Caritas Aotearoa New Zealand’s latest report about the state of the Oceania environment is recording a severe outlook for the region. It also says climate finance for the poor been ‘woefully inadequate’ for seven years. The Catholic charity has been monitoring five environmental issues affecting people of the Pacific since 2015 through its State of Read more
Trusts registered in New Zealand held nearly $300 million in assets for a Roman Catholic order caught in an international paedophilia scandal, according to leaked records contained in the Pandora Papers. The Mexico based Legionaries of Christ used the trusts in a complex financial arrangement that held assets in four continents, according to an analysis Read more
Build relationships, not programmes, are the words of wisdom from one man behind the success of assisting homelessness in Hastings. Hastings Church lead pastor Warren Heke said addressing a homeless community with a one-size-fits-all approach would never work. He became involved with the homeless community five years ago after a Sunday service, and hasn’t stopped Read more
A global report investigating the mental health of children and teenagers is calling for urgent funding to help children, and New Zealand is not immune. The UN’s child protection agency is warning the pandemic will be the latest challenge piled onto an issue that health services are already struggling to match. The report, which Unicef Read more
Christchurch’s Catholic diocese is selling its large retirement village in central Christchurch to the Baptist Church. The proceeds from Maryville Courts will help fund the new $100 million Catholic cathedral and central city precinct, as well as new parish centres throughout the diocese. The Archer Group, a Baptist Church trust retirement village operator is paying Read more
Swedish Environmental activist Greta Thunberg says she’s is unimpressed with the world’s politicians and singled out Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern for her lack of action on climate change. That’s despite Ardern in June calling climate change a “life or death” issue after the Climate Change Commission’s final advice to the Government was released in April. Read more
The leaders of the isolated Gloriavale Christian Community have told its members they can choose to be vaccinated against Covid-19. This is a U-turn from its past anti-vaccination stance. The community has previously blocked the West Coast from hitting immunisation targets as its babies are not given vaccines. The community has a population of about Read more
The Rev Rose Luxford of Oamaru, 30 September, was elected moderator designate at the Presbyterian General Assembly. For the first time the Assembly gathered online. Among the challenges Luxford identified are aging, shrinking congregations, and increased compliance issues for churches run largely by volunteers. “Our Church needs to be realistic about how things are, and Read more
Several months after attending a Catholic funeral service, Police have laid charges against several gang members because of their behaviour during the funeral procession to St Joseph’s Catholic Church, Grey Lynn. The funeral was for gang member Taranaki Fuimaono, 43, who died in police custody and was facing drug charges. The massive gathering forced authorities Read more
The Accident Compensation Corporation (ACC) is struggling with the almost 400 percent increase in unsuccessful attempts by sex abuse victims to get mental health support over the past 15 months. Its national waitlist figures indicate failed attempts by sex abuse survivors to get mental health help increased by 387 percent and reaching 4131 in the Read more