Jacob Lowenstein was sentenced to six years and nine months in prison after he burned down two Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints buildings. His mother Kath Payne, said her son had a “strong mind “He’s not a mindless church-burning thug. He had a really good sized bout of depression and he made some really stupid choices in Read more
New Zealand
Love Island so shallow it may as well be called Love Puddle
Monday, June 24th, 2019Love Island is back for another season and that means so am I, says reviewer Alice Brine. Islands are normally surrounded by bodies of deep water, however, every single person on this show is so shallow, it might as well be called Love Puddle. Every single part of this show is shallow, people talk about being Read more
2019 NZ Budget: Eyebrow-raising $25m to prevent ‘boat people’
Monday, June 24th, 2019The Wellbeing Budget contained a surprise immigration initiative, aimed at stopping ‘boat people’. This isn’t a new risk, so Newsroom’s Laura Walters asks why the big boost now? The Government has allocated an extra $25 million over four years to prevent people from being smuggled to New Zealand by boat. It was a surprise new initiative Read more
Traditional hymns ‘dying’
Thursday, June 20th, 2019
Churches are shunning traditional hymns in favour of more modern songs backed with guitars and bands. A world-wide lack of organists and pianists is partly to blame for the shift to guitar-backed music, but churches are also changing to appeal to newer tastes. Retired Nelson church organist and teacher Alan K Gray said churches were struggling Read more
Kmart claims ban on Christian words a ‘system error’
Thursday, June 20th, 2019
Kmart is under fire for banning words ‘Jesus’ and ‘Church’ on their photo kiosks while ‘Islam’ and ‘Mosque’ are OK. Australian Kmart customers Anthony Dorsett and his wife, Marelynda, were attempting to print photographs for a church group in a kiosk at Kmart. They found that certain Christian-related words — including “God,” “church,” “Jesus,” “Jewish” Read more
Big purple van takes on the rip-off merchants
Thursday, June 20th, 2019
In South Auckland, the Salvation Army is running a mobile shop in a big purple van. The Good Shop is an attempt to disrupt the fleet of mobile shops that cruise low-income areas selling overpriced goods and offering loans at extortionate rates of interest. People with disabilities or a lack of transport are commonly targeted by Read more
Third of NZers would consider voting for a conservative or Christian party
Thursday, June 20th, 2019A third of New Zealand would consider voting for a party with Christian or conservative values at the 2020 election, the latest 1 NEWS Colmar Brunton poll reveals. Of those polled, 58 per cent said they would not consider voting for a Christian or conservative party, 33 per cent said they would consider it and Read more
St Kevin’s College has a new owner
Thursday, June 20th, 2019After more than 90 years, Oamaru’s Catholic school is changing hands. St Kevin’s College, which has been under Christian Brothers ownership since 1927, will be transferred to the Catholic Diocese of Dunedin later this year. While the brotherhood appoints its own representative to the school’s board of trustees, it has not had staff at the Read more
Call for Matariki to be a public holiday
Monday, June 17th, 2019
Wellington’s mayor is calling for Matariki to become a public holiday. Justin Lester is suggesting the Māori New Year could replace the Queen’s Birthday holiday, which was not meaningful for many who saw it as just a day off. Last year Wellington City Council cancelled its 2018 Guy Fawkes Sky Show, moving the fireworks display Read more
New Safeguarding Lead to oversee national roll out of training
Monday, June 17th, 2019
The National Office for Professional Standards (NOPS) has welcomed Pamela Arthurs as the new National Safeguarding Lead. She will provide support to dioceses, congregations and Catholic organisations in the continued implementation of safeguarding practices around New Zealand. NOPS is responsible for setting the strategic direction of the Catholic Church’s policy and procedures for safeguarding children and vulnerable Read more