Hannah Tamaki has hit back on Twitter, supporting a message from one of the church’s members that accused the gay community of double standards and hit out at bullies and critics of husband Brian Tamaki and Destiny Church. “The gay community want to be free to express themselves, to be accepted no matter what they Read more
New Zealand
Manawatū worshippers finding common ground despite their differences
Monday, October 16th, 2017A meeting of Manawatū women from different faiths provides a chance to talk about both their differences and similarities. A prayer mat is spread, a candle lit and the colourful robes of a bronze deity are smoothed. The door of an old church is opened. A moment of meditation is observed. Continue reading
Weapons expo’ protesters appear in court
Monday, October 16th, 2017Protesters from last week’s defence industry conference in Wellington have appeared in court on charges of obstructing a public place, and disorderly behaviour. Six people appeared before a registrar in the Wellington District Court last Friday morning. Continue reading
Passchendaele “New Zealand’s darkest day” in WWI remembered on distant shores
Thursday, October 12th, 2017
A New Zealand Memorial and Garden has been opened at Zonnebeke, Belgium, in time for the 100th anniversary of the battle of Passchendaele. It is one ‘petal’ of a larger memorial for all those who died there – including German soldiers. It’s also a departure from the style of tributes in the 1920s to the ‘glorious dead’, Read more
Abortion row at university torpedoes annual best club competition
Thursday, October 12th, 2017
A row between an Auckland University anti-abortion group and a feminist group forced organisers to shut down a light-hearted student club competition and start again. Students choose the best club annually by voting with a thumbs-up symbol or ‘like’ on Facebook. The Campus Feminist Collective said it became suspicious when it saw the anti-abortion club Read more
Reconsider hiring college hall out for arms auction says old boy priest
Thursday, October 12th, 2017
A priest who is a former pupil of St Patrick’s College Wellington has asked the college to reconsider hiring out its hall for an arms auction. The auction features high-powered semi-automatic weapons and military memorabilia adorned with Nazi insignia. Monsignor Gerard Burns says while the arms auction – to be held this weekend at the Kilbirnie school’s hall – was Read more
Final chance to speak directly to Pope Francis before 2018 Synod
Thursday, October 12th, 2017Next year will see a focus by the Catholic Church on young people, their views, thoughts and dreams for their faith and relationship with the Church. As this year draws to a close, Pope Francis is giving young people a final opportunity to speak more directly to him, our Holy Father. Read more on Synod Read more
Tamaki is not the only one to be targeted by Josie Butler
Monday, October 9th, 2017
Josie Butler is the person behind “a big gay party” in Christchurch which was planned to coincide with Destiny Church’s Bishop Brian Tamaki’s visit to Christchurch. She is an imaginative social activist with a flair for attracting the media’s attention. At Waitangi in 2016 she threw a dildo at cabinet minister Stephen Joyce and was heard Read more
Poet remembers Passchendaele
Monday, October 9th, 2017
Poet Kevin Ireland has penned a new work in time for the 100th anniversary of the battle of Passchendaele, a poem two years in the making since his visit to Belgium in 2015. It has been published for the first time on Newsroom. On returning from his visit, Ireland tried to write but he was Read more
Move to ban prolife club judged unconstitutional
Monday, October 9th, 2017
A provisional decision to disaffiliate ProLife Auckland from the Auckland University Students’ Association (AUSA) will not proceed after legal advice found the move to be unconstitutional and void. In August, an online referendum was held that contained a double question: “Should AUSA disaffiliate the ProLife Club and ban any clubs with similar ideology from affiliating in the Read more