A theology lecturer at the Catholic theological college that educates New Zealand seminarians is calling to defrock 91-year-old priest Magnus Murray, reports the Otago Daily Times. Dr Rocio Figueroa (pictured) of Good Shepherd College, Te Hepara Pai, says the Church’s response needs to be “centred on the victims, not covering up the perpetrators or trying Read more
The Gloriavale community is applying for a grant from the Government’s Provincial Growth Fund to set up a new health food enterprise on the West Coast. Regional Economic Development Minister Shane Jones says he didn’t expect communes to put in for a share of the provincial growth fund but Gloriavale’s application has shown anyone can Read more
A former student of Mount Hobson Middle School, a partnership (charter) school, claims that his science teacher Rachel O’Connor favoured creationism as an explanation for how the world began. Rachel O’Connor is the sister of National Party leader Simon Bridges and wife of National MP Simon O’Connor. This news item appeared on Newsroom two days after the opposition Read more
A suggestion to abort a Down syndrome pregnancy in the popular New Zealand television soap opera Shortland Street has drawn fire from The Down Syndrome Association. They say they weren’t consulted about the storyline which is described as reflecting outdated thinking and failing to represent an inclusive society. Association spokesperson Kim Porthouse said the organisation Read more
A Metlink bus became stuck in the Wellington suburb of Karori. A Metlink spokesman said the Tranzit bus “bottomed out” while entering St Teresa’s School on Karori Rd on Tuesday afternoon. Continue reading
The closure of charter schools risks the spiritual impoverishment that New Zealand’s education system had historically imposed on Māori, a select committee has heard. Māori educator Sir Toby Curtis, who recently submitted a treaty claim against the closures, delivered an “emotional” plea for the schools to remain as is on Wednesday morning. Continue reading
More than 500 people gathered in the Eulogy Lounge at the Whanganui racecourse for the New Approach hui hosted by Destiny Church. Hannah Tamaki, the wife of Destiny Church’s Bishop Brian Tamaki, told the crowd it is possible to become a better person without God’s help. The aim, she said, was to encourage participants to Read more
Andy Eldred, a priest who ministers at St Mark’s Anglican Church in Carterton, has a passion for music, but not just of the variety found in traditional hymn books. He was once a heavy metal musican about to hit the big time when he put a rifle to his head and contemplated pulling the trigger. Read more
The Compassion Soup Kitchen in Wellington, run by the Sisters of Compassion for 116 years, was honoured as Supreme Winner at the 2018 Wellington Airport Regional Community Awards ceremony on Thursday 26 July. They also won the Health and Well-being category. The Wellington Airport Regional Awards are run by the Wellington International Airport, the Wellington Read more
The Anglican Church of Aotearoa, New Zealand and Polynesia and the Anglican Missions Board in Rotorua are hosting the World Council of Churches (WCC) for its 2018 Indigenous Global Ecumenical Gathering (IGEG) and youth pre-meeting. Read more