Race Relations Commissioner Meng Foon says the proposed hate speech law will be a welcome addition to the human rights toolkit. He says the current law covers race and ethnicity, but is silent on disability, religious beliefs or sexual gender or orientation. About half the complaints to the Human Rights Commission are about racial discrimination, Read more
New Zealand
Aotearoa-NZ renews dedication in ‘Te Ara a Maria: Mary’s Way’
Monday, June 28th, 2021
Complex messaging surrounding the renewing of the country’s dedication to Our Lady Assumed into Heaven and the creation of a National Shrine has been clarified at a special meeting of the New Zealand Bishops’ Conference. One element of the messaging surrounds the translation of the shrine’s name which was corrected then confirmed by the bishops Read more
False or incorrect allegations of racism, bullying and elitism at John Paul College
Monday, June 28th, 2021
An independent review says allegations of racism, bullying and elitism at Rotorua’s John Paul College are “false or incorrect”. Earlier this year the college’s board of trustees ordered an independent investigation “by its own choice”. The Bishop of Hamilton, Stephen Lowe, told the board he had received a complaint via email regarding alleged “systemic racism” Read more
Wastewater testing shows methamphetamine use associated with poverty
Monday, June 28th, 2021A new study combining one week’s worth of wastewater testing with census data has shown methamphetamine use is associated with socioeconomic disadvantage. It’s also revealed cocaine and ecstasy use is associated with socioeconomic advantage. In a study published today in the New Zealand Medical Journal based on testing in Auckland, the Bay of Plenty and Read more
Housing in New Zealand ‘a human rights crisis’, UN report says
Monday, June 28th, 2021Housing in New Zealand is viewed as a “speculative asset” rather than a home and has become a human rights crisis, according to a United Nations report. The report by UN special rapporteur Leilani Farha on adequate housing was tabled at the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva on Tuesday, following her visit to New Read more
Tough pastoral issue looming for NZ Bishops
Thursday, June 24th, 2021
The End of Life Choice Act will create a tough pastoral issue for New Zealand’s Catholic bishops says Bishop Patrick Dunn (pictured). The Act comes into force on 7 November. The big pastoral issue revolves around whether or not to give the last rites to people who choose assisted suicide or euthanasia. The last rites Read more
Government takes Family First to Supreme Court
Thursday, June 24th, 2021
Family First and the New Zealand Government are arguing over the group’s charitable status at the Supreme Court in Wellington this week. The Government is appealing a recent Court of Appeal decision which upheld Family First as a charity. Bob McCoskrie, Family First’s National Director says the case is not about his group. “The attempt Read more
More refugees bound for Timaru in August
Thursday, June 24th, 2021More volunteers are needed as Timaru prepares to welcome Syrian refugees again after Covid-19 put a pause on their arrival here. Presbyterian Support South Canterbury Refugee Settlement manager Fiona Jackson said, from August, about 70 refugees were expected to settle in the district. She said Timaru had settled refugees under New Zealand’s Refugee quota programme Read more
Brewery bar, live venue and Irish pub take over Christchurch heritage buildings
Thursday, June 24th, 2021A pair of neighbouring heritage buildings rescued from the Christchurch earthquakes will be transformed into a small Irish bar and larger bar with microbrewery and live venue. The owner of OGB has signed a lease to take on the restored Shand’s Emporium and the former Trinity Congregational Church on the corner of Manchester and Worcester Read more
Caritas Australia visits Wellington for meeting
Monday, June 21st, 2021
Catholic charity Caritas Australia was welcomed to Wellington for a bilateral meeting with Caritas Aotearoa New Zealand last week. The two charities’ goal was to reconfirm their commitment to collaborating on their shared objective to address global poverty and inequities. The two Catholic organisations have a long history of both informal and formal collaboration. Their Read more