New Zealand

NZ’s bevy of referenda could intensify an already growing culture war Comments 0

Monday, December 2nd, 2019
referenda

Next year New Zealand will hold public referenda to decide whether to legalise assisted suicide and recreational marijuana. Separately, parliament is considering a bill that would decriminalise abortion. Simultaneously tackling all three could “foster an already growing culture war in New Zealand,” said Bryce Edwards, a political commentator and lecturer at Victoria University in Wellington. Read more

Measles epidemic in Samoa – Caritas provides helping hands Comments 0

Monday, December 2nd, 2019
measles

In Samoa, fifty-three people are now dead, after having contracted measles. More than 3000 people have now been infected with the disease and doctors say the death toll is likely to rise. George Fa’alogo, Caritas Aotearoa New Zealand’s (CANZ) humanitarian coordinator, is in close contact with Caritas Samoa. He says, “We’re at a loss to Read more

New Zealand bishops hopeful of Suzanne Aubert cause Comments 0

Monday, December 2nd, 2019

New Zealand bishops have expressed satisfaction after a discussion with Cardinal Giovanni Angelo Becciu, prefect of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints, on the cause of Venerable Suzanne Aubert. New Zealand Catholic Bishops Conference secretary Bishop Stephen Lowe of Hamilton described the meeting as “positive.” Auckland Bishop Patrick Dunn, Wellington Cardinal John Dew, Christchurch Read more

Auckland secondary schools unable to accept all preference applicants Comments 0

Monday, December 2nd, 2019

Auckland Bishop Patrick Dunn has asked that Catholic secondary schools in his diocese unable to accept all preference applicants have an enrolment policy or scheme that places very high priority on such applicants having certificates for Catholic Baptism, First Eucharist and Confirmation. Bishop Dunn sent a letter dated September 20 with this request to Auckland Read more

Nathaniel Centre event to mark International Day of People with Disabilities Comments 0

Monday, December 2nd, 2019

Everyone is welcome at a free public event celebrating International Day of People with Disabilities tomorrow Tuesday 3 December in Thorndon, Wellington, organised by the Nathaniel Centre (New Zealand’s Catholic Bioethics Centre) in partnership with L’Arche Kapiti and The Catholic Institute of Aotearoa New Zealand. The event runs from noon to 1 pm in the Read more

NZ warned of danger when country is tolerant of poverty Comments 0

Thursday, November 28th, 2019

A study by the Human Rights Commission into the working poor shows there are 50,000 working households living in poverty in New Zealand RNZ reports that Equal Employment Opportunities Commissioner Saunoamaali’i Dr Karanina Sumeo claims the report is the most detailed research ever done on the working poor in this country. She said that as Read more

Suicide prevention office opens Comments 0

Thursday, November 28th, 2019

The government, Wednesday, opened its first Suicide Prevention Office and announced a further $12 million for Māori and Pacific suicide prevention. The office was opened by Prime Minister Jacinda Adern and Health Minister Dr David Clark and is part of the government’s response to its inquiry into mental health and addiction. “Last year 685 New Read more

Pedophile priest appointment shocks Caritas NZ Comments 0

Thursday, November 28th, 2019

Caritas New Zealand is shocked and deeply saddened to learn a convicted child abuser Luk Delft, (pictured), a Belgian Salesian priest, was appointed as the Country Director for Caritas Central African Republic (CAR). Caritas NZ has written to Caritas Internationalis expressing its deep concerns and asking how this was able to happen. “We have sought Read more

New Zealand launches world’s first HIV positive sperm bank Comments 0

Thursday, November 28th, 2019

The world’s first HIV positive sperm bank has been launched in an effort to reduce the stigma experienced by those living with the virus. Sperm Positive has begun with three male donors from across New Zealand who are living with HIV but have an undetectable viral load, meaning the amount of the virus in a Read more

Kebab shop owner told to stop feeding homeless Comments 0

Thursday, November 28th, 2019

A kebab shop owner who has been feeding homeless people on Sundays has been asked to stop by a local business association over concerns of anti-social behaviour. Zuhaib Abbas Bangash has been feeding the homeless every Sunday from 5.30 pm at his West Auckland shop, Glen Eden Kebab, at Glenmall since November 3. But the selfless act has been Read more