Family First NZ has released a legal opinion on the proposed law to ban the ‘conversion therapy’ bill which says that the bill will have a ‘chilling effect’ on freedom of expression concerning gender issues, and will fail in its stated purpose of promoting respectful and open discussions regarding sexuality and gender. The opinion by Read more
New Zealand
‘Conversion Therapy’ Bill Will Restrict Personal Autonomy – Legal Opinion
Thursday, September 2nd, 2021Christchurch relief teacher issued stern warning over racist posts, given final warning
Thursday, September 2nd, 2021A Christchurch relief teacher who sent a friend racist posts on social media to “stimulate discussion” just a few months after the mosque attacks has narrowly escaped being found guilty of serious misconduct. The Teachers Disciplinary Tribunal has instead issued Simon Humphrey a stern warning about his “ill-considered and unacceptable” racist posts saying any repeat Read more
Pastor rants: Govt is ‘seeking to rape me of God-given right to worship’
Monday, August 30th, 2021
The Government is “seeking to rape me of my God-given right to worship Christ”, says Christchurch pastor Carl Bromley. He made the claim after police confronted him during the weekend for hosting a church service during a pandemic lockdown. Bromley, the Life Connection Missionary Baptist Fellowship founder, insisted on holding a church service on Sunday Read more
Catholic New Zealand reaches out spiritually during lockdown
Monday, August 30th, 2021
Catholic New Zealand is leaping to support local communities during the current lockdown. The lockdown comes with a familiar high price for many New Zealanders, among them religious communities are unable to gather safekly for prayer and worship, and it makes ordinary community service difficult. To help meet congregant’s spiritual needs, many local parishes are Read more
Racist Pasifika comments are obnoxious
Monday, August 30th, 2021
In the wake of the latest Covid outbreak, racist comments directed at Pasifika have prompted health and church authorities to speak out. The current Delta variant outbreak has disproportionately affected the Samoan community, including people exposed at a major church assembly in Māngere in Auckland. “These people were involved in legal activity and were operating Read more
Woodville cafe teams up with church to feed elderly after sudden lockdown
Monday, August 30th, 2021A Woodville cafe caught on the hop by alert level four is teaming up with a local church to make sure its perishable food and prepared meals don’t go to waste. Holy Trinity Anglican Church distributed 26 roast pork meals from Cafe 88 to elderly residents in the town, to help them out during the Read more
‘People’s steeple’ plan rejected for Christ Church cathedral restoration
Monday, August 30th, 2021The collapsed spire of Christ Church Cathedral will be rebuilt in steel rather than using traditional timber techniques proposed by a United States master carpenter under his “people’s steeple” plan. Christ Church Cathedral restoration project director Keith Paterson said the people’s steeple plan was rejected because it would be too costly and the timber would Read more
Increasing need for meals Compassion Soup Kitchen
Thursday, August 26th, 2021
The Compassion Soup Kitchen in Wellington has added more staff to help meet a 54 percent increase in people needing meals. During the 2020 lockdown, the Soup Kitchen distributed an average of 153 takeaway meals per day. This year the number of takeaway meals began at 190 and by Monday it had risen to 235. Read more
Families may find this lockdown worse than first, says Child Poverty Action
Thursday, August 26th, 2021
Families still struggling after previous lockdowns may find the current Level 4 lockdown worse than the first one. They need more government support, says Child Poverty Action Group (CPAG). Vulnerable families stand to lose a lot during level 4 lockdowns. Their food budgets suddenly have to cater for lunches the Government’s school lunch programme usually Read more
Exercise and wear a mask urges Cardinal Dew
Thursday, August 26th, 2021
New Zealand Cardinal, John Dew, is adding his support and encouraging people to wear a mask while outside exercising during the lockdown. “Recently, Pope Francis took part in an advertising campaign encouraging people to get vaccinated and called the gesture an ‘act of love’. Wearing a mask when leaving our homes to use an essential Read more