Katene is of NgÄti Hau and Te Aupouri descent. Formerly a practising barrister and solicitor, he attended St John’s College as an ordinand and graduated from the University of Auckland with a Bachelor of Theology Degree in 2002, and a Master of Theology Degree in 2007. He was ordained to the Diaconate in 2002, and the priesthood in 2003. He served as a worker priest in the Whangarei MÄori Anglican pastorate for several years, while continuing a legal practice as a community law centre lawyer in service to the local community. He subsequently served as a military chaplain in the New Zealand Defence Force. After leaving chaplaincy, Katene served for a time in locum ministry in the Diocese of the Northern Territory, Australia before returning to Aotearoa New Zealand
Moral and practical theology, contextual theologies; currently researching MÄori and indigenous theological approaches to leadership and leadership development for MÄori religious communities