The Archdiocesan Migrant Advisory Group (AMAG) was established to support the work of migrant ministries, and to serve as a resource for the various ministries and agencies of the Archdiocese of Wellington.
These five individuals have been carefully selected and appointed by Archbishop Paul Martin SM for their mana, their leadership within their cultural communities, and their active involvement in parish life. They have undergone meaningful formation and have demonstrated a deep commitment to fostering a welcoming and inclusive Church.
They were commissioned by Archbishop Paul Martin, SM on 14 September, 2025 during the Mass for the Jubilee for Migrants.
Get to know the pioneering members of the Archdiocesan Migrant Advisory Group:
Telesia Alaimoana
Telesia, originally from Samoa, is a graduate of the Te Hao Nui – Launch Out Formation Programme. She holds multiple qualifications in parish ministry and theology from the Catholic Theological College. A qualified social worker, Telesia brings 25 years of experience in the Ministry of Social Development’s disability sector. Her professional expertise is enriched by her active involvement in the Samoan Chaplaincy and her service as a lay minister at Our Lady of Hope Parish. Passionate about pastoral ministry, she is committed to fostering vibrant, inclusive parish communities where worship and belonging flourish.
Randy Rivera Reyes
Originally from the Philippines, Randy is a product of Catholic education, achieving basic education from the Marists and his bachelor’s degree from De La Salle University. Before migrating to New Zealand in 2007, Randy was a university lecturer in computer science. In New Zealand, Randy began working as a systems trainer at Capital and Coast DHB and now serves as a solutions architect for the New Zealand Red Cross. A lifelong Catholic, Randy experienced a renewed zeal for faith after attending a Life in the Spirit Seminar (LSS) in 2019. This deepened commitment led to active involvement in parish ministries and leadership of formation programmes such as LSS and Alpha. Alongside his wife Aileen, he is currently attending the Called and Equipped formation programme. At Sacred Heart Cathedral Parish, Randy served on the Parish Pastoral Council for six years, including three as chair. Randy brings strategic insight, pastoral sensitivity and an important connection to the Cathedral, to this new role.
Dr Ruvimbo Bangure
A dedicated medical practitioner, Ruvimbo currently works at a General Practice in the Hutt Valley. Originally from Zimbabwe, she moved to Aotearoa New Zealand in 2018 and is an active member of Te Awakairangi parish. A lifelong Catholic, since infancy, her spiritual life has been shaped by early involvement in the Guild of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and, more recently, the Catholic Charismatic Renewal. She serves her parish as a lector and secretary for the Society of St Vincent de Paul. She has completed the Alpha program and Life in the Spirit Seminars and is currently participating in the Called and Equipped formation programme. Her life reflects a deep commitment to faith, family, and service.
Fr Thomas Rouse SSC
Fr Thomas Rouse SSC is the Columban Leader in New Zealand, also serving as its Vocations Coordinator. He sits on the Regional Council for Oceania. In the ADW, he is the Coordinator for the Justice, Peace & Integrity of Creation (JPIC). His missionary journey began in Fiji in 1976, where he served until 1991 before moving to Sydney to work in seminary formation and chaplaincy for the Fijian Catholic community. In 1997, he completed a master’s thesis on biblical interpretation and land issues in Fiji. Returning to Fiji in 2004, he served as Assistant Parish Priest and twice as Regional Director. After a sabbatical in Chicago in 2013, he moved to New Zealand in 2014 as Mission Coordinator. On November 23, 2019, he was appointed Columban Leader in New Zealand. Fr Thomas continues to walk alongside communities with a deep commitment to faith, justice, and the care of creation.
Christine Philippo
Her family arrived in Porirua from Myanmar in 2006 and have been living here ever since. The first thing her father did when they arrive was to look for a Catholic Church and discovered the Holy Parish which became their spiritual home. Holy Family Parish is where she and her siblings received their first Holy Communion and Confirmation. It is where she got married and had her children baptised. She finished a science degree at the University of Otago and is now currently teaching at Bishop Viard College. She has two young children. Christine is an active member of the Myanmar community. Christine’s brings her energy, wisdom, and commitment to youth and education to the migrant ministry of the Archdiocese of Wellington.
