A decision to lease St Anne’s church in Whanganui to a Montessori Preschool has gone ahead amid rising building management and maintenance costs. Whanganui’s parish priest Fr Craig Butler says it was “a difficult choice” to lease out the Catholic church. He says sustaining all the Whanganui parish buildings is costly and being honest about Read more
Presbyterian Support Otago chief executive Jo O’Neill has resigned, saying the Royal Commission into Abuse in Care has taken a toll on her. After almost five years of service, O’Neill’s last day was 9 August. Children’s records destroyed The Royal Commission found Presbyterian Support Otago (PSO) in late 2017 had destroyed records of children in Read more
Earthquake strengthening of Wellington’s St Gerard’s Church is underway, and its new owners are considering ideas for the iconic building’s use. The church closed in 2021 and was sold in 2023. Owners St Gerard’s Limited say they want to ensure the building is preserved and so remains part of the city’s identity. Although no decisions Read more
The Wellington City Council says it went above and beyond to consult with Fire and Emergency before a crew, on the way to a fire, were blocked by a surprise cycleway planter box. That and a catalogue of other Fire and Emergency (Fenz) safety problems with the council’s cycleway programme have been detailed in an Read more
Mary Potter Hospice has won a supreme community award for its work. Every year since 2004, Wellington Airport and the five local Councils come together for the awards to recognise outstanding mahi and celebrate hundreds of volunteers for their valuable contribution to the community. This year’s five categories covered contributions to Arts and Culture, Education Read more
An order of unregistered nuns can rely on help from supporters for the meanwhile. When the Vatican was investigating Catholic priests and brothers from The Sons of the Most Holy Redeemer about abuse and unauthorised exorcisms, it found Canterbury-based women known as the Daughters of the Holy Redeemer to be operating as an illicit order Read more
At last weekend’s Parish Renewal Conference in Sydney, New Zealand’s Bishop John Adams (left) spoke of the wisdom he gained after his parish was all but destroyed during the Christchurch earthquakes. Adams was a special guest speaker at the weekend conference which included discussions, workshops and inspiring testimonies. Transforming parishes The conference organisers aimed to Read more
A Catholic college principal is standing by his board’s refusal to apologise to the family of a student he excluded for marijuana use despite the Ombudsman ordering him to do so. “Marijuana buying and using is an illegal activity – we hold the view, as many schools do, that this has no place in our Read more
A significant Oamaru landmark with a rich architectural pedigree is undergoing a $1.4 million refit. The interior of St Patrick’s Basilica is being renovated over the next few months. The staged work will further bring it up to modern standards. At the same time, liturgical aspects of the internal layout are being restored in line Read more
The KidsCan waitlist is at record levels with 10,000 children, in 260 schools and early childhood centres, needing help. The charity, which provides food and clothing to schools and early childhood centres, said the list was the longest it had ever been in its 19 year history Chief executive Julie Chapman said the repercussions were Read more