.com
    Donald Scott e: donald@northcity.co.nz

    CONTEMPLATIVE PRAYER DAYS
    Spiritual directors from our network offer quiet days with reflection and prayer around a theme. Contact Trish O’Donnell at trish.willem@gmail.com or Barbara Sampson at barbara.sampson.nz@gmail.com for further information. If you are based in the East of the city please contact Aluminé Andrew at alumineandrew@gmail.com

    Please view the SGM Retreat/Event Calendar for details of quiet days and contemplative retreats coming up in our region.

    Visit Find a Retreat Centre to discover retreat centres in our region.

Otago/Southland

Otago/Southland Spiritual Directors Group

Contact Person: Amy Armstrong
Phone: 027 2376 319
Email: amya@cdd.org.nz

  • The Otago/Southland group welcome spiritual directors in our region to connect with us for contemplative offerings and connection. We gather as spiritual directors on quarterly basis and meet at one of the group members homes in Dunedin from 10am-2pm on a Thursday. We usually rotate venues so please contact one of our area contacts to receive email updates with our gathering details. Those trained or training as a Spiritual Director are welcome.

    Area contacts:
    Amy Armstrong m: 027 2376 319 e: amya@cdd.org.nz
    Maureen Harley m: 021 107 1401 ph: (03) 456 0573 e: maugernz@gmail.com

    Quiet Days for Personal Retreat
    Take time apart with God in the lovely environment of St Margaret’s Anglican Church and Retreat centre (4 Seaview Road, Brighton). This is your time of personal quiet with God in community. Contact Maureen Harley for more information (contact details above).

    Please view the SGM Retreat/Event Calendar for specific dates, times and themes for quiet days.

    Visit Find a Retreat Centre to discover retreat centres in Otago/Southland.