Robert John Kennedy (b. 3 June, 1972) has played in four Tests and seven One Day Internationals for New Zealand in 1996.

He now works as a barman in the Speight's Ale House, Jackson Street, Petone.

Robert Edward Kennedy is a Jesuit priest, professor, psychotherapist and Zen roshi in the White Plum lineage, having studied with Yamada Koun in Japan in the 1970s. Ordained a priest in Japan in 1965, he was installed as a Zen teacher of the White Plum lineage in 1991 and was given the title Roshi in 1997. Kennedy studied Zen with Yamada Roshi in Kamakura, Japan, Maezumi Roshi in Los Angeles and Bernard Glassman Roshi in New York. Glassman Roshi installed Kennedy as sensei in 1991 and conferred Inka (his final seal of approval) in 1997, making him a roshi (master). At one point, he was chairperson of the theology department of Saint Peter’s College in Jersey City, N.J. Currently, he teaches theology and used to teach the Japanese Language. In addition to his work at the college, he is a practicing psychotherapist in New York City, a representative at the United Nations of the Institute for Spiritual Consciousness in Politics and the author of two books, "Zen Spirit, Christian Spirit" and "Zen Gifts to Christians." Kennedy Roshi sits with his Zen students daily at the Morning Star Zendo in Jersey City and with students in other zendos located throughout the tri-state area. He conducts weekend and weeklong sesshins (Zen retreats) at various centers in the United States and in Mexico, as well as in Ireland. Kennedy's dharma successors To date, Kennedy Roshi has installed six dharma successors: Janet Richardson Roshi, Charles Birx Sensei, Ellen Birx Sensei, Janet Abels Sensei, Ray Cicetti Sensei and Kevin Hunt Sensei , a Trappist monk from St. Joseph's Abbey at Spencer, Mass. Seager, 225 Barnhart, 148