Our Mission

Motivated by Jesus, we encourage Kiwis to act for justice to relieve poverty among the world's most vulnerable people. 

Our Vision

Our vision is to see individuals and communities around the world transformed by hope, opportunity and dignity. 

Our Values 

Faith, Justice, Courage, Kotahitanga-Unity 

Maureen Crombie

Chair 

Maureen is a senior management professional with experience in international non-government and public sector organisations, both in New Zealand and overseas. Her background includes governance, strategy, policy, business planning and performance, risk management, marketing and communications. As chair, she served ECPAT International for 8 years and been instrumental in the movement’s global growth and expansion of advocacy against the sexual exploitation of children. She is motivated to help bring justice, hope and freedom to children and communities affected by exploitation, trafficking, oppression, and poverty. Maureen is an Institute of Directors member and joined the Tearfund Board in 2023.

Ross Wallis  

Ross is a sixth-generation Raglan dairy farmer and has been working the farm for the last 20 years. Prior to this he and his wife worked as full-time volunteers for Youth with A Mission in various parts of the world, leading teams and training schools. Ross has a passion for farmers in developing countries and is a supporter of Tearfund’s dairy development programme in Sri Lanka, to which he brings his experience within the dairy industry to help build and empower strong farming communities. Currently, Ross is on the Fonterra Shareholders Council representing Waikato west farmers.

George-Wieland  

BA History (Hons), BA Theology (Hons), PGCertEd, DipPastStud, PhD  

George was previously the Director of Mission Research and Training at Carey Baptist College, Auckland. His background includes cross-cultural work in Brazil, church-based ministry and community work in the UK, and tertiary teaching. He travels frequently in connection with mission and community development work in several countries, is involved with Micah and other integral mission networks, and he has developed a course on Theology and Development. He has had experience on several boards and has been on the Tearfund Board since 2015.

Nikki Denholm  

Nikki is a co-founder of Exposure International and has worked in 40 countries capturing stories of the refugee crisis, orphans, children in prison, famines and human trafficking. Nikki also has a  health background specializing in gender issues and founded the national New Zealand FGM and African Refugee HIV/AIDS education programmes. She recently co-founded The Light Project to help equip the young people to navigate the new pornography landscape in Aotearoa. Nikki has published a photographic book on the lives of women and children in prisons, serves on the board  of LIFT International, and was recently made a member of The New Zealand Order of Merit for her humanitarian advocacy and photography. She joined the Tearfund Board in 2022 but has had a longstanding relationship with Tearfund through her media projects, engaging donors and advocating for Tearfund’s anti-trafficking work.  

Emeline Afeaki-Mafile’o

MNZM, BSW, MPhil (Social Policy), Post Grad Dip Social Sciences

Emeline joined the Tearfund Board in 2022 and can be best described as a social entrepreneur.  She founded Affirming Works in 2001, which uses a Pacific model of collective mentoring to provide life skills to young people in Auckland. This work led her to Fofola Consultancy Ltd, which has contributed to public policy development in New Zealand and the Pacific.  With her husband, Emeline owns Tupu'anga Coffee, which harvests, roasts and packages in the Kingdom of Tonga, supplies local establishments, and exports to New Zealand.Alongside this, they started four social enterprises – community cafes in the Auckland area.  In 2006, Emeline was named a Sir Peter Blake Emerging Leader and won the Westpac Woman of Influence award in 2014. She was awarded The New Zealand Order of Merit Award in 2015 and in 2018 became a member of the NZ Westpac Sustainability Panel, tackling poverty and the disadvantaged. In 2020 she was invited to become part of the leadership group for Mana Kai and the Aotearoa Circle. 

Anthony (Reinest) de Rose

ACMA, CGMA,MBA, Chief Executive YMCA Central

With 25 years of experience in the for-purpose sector, Anthony is passionate about enhancing community wellbeing and fostering resilience in children, young people, and families. A Chartered Global Management Accountant and Associate Chartered Management Accountant (CIMA, UK), Anthony also holds an MBA (Victoria University, New Zealand) and is dedicated to driving positive social impact through education, inclusion, and sustainable growth. 
 

Dr Sharon Bell

PhD International Development

Sharon is an experienced leader with over 30 years in international development across strategic governance, programme management, and advisory roles. She holds a PhD in International Development from Massey University where her research examined health system development in conflict-affected Myanmar. Sharon is currently an international development programme manager at Plant and Food Research where she oversees initiatives including a climate change programme in the Pacific region. She has also taught Development Studies at Massey University and managed a research programme for a research and communications consultancy. Sharon brings expertise in development approaches for fragile and conflict-affected contexts and a focus on effective partnerships. She holds a strong commitment to justice, equity, and inclusivity. Sharon joined the Tearfund Board in 2025.

Anna Shaw

Anna is Chief Operating Officer at Laidlaw College, Aotearoa New Zealand’s largest interdenominational theological tertiary institute, and joined the Tearfund Board in March 2025. She holds an MBA from Macquarie Graduate School of Management and is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors. Passionate about faith-driven social impact, Anna has been involved in global mission initiatives including Samaritan’s Purse – Operation Christmas Child and the Hamlin Fistula Hospital.

Anna brings leadership experience across public and private sectors, with expertise in finance, environmental stewardship, sustainability, and advisory services. Her recent focus has been helping Aotearoa New Zealand transition to a low-emissions, climate-resilient future. She works at the intersection of sustainability strategy, digitisation, and emerging technologies, supporting organisations to navigate climate and nature-related challenges. Anna’s career spans leadership in climate change for the New Zealand government, as well as roles in finance, technology, digitisation, entrepreneurship, and innovation in financial services, within the UK, Australia and New Zealand.