Witness Summaries 

Reverend Tara Tautari 

At the time of the hearing Reverend Tautari was the General Secretary of the Methodist Church. Prior to taking up this role in November 2020, Rev Tautari was the General Secretary Elect of the Church from November 2019 and served on various connexional committees and Boards of the Church including the Hui Poari of Te Taha Māori. Rev Tautari has a background in education and community engagement and has worked extensively with individuals and groups both in Aotearoa and overseas, in areas of advocacy, capacity building and education and training. 

Reverend Ian Faulkner  

At the time of the hearing Reverend Ian Faulkner was a Presbyter appointed by the Methodist Church to the Auckland Methodist Central Parish. He was previously the Principal and Tumuaki of Wesley College (from 2003 – 2014).  Rev Faulkner attended Wesley College from 1963 to 1967.  He was previously a member of the Auckland Secondary Schools’ Heads Association, representing South Auckland Schools and President of the Bay of Plenty Principals’ Association. He has also held roles as Principal of Reporoa College, Deputy Principal of Opononi Area School and Dean, Head of Department at Mangere College. 

Christopher Johnston  

At the time of the hearing Mr Johnston was the General Secretary of the Wesley College Trust Board. He has held this role since 2005.  He was previously Bursar to the Wesley College Trust Board (1997-2005). Mr Johnston has served as the President of the School Executive Officers Association (2009 – 2014) and an executive member of the Association of Integrated schools (2015-2022). Mr Johnston is also the Executive Director of Grafton Downs Ltd since 2009. Grafton Downs Ltd is currently developing a residential and retail town at Paerata Rise.  Earlier in his career, Mr Johnston worked as an accountant. 

Etuini (Edwin) Poluto Talakai  

At the time of the hearing Mr Talakai was the Vice President of the Methodist Church. He was previously the Secretary for Vahefonua Tonga O Aotearoa, a national synod of the Methodist Church (2010- 2018). Mr Talakai has also served as Secretary of the Auckland Manukau Methodist Parish since 2010. Mr Talakai attended Wesley College in 1989.  He is a member of the Dominion Rd Tongan Methodist Congregation under the Auckland-Manukau Tongan Methodist Parish and has been involved with the Tongan congregation from his youth, volunteering in a number of roles including as a Worship musician, choir conductor and choir member, young families group leader, church Trustee member and a lay preacher.  Mr Talakai has a background in Information Technology and established charitable foundation services that provide educational support for parents and students from ECE level to Tertiary, with a particular focus on Pacific students.
 

Dr Brian Evans ONZM 

At the time of the hearing Dr Evans was the current Principal and Tumuaki of Wesley College.  He was previously the Chair of the West Auckland Secondary Principals Association and a Secondary Schools Principals representative of the West Auckland Schools Association. He also held roles as Headmaster of Kelston Boys High School and Deputy Headmaster of De La Salle College.  Dr Evans has a Doctor of Philosophy from Unitec, Auckland. Dr Evans’ doctoral thesis examined the influences of Cultural Capital on the educational achievement of Samoan and Tongan male students in Auckland Secondary schools.  Dr Evans was appointed Head Coach of the New Zealand women’s national rugby team, the Black Ferns, in 2009.  Dr Evans coached the Black Ferns to a Rugby World Cup victory in 2010.  In 2011, Dr Evans became an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to women’s rugby.