About the NCRS?

The National Centre for Religious Studies is an agency of the New Zealand Catholic Bishops Conference. The Director of NCRS is responsible to the Conference through its Episcopal Deputy. The centre currently has three staff.

The Centre exists to plan curricula and programmes, and to develop resource materials for Religious Education in the dioceses of the Catholic Church in New Zealand.

In fulfilling this mandate NCRS works in cooperation with the religious education offices in the six dioceses and with the New Zealand Catholic Education Office.

As part of its oversight of catechesis and religious education needs the Centre convenes regular meetings of diocesan consultants, advisers and co-ordinators of the various programmes.

NCRS also has oversight of the system of Accreditation of Religious Education teachers for Catholic schools.

Adult Courses

Walk By Faith - a three–year faith development course.

Understanding Sexuality - a four-day professional development course for teachers in Catholic Schools.

Catechetical Studies Curriculum – outlines the course for those intending to teach religious education in Catholic primary or secondary schools.

Courses for Young People and Children - The official national religious education programme for Catholic primary and secondary schools and courses for parish education at similar levels.

Sharing The Gospel Today - A major current work of the Centre is the development of a new Catechetical Directory for Aotearoa New Zealand. This was undertaken in response to the General Directory for Catechesis issued by the Congregation for the Clergy in 1997.

Contact us

The National Centre for Religious Studies

PO Box 1937

Wellington 6015

New Zealand

Telephone +64 4 496-1761

Facsimile +64 4 496-1762

Email: info@ncrs.org.nz