Reverend Enosa and Felicity Auva’a

Enosa was born in Samoa and migrated to New Zealand in 1970 with his family when his father, a Methodist minister, was granted a scholarship to study at St Johns theological college in Auckland.

His parents returned to Samoa 3 years later and Enosa stayed on to finish his schooling at Mt Albert grammar, and then went on to study a teaching degree at Auckland University.

Enosa taught for many years, progressing up the leadership ladder to principalship as well as gaining his Masters in Educational Leadership and Management. Enosa was a Fulbright-Cognition Awardee in Educational Research 2010, where he studied conditions surrounding the aspiration of minority groups towards principals’ positions in Hawaii.

After 26 years as a principal, he felt God’s call on his life to enter the ministry and 5 years ago began his theological studies at Carey Bible College, completing his Graduate Diploma in Theology and a 2-year ministry internship with Knox College based at Hope Presbyterian church in Whangarei. He then worked part-time as a leadership and pastoral consultant before being called to St Peters.

Enosa was involved in his early life in the Methodist church as a minister’s son but in 1982 he gave his life to the Lord at a Church camp in Ngāruawāhia. Since then, he has dedicated his life to serving God by being a Sunday School superintendent for 12 years, and an elder and a home group leader for over 30 years.

He is married to Felicity a schoolteacher, and Local Board elected member for Council and served as a pianist and worship leader at Papakura First and East Presbyterian Church for over 45 Years and now assists with the worship at St Peters. Felicity is also a choir conductor and directs and conducts children’s festivals and civic events like ‘Carols in the Park’.  They have 4 children and 10 grandchildren.

Interesting points:

Enosa has 2 Matai titles (chief), speaks Samoan fluently and advises on Pacific issues.

He is blessed to have all his children fully involved in church life. Enosa’s son was a professional rugby player, representing Counties and the ‘Blues’ and was an assistant chaplain at Kings College and is now the ordained Anglican Minister at St Georges in Papatoetoe. Oldest daughter Sara is a lawyer, renown Pacific singer and worship leader and is currently hosting and producing on Shine TV’s “Soul Sessions”. Middle daughter Meritiana is Deputy Principal at Otahuhu Primary and youngest Latafale, also a lawyer, worked for Foreign Affairs before marrying a professional rugby player and is working for ECG as well as being a fulltime mum to Baby ‘Heaven’. She also writes and produces her own music and has a YouTube channel sharing her Christian music and encouraging faith posts.

Enosa loves sport, particularly rugby and cricket in which he represented Auckland. He is an avid runner and enjoys keeping fit and spending time with his growing family.

He is passionate about sharing his faith and spreading the love of God, and is a great encourager and motivator in supporting people in their faith journey. He tries to live Psalm 1.