“Ongoing unsustainable losses” at Wellington’s Sacred Heart Cathedral have put the music department in the spotlight. The financial situation has been made worse because of the cathedral’s temporary closure and Covid-19. The church says it has no option but to restructure, and if the current plan is put into action, it will see the Cathedral Read more
Abuse survivors are asking for an independent redress agency for both state and faith-based abuse to be set up immediately. The Royal Commission into Abuse in Care should recommend the government establish such an agency they say. While the Anglican Church told the Royal Commission it is open to the idea, its bishop of Christchurch Read more
“To engage, inspire and empower through Christ”: this vision, the motto of Suzanne Aubert Catholic School, was inspired by the work of Venerable Suzanne Aubert, and is what will guide the foundation board of trustees, staff and students in the creation of this new community of learning. After only six months of planning, praying and Read more
Associate Health Minister Ayesha Verrall says transformation of abortion services to better cater for Māori and Pasifika needs is long overdue. The Health Ministry is seeking expressions of interest from health providers to improve accessibility to abortion services for Māori, Pacific, and disabled people. Dr Verrall says many Māori, particularly younger women, are put off Read more
Medical students become more opposed to euthanasia during their training as they progress through medical school, a new study says. In their second year, almost 65 percent of medical students at Otago University supported euthanasia or assisted dying. Support for the practice reduced during each year of training: by their third year it fell to Read more
The Wellington City Mission has turned the way it provides food parcels on its head. Instead of making up parcels for clients, Wellington City Mission welcomed its first customers to pick their own items at its social supermarket on Tuesday. This move provides people who need support with choice. The social supermarket – the first Read more
Survivor groups are not hopeful that the Royal Commission into the Abuse in Care will bring around change in churches. A spokesperson for the Network of Survivors of Abuse in Faith-Based Institutions, Liz Tonks, told RNZ that “victim-survivors were not hopeful because their experiences of churches is they have not been able to trust them Read more
The Government is being challenged on its spending on renewable energy after the revelation that coal imports last year passed a point not seen in New Zealand in 15 years. Newly released data shows close to 1.1 million tonnes of coal was imported into New Zealand last year. That’s higher than the total of coal Read more
The Lifewise fundraising drive for donations to keep open Merge Cafe, a haven for Karangahape Road’s homeless community, has hit its target. But criticisms have been levelled at the transparency of the appeal, and questions asked about whether the property trust also owned by the Methodist church could be picking up the tab. Two weeks Read more
Volunteering is a growing trend in New Zealand, with opportunities to suit everyone – from teen volunteers to retirees. Volunteer centres throughout the country report a 10 to 25 per cent increases in volunteers, says Leisa de Klerk, who manages Dunedin and Waitaki for Volunteer South, a charitable trust that connects volunteers with volunteering opportunities. Read more