Eruera has been a priest since 2003 and is a veteran of bi-vocational ministry, working full time to support his ministry in both pastorate and hui amorangi settings. (Hui Amorangi covers the East Coast of the North Island.)

He holds degrees in law and the arts, completing his Master of Theology with honors from Auckland University in 2007.

Eruera has served as a military chaplain in the New Zealand Defence Force, and most recently in locum ministry in the Northern Territory of Australia.

The Manukura/Principal of St. John’s, Tony Gerritsen, announced the appointment, noting that Eruera believes passionately in the core values of the Christian faith – faithfulness, service and integrity – as the framework for ministry formation and three-tikanga co-operation.

“His new role allows him to build on these core values to provide an ethos, positive learning culture, and clear direction in ministry formation in the new ‘Three Tikanga, One Church’ strategic vision for St. John’s College,” Gerritsen added.

In his spare time Eruera enjoys relaxing with whanau and friends, especially his fiancée Wendy, an organizational psychologist in the Royal New Zealand Air Force.

His induction as dean will be held at 4 p.m. on Thursday, August 29, in the college’s Wesley Centre.