The symbolic image of defiant Sudanese protesters is empowering young Muslim women in New Zealand. Salma Abdalla and her friend Zoha Shuaib say the images of women protesting in Sudan, are a welcome counter to a frustrating stereotype – that Muslim women are submissive and oppressed by their faith. Continue reading
New Zealand
Euthanasia advocate Sean Davison charged with third murder in South Africa
Thursday, May 2nd, 2019New Zealand-born euthanasia campaigner Sean Davison is facing a third murder charge in South Africa. Davison – who was born in Auckland – appeared briefly in the Cape Town Magistrate’s Court on charges related to the death of sportsman Richard Holland in November 2015.
Auckland businessman invests $450,000 in free lunches for Taita College students
Thursday, May 2nd, 2019Taita College students are being provided with free lunches as part of a programme that could one day be rolled out across New Zealand. Libelle Group, Auckland-based school food and drink provider, is running a pilot programme providing sandwiches or a hot meal, fruit, muffin, yoghurt or milk at the Lower Hutt school. Continue reading Read more
Critics say Destiny Church gives God a bad name
Monday, April 29th, 2019
The Destiny Church has been criticised for demonstrating outside the Al Noor Mosque in an attempt to reclaim Christchurch in the name of Jesus. The photo above shows Destiny Church Christchurch senior pastor Derek Marina Tait reaching out to a member of the Muslim community during the call to prayer and peace vigil at Hagley Park on Read more
Glistening Taranaki greeted Māori gathered at Hui Aranga
Monday, April 29th, 2019
About 1,800 people gathered at the TSB Hub in Hawera for the Hui Aranga over Easter. ‘Hui Aranga’ means ‘Gathering around the Rising of Jesus’. It is the Māori Catholic celebration of the Easter message. The Hui Aranga began at Ōtaki at Pukekaraka in 1946. This year the hosts were Taranaki, Ngā Pekanga (Waitara) and Read more
Speak out: terrorists must not dictate interfaith relationships
Monday, April 29th, 2019
The vicar general of the Auckland diocese, Monsignor Bernard Kiely, told a gathering in Auckland to speak out when terrorist attacks occur. He was giving the homily at a service to remember the victims of the Easter Sunday bombings in Sri Lanka. “Speak out and be very clear that the extremists and the terrorists do Read more
How religion is poisoning New Zealand Rugby
Monday, April 29th, 2019Religion and overt expressions of it have crept into Rugby in New Zealand says Gregor Paul. It is common now, almost a show in itself for players to have wrist bands covered in religious iconography. The cross, albeit badly drawn with marker pen, is worn across Super Rugby on any given weekend. Some players, when they Read more
Young Cook Islanders from Auckland on pilgrimage
Monday, April 29th, 2019The Cook Islands Catholic Community Auckland (CICCA) youth pilgrimage visited Rarotonga for a religious and cultural immersion during holy week and Easter. The 45 members stayed at the St Mary’s church in Arorangi; many of the young team are not familiar with the cultural habits and surroundings, having being born and brought up in New Read more
Wellington’s Old St Pauls closed for 10 months
Monday, April 29th, 2019Old Saint Paul’s on Mulgrave St in Wellington closes for up to 10 months this Friday as work begins to physically tie together joints in wood joins that began to dislocate in the 2016 Kaikōura earthquake and saw the wooden building become 15cm wider in places. Read more
NZers have a way to go with acceptance of diversity
Monday, April 15th, 2019
“Following March 15 we have had a little time to take a breath,” says the child and adolescent psychiatrist Hinemoa Elder. “A chance to look at some of the ways we need to remember and be remembered. “It is a line in the sand: This our baseline. The only way from here is up.” Elder Read more