Updated: 29th January, 2025
For over 2,500 years Buddhists have contemplated sickness, old age and death to understand suffering and find an end to it. Buddhist practitioners therefore value sickness, old age, death and other transitions as opportunities for spiritual insight and growth. Buddhist chaplains are trained to accompany people through such difficult times, working in hospitals, hospices, universities, prisons and other facilities.
By supporting a person suffering in a difficult situation with skillful inquiry, guided meditation and/or prayers, the total pain (physical, mental, emotional and spiritual) a person experiences is skillfully and compassionately addressed. With the help of a spiritual friend the person is better able to find their own inner resources to handle what is happening, moment by moment.
NZBC and Amitabha Hospice have confidence that these NZ Buddhist Hospice / Healthcare Chaplains can be engaged to facilitate a person’s mental comfort by helping the person use their own beliefs to investigate their concerns and gain strength and resilience in the midst of a health crisis.
Level 1 NZ Buddhist Chaplain Training Workshop – 27, 28,29 June 2025
If you do not hear back promptly or have an inquiry about Buddhist Chaplaincy please use the contact form to reach us.
Qualified NZ Buddhist Hospice / Healthcare Chaplains
AucklandChristchurchHelensville, AucklandHamiltonMahurangi West, AucklandNelsonTaupoWellingtonWhangāreiThames
| Amala Wrightson, Roshi |
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| Ecie Hursthouse |
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| Marion Feasey |
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| Rukman Wagachchi |
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| Dr. Tony Fernando (MD, PhD) |
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| Ani Thubten Khadro |
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| Hanya Gallagher |
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| Jane Ross |
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| Julie Downard |
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| Wilhelmina Flick |
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| Heather Kempton |
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| Sandra Shanmugam Harcourt |
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| Annie McMullen |
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| Diane Johnston |
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| Lea Godfrey |
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| Deirdre Savage |
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| Jiko McIntosh |
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| Derek LeDayn |
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| Satyadevi Barrett |
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| Graeme Stuart Cleaver |
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| Maitrikirti (Kate Ewing) |
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Apprentice Buddhist Chaplains
In 2013 the New Zealand Buddhist Council and Amitabha Hospice started training well-vetted applicants to become Buddhist Hospice / Healthcare Chaplains with a Level 1 course. The people on the list below have completed the Level 1 course and been accepted as Apprentice Buddhist Chaplains (ABCs).
If they want to pursue Tertiary or Prison Chaplaincy, they are required to complete a number of hours of supervised spiritual support in a hospice or medical setting and two written assignments before they are qualified to do Level 2, which teaches Tertiary and Prison Chaplaincy.
The ABCs who have completed the Level 1 course and the requirements of
supervised experience and the written documentation are qualified to work as NZ Buddhist Hospice / Healthcare Chaplains in hospices, hospitals or nursing homes.
NZ Apprentice Buddhist Chaplains may be contacted by hospitals, hospices, nursing homes or privately. They will endeavour to address an individual’s own spiritual needs while fostering a peaceful environment and maintaining strict confidentiality.
The following are Apprentice Buddhist Chaplains
AucklandCoromandel Peninsula & Hauraki DistrictHamiltonChristchurchDunedinInvercargillLevinNelsonNapierNew PlymouthRotoroaThamesPapamoa, TaurangaWellingtonWhanganuiColombia (South America)Oxford (UK)
| Anjalee Pieries |
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| Conny Krebs |
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| Hean Tan |
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| Karunajoti Grace |
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| Steph Madenholt-Titley |
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| Venerable Sumanasiri |
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| Katrina Robertson |
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| Prasanthi Amerasinghe |
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| Mark Harcourt |
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| Erin Lummis |
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| Pimmy Takdhada |
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| Alex Brennan |
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| Angela Dempster-Passang |
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| Drolma Simpson |
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| Phramaha Sudchai Lekkratok |
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| Deb Moran |
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| Ramona Clark |
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| Wayne Frecklington |
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| Clare Woodham |
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| Gail Wright |
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| Jan Crawford |
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| Teresa Goodin |
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| Geoff Gensei Moore |
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| Diane Prajnalila Quin |
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| Lassara Hall |
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| Terry Hounsome |
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| Janice Hill |
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| Bhante Jinalankara |
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| Laura Cheung |
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| Tejomani Earl |
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| Corina Nino |
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| Jude Bennett |
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