Over the past few years, there has been greater recognition of gender diversity in mainstream Western popular culture. The Pacific is a region that has long-hosted alternative expressions of gender, and this current cultural moment has given its peoples a chance to contribute to a global conversation. Read more
New Zealand
Concerns growing over a South Korean cult targeting New Zealand universities
Monday, September 2nd, 2019There’s concern about the growing influence of a South Korean apocalyptic cult at New Zealand universities. Shincheonji is widely criticised for its misleading and distorted teachings of Christianity, which isolates its members from family and friends. Read more
Town procession officially welcomes Nelson’s eleventh Anglican Bishop
Monday, September 2nd, 2019Since Nelson’s Anglican Diocese was founded in 1858, there have been only a handful of processions through the city to commemorate the installation of a new Bishop. Read more
NZ considers suspending funding for Palestinians
Thursday, August 29th, 2019
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT) says it will consider whether to continue funding the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) after a report due in October. Allegations were made in late July against senior members of the organisation, which AFP news agency reported involving “sexual Read more
Father Felix Donnelly: commentator on human sexuality
Thursday, August 29th, 2019
Father Felix Donnelly died in Auckland on Monday 26 August. He was Director of Religious Education for the Auckland Diocese 1962-1971. For 20 years Donnelly was a talkback host on Radio Pacific. Donnelly was a controversial commentator on issues in relation to human sexuality. His views were often seen to be in conflict with the Read more
Educationalist, mathematician and priest
Thursday, August 29th, 2019
Father John O’Neill died in Wellington on Wednesday, August 28. He made a significant contribution to education in New Zealand not just in Catholic Schools, but nationally. O’Neill was a teacher at St Patrick’s College in Wellington from 1953 until 1981. In 1960 he took a break from teaching to attend Cambridge University, returning to Read more
Kavanagh College classmates welcome home world champion swimmer
Thursday, August 29th, 2019A 15-year-old student from Kavanagh College arrived home from Budapest on Wednesday and was greeted by Kavanagh College classmates at Dunedin Airport. New world junior champion swimmer, Erika Fairweather had been surprised by the welcome home, which was ”super cool” Read more
Caritas makes submission on Zero-carbon Bill
Thursday, August 29th, 2019The purpose of the Climate Change Response (Zero-Carbon) Amendment Bill (the Bill) is to provide a framework and process by which New Zealand can achieve its existing commitment under the Paris Agreement to limit the global average temperature increase to 1.5° Celsius above pre-industrial levels. In its oral submission to Parliament, Caritas Aotearoa New Zealand voiced its support Read more
Married at First Sight participant has outstanding charge for domestic violence
Thursday, August 29th, 2019One of the grooms in the upcoming season of Married at First Sight (MAFS), Chris Mansfield, has an outstanding domestic violence charge in the United States. As a participant on the reality show, which will premiere on Sunday night on Three, Mansfield has wed a stranger in a non-legally binding marriage. Read more
Abortion law reform: NZ Catholic bishops call to action
Monday, August 26th, 2019
New Zealand’s parliament is debating a significant revision of the country’s abortion laws. The New Zealand Catholic bishops have sent a message to church members encouraging them to inform themselves about the issue and to take some action while the revision is under consideration. Click here to see a comparison between the existing and the proposed legislation and Read more