Hate speech laws were supposed to be ready by now but, after confusion and “strong feedback”, the Government is giving it a rethink. In June last year, Justice Minister Kris Faafoi launched a discussion document outlining the Government’s plan to create new hate speech laws in response to the Royal Commission of Inquiry into the Read more
New Zealand
Exciting times in Christchurch as people bump into Catholicism
Monday, March 21st, 2022
Christchurch city centre’s new Catholic precinct will be a place people can bump into Catholicism says Christchurch diocese general manager Simon Thompson. Rising from the ruins of the devastating 2011 earthquakes, plans for the exciting development include a brand new Catholic cathedral, a commercial building, a 600-space car park, diocese offices, apartments and commercial space. Read more
Kavanagh name removed from college
Monday, March 21st, 2022
Survivor trauma, systemic failures and a failure to act on a complaint of sexual abuse are the reasons Dunedin bishop, Michael Dooley is changing Kavanagh College’s name to Trinity College. The change takes place on January 1, 2023. The move by Dooley comes after a report shows former Dunedin bishop, John Kavanagh, did not act Read more
It is not a holy war
Monday, March 21st, 2022
Archbishop of Wellington Cardinal John Dew says Pope Francis is deeply concerned about the invasion being justified as a holy war. In recent weeks, the Russia’s Patriarch Kirill has used religious language to justify his support for Russia’s military aggression. Even Kirill’s own supporters are looking elsewhere, says Dew. “The invasion has created new ecumenical Read more
Support workers struggling as fuel prices outstrip government mileage rates
Monday, March 21st, 2022Tarsh Dixon’s clients are some of New Zealand’s most vulnerable people, and right now she says she’s paying to care for them. The Auckland-based community support worker looks after people in their own homes using her own car to get there, but her rising fuel costs aren’t matched by the mileage rates set by the Read more
Climate change approach tips balance for New Zealand’s only smart city
Monday, March 21st, 2022Whanganui District Council’s approach to climate change has helped the city win international recognition as a leading model for economic and social development – for the seventh time. Whanganui has again been named a Smart21 City by US-based think tank, the Intelligent Community Forum, and is the only New Zealand town or city to make Read more
Catholic Ecology, Justice and Peace group writes open letter to bishops
Thursday, March 17th, 2022
Members of the Wellington Archdiocese Ecology, Justice and Peace (EJP) Commission are advocating the present state of the Covid-19 pandemic requires a continuation of the restrictions outlined in their November 2021 pastoral letter. They have written an open letter to the New Zealand Catholic Bishops Conference. The Wellington EJP letter is a response to an Read more
Ukranian schoolgirl from St Joe’s joins anti-war protest
Thursday, March 17th, 2022
A 12-year old Ukranian schoolgirl has joined a Hamilton-based anti-war protest movement. Emilia Shyra (12) and her father, Yuriy Shyryy (pictured), joined many others from Ukraine and Waikato’s European community at Saturday’s protest in front of Hamilton’s council building. “My father is holding a sign that says ‘Stand with Ukraine’ and this is why I Read more
Pope Francis wants to hear from all of us
Thursday, March 17th, 2022
“Pope Francis wants to hear from you” – all of us. This is the message the Catholic Church in Aotearoa New Zealand is using to invite people – Catholic or not – to take part in a survey for an international synod on the future direction of the Church. The Catholic Church world-wide is conducting Read more