2023 Festival Speakers

Mike Pilavachi

His name alone sets us all a-flutter. We’re ecstatic to have Mike back to his New Wine NZ family to impart his wisdom and unique brand of humour. Storyteller, scholar, passionate follower of Jesus – Mike will get us thinking, crying and pressing into God’s heart. He’s an MBE recipient (wowzas), leader of Soul Survivor Watford, international speaker and author who is passionate about church being family and wants to encourage all to live naturally supernatural lives.
In his previous life he was an accountant who could never quite balance the books but now he travels the world sharing his passions for Jesus – and his terrible jokes. At home he loves to sit in his garden, watch his grapevines grow and cook Greek feasts.

Check out this video for the story of Soul Survivor festivals which Mike led for its duration from 1993 – 2019.

Books by Mike Pilavachi, Charlie & Anita Cleverly, and more are available at Manna Bookstore in the Marketplace.

Charlie & Anita Cleverly

We’re absolutely stoked to have Charlie and Anita joining us from Oxford, UK. After leading St Aldate’s church for 18 years they embraced a call from God to support leaders all around the world including lucky us here in New Zealand. A hallmark of their ministry is that church should be a house of prayer for all nations; we’re sure it’s this that’s wooed them to us, not just our incredible wine. They have authored several books, including ‘Faithful Grandparents’, ‘Deep Night, Bright Morning’, ‘The Song of Songs’ and ‘The Discipline of Intimacy’. Their books and their ministry remind us that nobody goes entirely untouched by hurt, grief, or pain but that these times of lament can guide people toward the light and love of Christ. Charlie and Anita are passionate about seeing believers pursuing God and His calling on their lives. We’re excited to have this powerhouse couple at New Wine 2023 – and can’t wait to see how God will use them to speak into the lives of His people here in Aotearoa.

Books by Mike Pilavachi, Charlie & Anita Cleverly, and more are available at Manna Bookstore in the Marketplace.

Steve Maina

Steve immigrated to New Zealand from Kenya over a decade ago, on arrival he took up a post as head of the New Zealand Church Missionary Society, before being ordained as Bishop of the Diocese of Nelson (a third-generation bishop!). Steve brings a down-to-earth message which remains the same no matter what field he serves in.

“We are to share the good news in whatever form or shape it takes… the Lord Jesus Christ has come and died for us and been raised up again to give us life in abundance. That is the message.”

He’s coming to New Wine with his equally inspiring wife, Watiri, so join us for New Wine 2023 to see them both!

Justin Duckworth

Justin is familiar feet on the New Wine stomping ground (quite literally!). His message of community and connection speaks straight to the heart of New Wine DNA and we’re richer for having Justin in the whānau. That shared passion for equipping and encouraging the people of God and working together for a better world has also been a hallmark of Justin’s work with youth and community over the past 20 years. He’s pioneered many impactful projects, and along with his wife Jenny, founded Urban Vision. Justin hails from Lower Hutt, has dreadlocks, usually wears shorts and bare feet and has a life focus on serving the poor. If you want to hear more – you know what to do! Join us at New Wine 2023!

Keri-Ann Hokianga

Reverend Keri-Ann is a Māori evangelist within the Mihingare (Anglican) Church in South Auckland as a joint partnership between NZCMS and the Te Pīhopatanga o Te Tai Tokerau. Her evangelistic focus is particularly on reaching Māori and those outside of the Church.

Ki te taha o toku papa,
Ko Rongowhakātā me Te-Aitanga-ā-Māhaki me Ngāti Kahungunu ōku iwi.
Ki te taha o tōku māmā,
Ko Ngāti Kahu me Ngaitakoto me Te Aupouri ōku iwi.
Ko Hokianga te ingoa whānau, Ko Keri-Ann Hokianga ahau.

James Beck

James Beck has been part of New Wine for so long now that we’ve discovered his secret… he doesn’t actually age! Mysterious. These days he is the associate pastor at The River Ōpāwaho Church, he also supports the flourishing of the gospel in Aotearoa through his work with the Wilberforce Foundation. You may have caught him on radio, TV or even read one of his many articles or his (very funny) children’s book, Eliza Loves Rocks.

Anyone who’s heard James speak will remember him for his unique sense of humour, which he credits his rural upbringing for. It has been a key to helping him connect with people from all walks of life. James is passionate about discipleship and making the Bible make sense to people from all walks of life. When he isn’t working, James is hanging out with his wife, Rebekah, and their girls, Eliza, Tilly and Freddie.

Grant Norsworthy

Most New Zealanders are aware of at least one piece of Grant Norsworthy’s work. During the 2020 pandemic, Grant gathered together 200 plus Kiwi singers, instrumentalists and technicians to produce the
‘virtual choir’ song and video The Blessing | Aotearoa/New Zealand that became an online and NZ Christian Radio/TV hit. But New Zealanders may not be aware of Grant’s other work and background.

An Aussie who was based in Nashville, Tennessee, USA from 2002 to 2018, Grant Norsworthy achieved considerable success as a professional musician including a Grammy®️ nomination, a Dove Award,
extensive touring, recording and radio hits with bands like Paul Colman Trio and Sonicflood. Now conducting global ministry work from his Nelson, New Zealand home base, Grant uses his uncommon
teaching gift, humour, candour and musicianship to encourage audiences to deeper faith in Christ and good works.

As the founder, content developer and principal instructor for More Than Music Mentor (www.MoreThanMusicMentor.com) he provides high quality online and onsite training for the heart and the art of worshiping musicians.

Check out Grant’s website to find out more.

Watiri Maina

Watiri is an Anglican minister and Vicar of Victory church in Nelson with a deep passion for community engagement and transformation. Before entering ordained ministry, she worked as a counsellor and counselling educator for 20 years, and then as a church pastoral care coordinator. She values working with individuals, couples and families, groups and communities seeking to foster holistic well-being.

Watiri is a Kenyan who has been living in New Zealand for 14 years with her husband, Bishop Steve, and two adult daughters.

Luke Paynter

Rev. Luke Paynter is a much loved and long-time member of the New Wine whānau. For many years he was the fearless Firewire leader; the youth say he is Gucci, totally lit, and is the New Wine G.O.A.T so we hope that encourages and excites all the adults headed to Meeting Place this year as he hosts and shares (if you understand what any of that meant that is!).

Luke’s heart is for real life and authentic ministry; journeying through the highs and the lows together with grace. He is all about discipling people to step into their strengths and God-given gifts with confidence, patience and reliance on the Holy Spirit.

Luke is married to Rev. Amilie Paynter and they have four children. Having recently relocated to Ohakune from Wellington (where, together they led AYM Wellington) life looks like full time Theology study via distance, settling into the Waimarino, while prayerfully seeking what God has for them to jump into.

Check out this video to see Luke being interviewed about his New Wine experience.

Caleb Rowe

Last year Caleb’s heart for God’s goodness moved us to tears and inspired us into deeper faith. This year he’s back to host and share in Meeting Place.

Did you know that Caleb started his career as a classical actor with the Royal Shakespeare Company doing bits of TV and short film work as well as performing as Roderigo in Othello before becoming a Priest?! These days Caleb along with his wife Billy Rowe are the Co-Vicars of the Whanganui Anglican parish. They are both passionate that all churches and believers feel part of the wider church whanau:

“…we are all on the Jesus waka together and from this place of unity and whānau comes the diversity of our discipleship and mission in our different contexts”.

This heart’s cry for unity, even within our differences, is backed up with their mentoring initiatives for the bereaved, support for school students, fellowship and life story sharing for over 70s, programme to provide warm dry and affordable rental housing, and their own experience of living in community along with their 3 young kids.

Courteney Lindsay

Courteney LOVES Jesus and hopes to be someone who expresses that love through joy. You’ll see this in action as she joins Lydia, Caleb and Luke to host Meeting Place this year!
She’s an Upper Hutt gal, working as a youth Pastor at Lane Park, Kaitiaki at Summerset retirement village, and a admin lady for Tewaipuna counselling.
Family life is another source of joy; time is well spent hanging with her 3 beautiful sisters plus husbands and babies (cute!), and living with her mama and Nana – which is a real hoot!

Lydia Read

The spirit-stirring feeling that there must be more, and that a life of faith should mean a life of adventure is what first led Lydia (and husband Shane) to New Wine. An adventure is one way to describe what’s happened since… a wild roller coaster ride of fun is another!

Lydia leads the charge at New Wine with joyful devotion and is hosting in Meeting Place this year; don’t ask her to jump into the swimming pool fully clothed to get bibles into schools… she’s done it before! She is energised by God’s church and being with ordinary people who live dynamic personal faith journeys, who are in her mind, heroes of the faith.

With the rest of her time Lydia masters the role of cool grandma (but don’t call her that!) to six mokopuna in addition to pastoring Hope Vineyard Church with Shane, and being the financial manager for their farming and property business.