Megan Phelps-Roper, a former member of the infamous Westboro Baptist Church, the subject of some of Louis’ most famous documentaries, will make a special appearance with Louis on stage in Auckland. Phelps-Roper is the granddaughter of Fred Phelps, founder of the Westboro Baptist Church known for picketing funerals of U.S. service members. Since leaving the Read more
New Zealand
A book defending free speech rejected for fear of hate speech
Thursday, September 26th, 2019The claim a New Zealand academic’s latest book has been banned may be a little over-egged, but a publisher’s interpretation of international hate speech laws is an interesting example of the current global tensions between free speech and hate speech. Read more
Local body politician objects to non-christian prayers
Monday, September 23rd, 2019
A Manawatū District councillor is not backing down from his opinion about the use of non-Christian prayers at council meetings. Steve Bielski says he would not accept Muslims or any non-Christians praying at the council because they believed in different gods. Councillors were discussing a proposal to invite members of different faiths to open meetings Read more
Tiny churches the way to go
Monday, September 23rd, 2019
The Gathering evolved a few years ago from a handful of like-minded friends who used to meet and share their common belief in their homes. The Gathering, which meets in a hall the South Canterbury town of Temuka has no leader, no service plan and just a couple of acoustic guitars. About 30 people attend Read more
AIG, All Blacks principal sponsor seems to like the colour black
Monday, September 23rd, 2019
AIG is the principal sponsor of the All Blacks. Climate change activists are putting pressure on the All Blacks to cancel the sponsorship deal with the insurance company. This followed a tip-off from an AIG staff member which revealed that AIG is insuring the on-ground works at the Adani Carmichael mine site, in northern Queensland, Read more
Some children can’t remember when they had a home
Monday, September 23rd, 2019At Lifewise, when we speak to rangatahi about their experiences of homelessness, many of them tell us that they can’t remember a time when they had a safe, secure, stable home. Imagine that, growing up without a home, living day to day, week to week, month to month, never knowing when you might find the Read more
2018 Census: some random stats on religion
Monday, September 23rd, 2019According to the 2018 Census the Destiny Church has 1722 adherents. To put that in context against other indigenous Christian movements, Ratana has more than 40,000, Ringatū has more than 10,000, and other individual Pentecostal Churches are far larger. Twenty thousand people put Jedi as their religion, and more than 4,000 put Church of the Read more
Bishop O’Connell – approachable and encouraging
Monday, September 23rd, 2019He could talk with anyone at any time, he was very approachable and he was a great optimist. These were some of the many positive attributes of Bishop Stuart O’Connell, SM, recalled by speakers at a requiem Mass at Owairaka in Auckland on August 9. Bishop O’Connell, Bishop Emeritus of Rarotonga, died on August 2, Read more
NZ ‘s racist immigration policy needs to be changed
Thursday, September 19th, 2019
Race Relations Commissioner Meng Foon has criticised a “racist and discriminatory” policy against refugees from Africa and the Middle East, urging the Government to “fix it and make it fair”. The “family link” policy, introduced in 2009, prevents refugees from Africa and the Middle East from resettling in New Zealand unless they have family already Read more