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Who we are

Transform lives and change communities Transform lives and change communities

Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. When they saw him, they worshipped him; but some doubted. Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."

Matthew 28:16-20

Our Vision

Transform lives and change communities

Our Mission

A worldwide partnership of Christian organisations fulfilling the commission of Jesus Christ, supporting each other to see transformed lives, families and communities.

Our Story

International Needs was founded by New Zealander Ray Harrison in 1974, then the International Director for Youth For Christ. Ray saw the need to assist national church leaders grow the church in their own countries. Having a holistic concept of ministry, he believed local nationals are best placed to identify the needs of their people and develop programmes and projects to meet those needs.

This approach was a radical departure from the standard mission model 45 years ago, but in recent years it has been acknowledged as a key strategy in seeing the unreached come to faith in Christ, meeting the local needs of creating long term sustainability and bringing people out of poverty, whilst most importantly, keeping the gospel at the centre of everything we do. International Needs ministry is one of partnership, connecting Christians and Churches here in New Zealand with Christian workers in our partner countries.

International Needs New Zealand (INNZ) is a not-for-profit and non-denominational Christian mission supporting organisation with a positive track record in overseas aid, development and mission that stretches back to 1974.

Our goal is to be recognised as creating a worldwide partnership of Christian organisations fulfilling the commission of Jesus Christ, supporting each other to see transformed lives, families and communities.

Through partnering with International Needs, New Zealanders gain the benefits of strong direct links to programs headed by national leadership who are focused on evangelism and church planting alongside social and community programs.

International Needs New Zealand is proud to work with local ministries serving in Bangladesh, Bougainville, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Czech Republic, Egypt, Ethiopia, Fiji, Ghana, India, Kenya, Myanmar, Nepal, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Romania, Slovakia, Tonga, Turkey, Uganda and Vietnam.

Our Core Values

  • Bible-based, Christian values

    The Bible is the true word of God and underpins all work we do and support.

  • Gospel proclamation & holistic development

    Christians everywhere have a responsibility to tell others of the love, compassion and good news of Jesus. The most effective ministry is holistic, involving spiritual, physical and social well-being

  • National leadership, capacity building and self-sustainability

    Christian nationals are best positioned to transform lives and change communities in their own country. We have a responsibility to be self-critical and to continually seek improvement in all that we do and commit to our work being long-lasting, resilient and owned locally.

  • Non-discrimination, social justice and apolitical

    God shows love, mercy, justice and kindness to His people without differentiation. We endorse the Universal Declaration of Human Rights Act 1948. We do not subscribe and are not affiliated to any political viewpoints.

  • Transparency, stewardship and fiscal integrity

    As representatives of Jesus we are committed to complete openness and honesty, being accountable to each other.
    We acknowledge all good things come from God and we must use resources we receive wisely.
    We are committed to proper accountability of the finances given to our care.

Our Team

  • Shaun Sutcliffe

    Executive Director

    Shaun brings experience and passion to his role as Executive Director as well as a lifetime commitment to helping others. Shaun is married to Ruth and has two school ages boys & a daughter who is 2.

  • Rachel Honeybone

    Ministry & Resource Coordinator

    Rachel has a passion in helping others and seeing lives changed. Through her role she has the opportunity to do just that. Rachel loves animals and spending time outdoors.

  • Constanza Palacios

    Marketing & Fundraising Coordinator

    Constanza is originally from Chile and arrived to New Zealand in 2019. She brings her expertise in project coordination, marketing, and fundraising to the team. She is thrilled to have the opportunity to work in a role where she can make a tangible impact. Constanza resides in Papamoa with her husband and son. She enjoys exploring the outdoors and indulging in her creative passions, such as watercolour painting and macramé, during her leisure time.

  • Beverley Lee

    Accounts Assistant

    Bev has served with International Needs New Zealand for two years. Bev is very busy working for both IN, her local church as well as her husband’s dental practice. She is passionate about helping others and loves to be bring joy and laughter to the team.

  • Rochelle Embling

    Education Programme Coordinator

    Rochelle comes from an Education background having been a classroom teacher, music teacher and director of her own tutoring business. Rochelle is excited to be involved with International Needs as she loves people and serving others. Rochelle lives in the beautiful Bay of Plenty with her husband Sean and two teenage daughters. To relax she enjoys music, reading and crochet.

  • Theresa Parker

    Accounts Officer

    Theresa has a background of working in various NGOs in accounts and management, as well as a period of time in business with her husband. She is also passionate about Industrial Chaplaincy and works part-time with INNZ and Vitae. Her passion is supporting organisations and people using as many of her tools in her kite as possible. She lives in Tauranga with her husband Leigh and teenage daughter with two adult children living in Auckland. In her downtime, she likes to get outdoors as much as possible, is preserving in the garden, and enjoys walks, reading and music.

  • Robert Choy

    Community Development Project Manager

    Robert has worked in the NGO sector for over 20 years overseeing international project funding and financial stewardship in Aotearoa and overseas. He is committed to community development principles, helping the most vulnerable in communities and building effective relationships with overseas partners. He has moved recently to Tauranga and joined International Needs in August 2022, In his spare time, he is enjoying exploring the area and helping his son in a local family business.

  • Judith Beaudesson

    Marketing Assistant

    Judith grew up on Reunion Island (France) until she moved to New Zealand in 2016. She is currently studying communications and creative media at the university of Waikato while working in marketing and media production for International Needs. She loves to share her passion by doing something purposeful to help others through her work and creativity. She is also a youth leader at her church and loves to dance, hike and crochet in her spare time.

Board Of Trustees

  • Malcolm Taylor

    Malcolm was involved in the overseas mission work of Ray Harrison prior to the establishment of IN and was a founding member of the IN Board. Except for a short break in the late 1980s he has served as a trustee since 1972 and for many years has been Treasurer. Malcolm and his wife Rennae attend St Georges Anglican Church in Epsom, where he served as Treasurer/Operations until early 2016. He helps lead a home Bible Study group and is involved in supporting the administration work of his church’s ESOL program.

    Malcolm has served on the staff (administration) of Laidlaw College and as a consultant to the Churches Education Commission (Bible in Schools) and SIM in Auckland. From 2011 - 2013 he helped IN Philippines with accounting and reporting matters. He is retired after spending many years in the import/export business in both New Zealand and Australia.

  • Sarah Markley (Lineham)

    Sarah was appointed to the Board in April 2015. She is a member of the Governance Committee and also a member of the Finance and Audit Committee for International Needs Incorporated (the international body for the network).

    Sarah attends Street City Church in Wellington and with her husband David leads a Life Group. In the past Sarah has led many teenage girls Bible study groups and youth outreach activities and has done community volunteer work in Rwanda.

    Sarah is a chartered accountant with many years’ experience in public sector financial audit. She works for the Office of the Auditor-General, focusing primarily on its programme of capacity development support to audit offices throughout the Pacific region, and is Deputy Secretary-General of the Pacific Association of Supreme Audit Institutions. This work includes operational and governance support, leading relationship and contract management with funding partners, particularly the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, and participation in capacity development programmes.

  • Peter Sara

    Deputy Chair

    Peter joined the Board in October 2005 and currently serves as Chair. He is a practising lawyer and has been a church elder in the Dunedin Elim Church for over 20 years. He and his wife run a discipleship group in their home.

    Peter runs his own firm specialising in ACC and insurance work and is actively engaged in various ways in law reform and education about ACC. He is a member of BoardSource, an American organisation which works to strengthen nonprofit board governance and leadership.

    His outside interests include beekeeping and fishing. He and his wife run a marriage course called The Marriage Toolkit which is a community outreach. He enjoys governance and business and how to do things better.

  • David Hughes

    Chair

    David is the chair and has been a trustee since 2016. David and his wife Philippa attend Mt Albert Baptist Church in Auckland. During the week David works in the field of science and technology both as a senior executive at Plant & Food Research (a Government owned science company) and also as a director on the board of a number technology centered companies.

  • Rabena Tanielu

    Rabena, who is Samoan, began sponsoring a child through INNZ when a student. She and her husband Ronji spent two years as self-funded missionaries overseas, during which they were privileged to visit all 15 children their family sponsors in the Philippines and Uganda. They also worked alongside INNZ partners in Nepal, Philippines, Uganda and India.

    They attend a small house church in South Auckland. Rabena runs their two small businesses, leads bible studies for TSCF (Tertiary Student Christian Fellowship) and in the community, and works part time as a Community Coordinator.

    She and Ronji are passionate about sound Biblical doctrine, partnering with local churches, serving our persecuted brethren, understanding the Jewish context of our faith, evangelism, discipleship, and business as mission. They support INNZ as it prioritises the saving gospel message of Christ, that we are unashamed about our Christian worldview in today’s secular society, and that we work in projects overseas alongside the local brothers and sisters that glorify God and extend His Kingdom.

  • Daniel Gibbons

    Treasurer

    Daniel Gibbons joined INNZ in November 2013 after being a donor of the INCAP programme for a number of years. In addition to being a trustee, Daniel serves on the audit and risk committee and the executive committee.

    Daniel attends C3 Church where he is also a trustee and board member. He previously served as a trustee and elder for Dunedin Elim Christian Centre before moving to Queenstown, where he now lives with his wife Stacey and their three children. He is a qualified lawyer and works as a Tax Advisor for an international accountancy firm. Daniel is an active member of the community, particularly with cricket where he coaches both local and rep teams and is also president of the local club.

  • Geoff Warne

    Secretary

    Geoff joined the Board in 2018 after a period as interim Executive Director. His professional background is primarily in executive management (including financial and chief executive positions) and governance in local and international mission agencies and not for profit organisations. This has included 20 years with The Leprosy Mission, mainly in London and 16 years with the Blind Foundation in New Zealand.

    Geoff’s home church is Shore Community Church, on Auckland’s North Shore, where he worships with his wife, Karen.

  • Robert Keam

    Robert joined the Board in April 2020 having been a supporter of International Needs for approximately 35 years. He retired from legal practice in 2018, having spent many years specialising in property and trust work, in which capacity he acted as Counsel for International Needs Incorporated and International Needs NZ for approximately 17 years.
    Robert has had extensive experience in the governance of Not for Profit organisations, including Waipuna Hospice, Te Tuinga Whanau, and Good Neighbour Aotearoa Trust, all in Tauranga, and International Needs Incorporated, the umbrella organisation of which INNZ is a member. He is a past Elder and current member of Otumoetai Baptist Church.