Nine-year-old Nico Tauri is on a mission to have every school in New Zealand install compost bins. It comes after he successfully convinced consumer goods giant Unilever to take plastic scoops out of its Surf washing powder. Unilever said the move, due to start in June 2022, would reduce the amount of plastic in circulation Read more
New Zealand
Catholic wedding for horror crash couple
Thursday, May 5th, 2022
Last year a motorbike crash shattered – and almost ended – Kendra Smith and Corey Thompson’s lives. Thompson lost a leg and Smith, who was five months pregnant, lost the baby. After a year of horrendous lows, the couple are picking themselves up. They’re expecting another child and a Catholic wedding is being organised. “We Read more
Church initiative saves community money on electricity
Thursday, May 5th, 2022
A Timaru church initiative is helping the local community save money on electricity. St Philip and All Saints Anglican Church has distributed over 1,000 energy efficient light bulbs to locals. They got the idea after seeing a similar scheme’s success through an Anglican Care initiative in Christchurch. Deacon Rev. Margot Goodman decided she wanted to Read more
Synod submission calls for inclusive model of Church
Thursday, May 5th, 2022
A submission to the 2023 synodal process from 58 of over 100 members of Be the Change Catholic Church Aotearoa is asking for a new, inclusive model of the church. Formed by the scriptures and teachings of the Catholic Church and the circumstances of today, Be the Change Catholic Church Aotearoa (BCCCA) says their vision Read more
Marae hosts priest’s treasures
Thursday, May 5th, 2022Taonga collected by the late Pā Henare Tate, including many relating to the history of the Catholic Church in Aotearoa and the Pacific, have gone on permanent display at a remote north Hokianga marae. Museum trust chair Geremy Hema says the two-story Raiatea Resource Centre at Motuti Marae near Panguru was a 30-year dream for Read more
Funeral directors call on Government to increase WINZ Funeral Grant
Thursday, May 5th, 2022Funeral directors around the country are calling on the Government to increase funeral grants for low-income families, with Kāpiti Coast Funeral Home managing director Andrew Malcolm adding his voice to the call. The Funeral Directors Association of New Zealand wants the Government to increase the Work and Income (WINZ) Funeral Grant in this year’s Budget Read more
Ram-raids: a mix of excitement, notoriety, poverty and stress
Monday, May 2nd, 2022
Youth agencies say the recent spate of youth-led ram-raids are fuelled by a mix of excitement, stress and social media notoriety. Oranga Tamariki says although overall youth crime has fallen 60 percent in the past 10 years, the recent spike in ram-raids is a problem. The agency’s Youth Justice Services director Ben Hannifin says they’re Read more
Sisters of Compassion have new co-chief executive
Monday, May 2nd, 2022
The Sisters of Compassion’s new co-chief executive is Deacon Danny Karatea-Goddard. Karatea-Goddard’s appointment was made by Māori-Tumu Whakarae of the Sisters of Compassion Group, the religious order founded by Meri Hōhepa Mother Suzanne Aubert. He will join Dr Chris Gallavin, appointed in March last year, in the co-chief executive position. Karatea-Goddard has been the Māori Read more
‘Very painful’: Family split between NZ and Philippines over immigration health policy
Monday, May 2nd, 2022A family is split between New Zealand and the Philippines due to Immigration New Zealand’s acceptable standard of health policy. Arianna Alfonzo, 12, is autistic and communicates through body language and gestures. Her father, Allan, has been living and working in New Zealand since 2016. He and his wife, Gail, received their permanent residence visas Read more
Timaru trust provides major boost for Terry Kennedy fundraiser
Monday, May 2nd, 2022The quest to raise funds for Terry Kennedy’s parting gift to the community has received a major boost from an organisation close to the late Timaru councillor’s heart. St Vianney’s Timaru Trust chairman Dale Walden confirmed on Thursday that the trust would give $5000 to the Terry Kennedy fundraiser. The aim is to purchase a Read more