The New Zealand Catholic Bishops Conference (NZCBC) has appointed Wellington Cardinal John Dew as its president. Auckland Bishop Patrick Dunn stepped down from the role at the end of his three-year term and because of health reasons. Hamilton Bishop Stephen Lowe was also appointed vice-president and secretary of the conference. Auckland Auxiliary Bishop Michael Gielen Read more
New Zealand
125 years on an exciting future for Catholic Māori
Thursday, December 10th, 2020Eucharist, marking the 125th anniversary of the building of Sts Peter and Paul, Kauwhata, Feilding was held on 29 November. It was on that day in 1895 that Archbishop Redwood celebrated the first Mass there. The Church is one of the oldest in New Zealand still in regular use. Run by local Māori, Fr Philip Read more
Samaritan returns stolen items to church
Monday, December 7th, 2020
A good Samaritan has returned all the items stolen from St Paul’s Lutheran Community Church in Upper Moutere. The church, which was broken into just over a week ago was stripped of almost everything movable inside. The haul included treasured historic items and artworks. One of the stolen items was a painting by Gottfried Lindauer. Read more
Council declines olive leaf-shaped parish centre application
Monday, December 7th, 2020
A planned olive leaf-shaped parish centre in Arrowtown has been rejected by council commissioners. After a public hearing, Queenstown Lakes District Council commissioners found the “Olive Leaf” building, which would double as a community centre, was a remarkable design and made some positive contributions to heritage character in the town. It would also have positive Read more
State-Integrated schools take government to court over funding
Monday, December 7th, 2020
State-Integrated schools are taking the government to court because it is refusing to give them millions of dollars of extra property funding. State-Integrated schools were left out when the government announced at the end of last year it was giving state schools $400 million to spend on their buildings as part of a wider package Read more
Former Labour MP calls for “inequality emergency”
Monday, December 7th, 2020A former Labour MP is calling for an “inequality emergency” to be declared, after the Government announced a climate emergency last week. Sue Moroney said the Government, with its “strong mandate”, had the ability to start tackling growing inequality in New Zealand. “Naming it [climate change] as an emergency is important,” she said. “I’d like Read more
Parishioners mourn orders to close three out of five Catholic churches.
Thursday, December 3rd, 2020
Many in the Wairarapa Catholic community are mourning orders to close three of its five Catholic churches. Earthquake-prone building regulations, ageing populations and shrinking Mass attendance have all had a part to play in deciding to close the buildings. Cardinal John Dew, of the Wellington Catholic Archdiocese, said at least one Sunday Mass or Vigil Read more
Jacinda disagrees with accusation of ‘unjustifiably slow’ welfare reform
Thursday, December 3rd, 2020
Jacinda Ardern says she disagrees with the accusation of “unjustifiably slow” welfare reform made by the Child Poverty Action Group (CPAG). CPAG’s criticism of the Government’s response comes after more than 60 charities urged them to increase welfare payments in the lead-up to Christmas, which Ardern ruled out. Progress on welfare reform is being made, Read more
Burglars steal donated food and gifts from Vinnies
Thursday, December 3rd, 2020
The Parish Priest of the Palmerston North Cathedral, Fr Joe Grayland, is thanking the local people and businesses for replacing many of the donated Christmas goods and much of the food, stolen over the weekend. “Their generosity has been outstanding, and it restores my faith in human nature”, he says. “They will literally help make Read more