NZ Catholic received three awards at the 2021 Australasian Catholic Press Association awards held earlier this month. The APCA awards are an opportunity for Catholic media to celebrate the outstanding contribution organisations make to the Church in Australia. ACPA President Neil Helmore said, “Catholic media in Australia continues to strive to lift up the Church Read more
The Government is considering filling unused refugee quota spots with at-risk Afghans, the first indication New Zealand may follow other countries in committing to taking refugees from Taliban-ruled Afghanistan. The confirmation came as a group of more than 15 former Afghan interpreters protested outside Parliament for a second day, demanding the immigration minister speak to Read more
Simon Thompson is the new General Manager of the Christchurch Diocese. Currently, Thompson is Manager, Strategy and Planning at Ōtākaro Limited, the Crown-company responsible for the construction and operation of Te Pae Christchurch, New Zealand’s newest large-scale convention centre. He has also held positions at the Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Authority, Christchurch International Airport and Air Read more
A family at the centre of the country’s biggest COVID-19 cluster say they were in tears and felt blindsided after all seven of them tested positive for the virus. The family is among five others linked to the church cluster in Auckland that has just left quarantine (MIQ). Reflecting on her family’s ordeal with Delta, Read more
An Invercargill secondary school may be breaking the law employing its principal whose teacher’s practising certificate has expired. Verdon College principal Jarlath Kelly’s practising certificate expired in June of this year. The school’s board of trustees chairman Tim Ward would not comment that the school could potentially be flouting Education and Training Act laws. A Read more
The overwhelming volume of donations clothing and furniture for Afghan refugees has forced Catholic Social Services (CSS) to close the appeal. CSS recently published a statement thanking those who made contributions. The message said simply, the organisation doesn’t have the capacity to store any additional items. The statement read, “Thank you for your immediate and Read more
Draped in a superman costume, a Pompallier Catholic College student has won a grand prize of many laughs and $3000 in a road safety short film competition. Northland Road Safety Trust (NRST) in partnership with Students Against Dangerous Driving (SADD) introduced the “Drive in the Moment” road safety initiative to secondary schools in Whangārei and Read more
Deportation of Pasifika overstayers is continuing despite the global Covid-19 pandemic putting pressure on island nations. Fiji has been particularly ravaged by the virus of late, with hospitals overrun with infected patients. And yet New Zealand, with its largely successful Covid response, continues to deport members of the Pasifika community – with 17 people sent Read more
The Auckland diocese is questioning the fairness of a Stuff report concerning the housing of bailed former priest, Sateki Raass. Communications spokesperson for the diocese, Lyndsay Freer suggests Stuff reporter, Steve Kilgallon seems to have unfairly skewed supplied answers to questions. On Sunday 12 September Stuff reported the Catholic Church planned to accommodate a priest Read more
It’s a fact that most Christian church leaders in New Zealand support the COVID health measures, including vaxxing – ie getting the Covid vaccinations. It’s also a fact that a few don’t and they’re scaring and confusing people. Take, for example, the evangelical church Celebration Centre in Christchurch. Its pastors have been posting online sermons Read more