Rod Robson is the Chair of the Baptist National Council which acts in a governance role for the Baptist Union of New Zealand – which comprises of the 238 Associated Baptist Churches around Aotearoa New Zealand and its aligned ministries.
I am writing on behalf of National Council to make public an important appointment for our Baptist movement of churches.
At our 2023 National Baptist Hui at Manukau City Baptist Church, we considered the “Big Bite” discussions. Big Bite 3 kicked off consideration of Serious Misconduct within the movement (A mechanism that helps ensure our people and places are safe).
Since then the Code of Ethics and Conduct for Baptist church leaders has been reviewed and launched as “Te Wao Tōtara”; at our 2024 National Hui in Rangiora the movement embraced a Serious Misconduct Process on an “opt-in” basis; and in 2025 we as a movement responded to the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in Care – firstly by issuing a public apology, and then commencing to work through a list of action points that were recommended by our Baptist Abuse in Care RCI Response Group.
At present there are always a reasonable number of complaints, serious misconduct, and historical abuse matters being managed, and there is an increase in complexity and sensitivity surrounding them.
For that reason, the National Council has spent a number of months considering how we as a movement can continue to improve the way we navigate through these sensitive and important matters.
We have agreed that a Safeguarding Advisor role be established, and this role will begin on 13 April 2026, based in the Baptist National Support Centre, in Greenlane, Auckland.
Scope of the Role
Purpose
The Safeguarding Advisor will provide structured oversight and coordination of complaints management, serious misconduct processes, historical abuse matters, restoration processes, and privacy obligations across the Baptist Union of New Zealand. The role is focused on process integrity, documentation, communication, and system development, rather than decision-making or therapeutic support.
The role is intended to ensure all parties understand the process, what to expect, and maintain clear and timely communication. It includes engaging expert advisors as needed, managing follow-up and privacy obligations, and handling records management and retention. A key aspect is ensuring complainants are treated with dignity, respect, and care throughout, with their agency maintained. The role will engage with advisors and decision-makers such as the Operations and Finance Director, National Council representatives, external triage advisors, Navigators (a role proposed by our RCI advisor, potentially including counsellors, psychologists, or psychiatrists), legal representatives, and our RCI advisor.
In scope
The role will:
- Receive, log, and coordinate complaints and serious misconduct matters.
- Ensure processes follow agreed policy and procedural standards.
- Maintain oversight of timelines and documentation.
- Coordinate engagement with approved external advisors where required.
- Ensure privacy compliance and secure records management.
- Provide clear communication about process steps to relevant parties.
Out of scope
The role will not:
- Provide legal advice.
- Conduct investigations.
- Provide counselling or therapeutic support.
- Determine guilt or innocence.
- Act as mediator in employment disputes.
- Replace pastoral or theological discernment by Baptist churches or Associations.
These boundaries protect both the role holder and the movement's governance integrity.
This new role is a significant step forward in how Baptist churches across Aotearoa care for, and protect, the people in our communities.
Related information
Find out more about the Baptist Union of New Zealand and the Abuse in Care Royal Commission of Enquiry, including our formal apology and other related information:
baptist.nz/resources/abuse-in-care
To make a complaint
Please find go to this webpage for information baptist.nz/complaint
Photo credit: Cornwall Park , Mike Crudge
