Two Auckland schools that didn’t know if they would be allowed to open next year have been given a reprieve. Middle School West Auckland and South Auckland Middle School, which are both charter schools, were left in the dark about whether they’d be granted ‘special character’ status to remain open, after the deadline for a Read more
New Zealand
Wellington’s new parking fees may affect church attendance
Monday, August 27th, 2018
The Wellington City Council has voted to introduce weekend parking fees in the city. Previously there were two hours of free weekend parking in the CBD. Now the parking fee will be $2.50 per hour. The parish priest of St Mary of the Angels, Fr Conroy SM, told CathNews that the new charges will have a significant impact on those attending Read more
TVNZ ditches documentary claiming Celts were here before Māori
Monday, August 27th, 2018TVNZ has removed a documentary that claims Celts settled in New Zealand thousands of years before the arrival of Māori from its on-demand service following a query from RNZ’s Media Watch Read more
Values that can help vulnerable youth
Monday, August 27th, 2018At a recent Hastings District Council meeting, a councillor said kindness, empathy and compassion were among the values needed to help prevent youth suicides. Cr Henare O’Keefe made the comments during a council committee meeting to discuss an update of a suicide prevention plan written by the Hawke’s Bay District Health Board. Read more
Community pantries are welcomed in Hamilton
Monday, August 27th, 2018There are six spots in Hamilton where like-minded people have established small community pantries. Take what you need, share what you can. That is the message. Read more
Hipkins puts off decision on future of Hato Pētera College
Thursday, August 23rd, 2018
The minister of education Chris Hipkins paid a visit to Hato Petera Colleg on Thursday. After meeting more than 40 members of the school community Hipkins told media he wanted to hear from the community and former students before he made his decision. “It won’t be a matter of months. I do want to get something sooner Read more
Dunedin’s bishop admits Church failed to protect children
Thursday, August 23rd, 2018
The Bishop of Dunedin, Michael Dooley, has apologised to the city and asked for forgiveness after admitting the Catholic Church failed to protect children from priests and brothers who were paedophiles. The church also had to accept its share of the blame for the way it handled offenders, by moving them to new parishes and Read more
NZ Catholic Bishops’ statement resonates with Francis’ letter
Thursday, August 23rd, 2018
The New Zealand Catholic Bishops welcome the letter this week to the People of God from Pope Francis asking forgiveness for the sexual abuse of minors and vulnerable adults perpetrated by clergy and consecrated persons. As Pope Francis notes, these heinous crimes inflict deep wounds on the victims themselves and on their family members, and Read more
Smartphones affecting New Zealanders’ relationships
Thursday, August 23rd, 2018A 2degrees survey showed 39 percent of 2200 respondents aged older than 16 believed the amount of time being spent on their smartphones was affecting the quality of their relationship. The survey also found more than half of New Zealanders choose their phone or computer if they have to deliver bad news, but 43 percent of respondents Read more
Phil Collins to play at Mission Concert in 2019
Thursday, August 23rd, 2018Phil Collins will headline the Mission Estate Concert in Hawke’s Bay next year. The Air Tonight singer is known around the world for being the drummer and singer of rock band Genesis, while also having a phenomenally successful solo career in the 1980s and 1990s. Continue reading