A report prepared for a Greenpeace New Zealand on the fishing industry has found what amounts to being a modern form of slavery. Workers are promised good wages but many are at sea for months or years working long hours, earning 15 New Zealand cents an hour. Continue reading
New Zealand
Euthanasia Bill clearly intends to go beyond terminal illness
Thursday, May 24th, 2018
“What is clear is that this Bill intends to go beyond terminal illness; what is unclear is exactly what conditions are in or out,” says the Disability Rights Commissioner. “It is readily apparent that the scope is unclear and misunderstood,” said Paula Tesoriero. Paula Tesoriero published a scathing assessment of David Seymour’s End of Life Read more
A lot of New Zealanders think Christians should act more and talk less
Thursday, May 24th, 2018
Non-Christian New Zealanders feel that Christians could better represent Jesus by letting their actions speak louder than their words, and by living out the values that Jesus represents. This is just one of the many findings contained in the Faith and Belief in New Zealand report released last month. The 67-page report contains a massive Read more
Abortion is both a health and a justice issue Bishops say
Thursday, May 24th, 2018
The New Zealand Catholic Bishops’ Conference (NZCBC) and its centre of bioethics, The Nathaniel Centre say that abortion is both a health and a justice issue and it should continue to be treated by the law as such. Their concern is that that making abortion purely a health issue would limit or remove the rights of the unborn Read more
- Abortion a justice issue, not a health issue
- Abortion law needs to be updated – Andrew Little
- Ardern: Abortion 'shouldn't be in the crimes act
- Justice Minister Andrew Little takes on abortion law reform
- Minister of Justice seeks review of abortion laws to make killing of unborn a health service
- Govt Pushes Abortion Over Weightier Law Commission Issues
- A citizens' jury on euthanasia
Muslim community want women-only swimming sessions
Thursday, May 24th, 2018Permanent, women-only swimming sessions have been requested in a submission to the city’s council by members of the Islamic community keen to hit the water. It’s a way of embracing the New Zealand lifestyle while adhering to religious requirements that prevent men seeing their bodies, Esra Qatarneh said. Continue reading
Seymour warns about neighbours with mental health issues
Thursday, May 24th, 2018Act Party leader and Epsom MP David Seymour has been accused of fuelling prejudice after he sent a letter to constituents warning that tenants in a new housing development could have mental health issues. Seymour stands by the letter, saying that the social housing development had a history of anti-social behaviour and he was “telling Read more
Vicar resigns over proposal to allow same-sex blessings
Monday, May 21st, 2018
Vicar Jay Behan of St Stephen’s church in Shirley has resigned from the Anglican general synod and says he is looking at ways to leave the church. He disagrees with the recent decision made by the Anglican Synod to give bishops the freedom to allow the blessing of same-sex couples in their dioceses. The motion allows only for blessing Read more
Earthquake risk Cathedral staying open
Monday, May 21st, 2018
Engineers have told the Sacred Heart Cathedral in Wellington that it meets less than 33 percent of the new building standard. The 117-year-old cathedral has been evaluated by engineers in a verbal report and a brief written assessment. Sacred Heart Cathedral’s Reverend Father James Lyons said beams in the roof needed to be strengthened. But Read more
St Mary of the Angels wins New Zealand’s Heritage and Restoration award
Monday, May 21st, 2018
The seismic strengthening and upgrade of Wellington’s St Mary of the Angels Church won two awards at the New Zealand Master Builders Commercial Projects Awards. Entered in the Heritage and Restoration category, the St Mary’s project took out both Gold and Category Winner medals. The awards were announced on Friday, at Sky City, Auckland. With Read more
North Koreans telling their stories at churches in Auckland
Monday, May 21st, 2018A group of North Koreans have been visiting Auckland to share their experiences at churches around the city, spreading the word about their escape. The group is part of a Christian mission led by a South Korean pastor Kwang Choi. Park Sung Il a former North Korean labourer, remembers clearly the hazardous journey he had Read more