Common thinking on the contentious Treaty Principles Bill has healed a decades-long rift between the Anglican Church in Wellington and Ngāti Toa Rangatira. The Church and iwi have joined forces to “unequivocally” oppose the Bill which they say reinterprets the 184-year old Te Tiriti o Waitangi – the Treaty of Waitangi. The Bill, which sets Read more
A new initiative aims to provide tailored support to people who have been sheltered in emergency housing for over a year, helping them transition to permanent accommodation. Wellington City Mission and Emerge Aotearoa in Waikato are the first organisations to deliver the two-year trial. Associate Housing Minister Tama Potaka announced that up to 100 participants Read more
A public memorial service will be held for real estate agent Yanfei Bao in Christchurch next week. Organisers said people were invited to attend the service at Our Lady of Victories Church in Sockburn at 11am on Monday to remember the 44-year-old mother’s “beautiful life”, “celebrate all her incredible accomplishments” and share their favourite memories Read more
Giving is more rewarding than receiving, and when it involves sifting and sorting through a mountain of toys, it’s a heap of fun too. Such has been the experience of students at St Peter’s College in Palmerston North who have amassed more than 1000 dolls, books, figures, teddy bears, Lego sets and Nerf guns for Read more
Heritage protection likely to be granted next week will be able to save the vacant Holy Cross Catholic seminary from demolition. The Church had planned to demolish much of the Mosgiel building – unaware that Heritage Protection would save it. No to demo Former leaseholder – Taste Nature owner Clinton Chambers – deserves thanks for Read more
Nesting in the flooded foundations of a demolished office building owned by the Christchurch Diocese and Carter Group, rare New Zealand gulls are creating mayhem in central Christchurch. The problem with nesting began in the foundations of the Armagh Street building in 2019. Today, the area is overrun by red-billed and black-billed gulls which have Read more
The Government Statistician has provided a definition for ‘persistent child poverty’ and confirmed the way Stats NZ will measure it, using a mix of survey and administrative data. Under the Child Poverty Reduction Act 2018 the Government Statistician is required to define persistent child poverty before 1 July 2025. Government Statistician and Stats NZ Chief Read more
Women whose newborn babies were forcibly taken for adoption want to be included in today’s national apology for abuse in care. The final report from the Royal Commission of Inquiry into abuse in care found forced adoptions were often organised by church institutions, state social workers, and medical professionals. Commissioners found many women were either Read more
Religious tourism to sacred and religious sites does occur in New Zealand is far down the list of places wanderlusting worshippers from across the globe will come to, says travel writer Josh Martin. Our oldest church – Christ Church in Russell – is not yet 200 years old. That’s not to say there aren’t natural Read more
Finding a place in a Catholic school in Christchurch is so hard, some parents confess to “rediscovering” their faith to secure their child’s spot. Catholic school rolls – like those of other Christian schools – are bursting in Christchurch. They’re seen as “desirable” schools. Under pressure The Catholic Diocese across Christchurch has over 7000 students. Read more