International research shows New Zealand has the highest school bullying rates in the developed world. The newly-released Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) report paints a grim picture. Its PISA 2018 survey found 15 percent of New Zealand students reported being frequently bullied. Bullying severely affects students’ mental health and attendance, the OECD report Read more
A new “Pray the News” initiative from the Anglican Missions is inviting people to sign up to a weekly prayer blog. The Anglican Diocese of Wellington says the blog will focus on news headlines and current events affecting people everywhere. “Pray the News is for everyone” says Rev. Michael Hartfield, National Director of Anglican Missions. Read more
New research by the charity World Vision and the accountants Ernst & Young Australia suggests that every $1 of overseas-development funding that targets children has a measurable benefit of $10. The calculation is made in Putting Children First for Sustainable Development, published on Tuesday, which quantifies the social and economic benefits of Official Development Assistance Read more
A mother whose infant just missed serious injury in a supermarket trolley is warning other parents to be extra vigilant. She hadn’t realised there was a safety strap on the trolley so didn’t use it. Her infant was saved from falling out – in the nick of time – by a staff member. Many injuries Read more
Some Pacific men misinterpret Bible verses to justify domestic violence. So says social worker and lecturer Genevieve Sang-Yum. She runs programmes to help Māori and Pacific men break cycles of violence. New Zealand is ranked as the worst developed country in the OECD for domestic violence. Controlling or hitting is normal Sang-Yum is seeing more Read more
The Catholic Church in New Zealand is issuing a call for feedback regarding its role and response in the ongoing Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in Care. Te Rōpū Tautoko, the body established to manage the Church’s dealings with the Royal Commission, has initiated an anonymous electronic feedback process that is accessible from anywhere Read more
The community garden near St Andrews church in Featherston has suffered a significant setback as thieves stole all gardening equipment from its shed. Hana Makin, a lead member of the garden’s management team, remains optimistic about the garden’s role in the community. “This hasn’t changed the fact that we have this beautiful space and great Read more
Connections among all people were celebrated in Alexandra earlier this month as a local church marked 100 years as a parish. About 130 people joined together for Mass at St John the Baptist Church on Sunday, April 21, to celebrate the centenary of the Alexandra parish. The congregation celebrated with a dinner on Saturday night, Read more
New Zealand’s Bishop John Adams will be leading talks at this year’s Parish Renewal Conference in Sydney. It could be said his experience seeing his church reduced to rubble during the 2011 Christchurch earthquakes uniquely qualifies Adams for the task. He has a broader sense of parish renewal perhaps. “I was standing next to our Read more