Inland Revenue data shows the number of people filing a tax return to claim a tax rebate on donations has fallen year-on-year over the past three tax years, from 383,144 in the year to March 2013 to 359,541 in the 2015 year. Tax refund site MyTax analysed more than 300,000 tax returns and found the average total Read more
New Zealand
Hundreds parkup overnight in homelessness protest
Tuesday, June 28th, 2016Entire families joined the Park Up for Homes event in Ōtara’s town centre on Saturday night, organised by members of the community and staff at Manukau Institute of Technology (MIT). About 200 carloads of people showed up in the cold and rain, with many saying they hoped the demonstration would raise public awareness and encourage Read more
Catholic Volunteers Overseas broadens scope
Friday, June 24th, 2016
Mahitahi “Working Together”, is now called Catholic Volunteers Overseas and been given a broader scope. The Catholic Volunteers Overseas programme also includes a variety of time periods for volunteering. The name change, made by the New Zealand Catholic Bishops Conference, follows on from the 2013 integration of Mahitahi into Caritas. The new phase offers “placements that are either short-term for a few Read more
Bible in Schools – appeal upheld, case continues
Friday, June 24th, 2016
The Bible in schools debate goes on. Jeff McClintock, a secular school campaigner will still have his day in court. The High Court had earlier this year struck the so called Bible in Schools case out but Court of Appeal Judges Rhys Harrison, Forrest Miller and Helen Winkelmann have reinstated the case. The Court of Appeal judgment Read more
Closures possible as Catholic school rolls drop
Friday, June 24th, 2016Declining rolls at several Dunedin Catholic schools have forced the Catholic Diocese of Dunedin to consider the future of the city’s Catholic education network. Although the overall rolls of Dunedin’s nine Catholic primary schools had dropped only from 795 to 756 in the past decade, the rolls at St Joseph’s School in Port Chalmers and Read more
Legalising euthanasia not a priority for Labour
Friday, June 24th, 2016The Labour Party is supporting an inquiry into the euthanasia debate, but it’s not a priority. Labour leader Andrew Little said other issues such as homelessness, employment and healthcare that would be put before a euthanasia campaign. “It would be nice to be able to do everything from Opposition but we can’t, we have to Read more
Catholic church in Geraldine desecrated by theives
Friday, June 24th, 2016Geraldine’s Catholic parishioners are reeling after their historic church was “desecrated” by thieves overnight on Saturday. Thieves entered through the main doors of the Catholic Church of the Immaculate Conception on Peel St, by forcing them open. A gold chalice, a small silver cyborium (plate) (sic), crystal vessels with communion wine in them and a Read more
The Spirituality of Affluence in the Destiny Church on display again
Tuesday, June 21st, 2016
Destiny Church co-leader Hannah Tamaki is the new owner of a $75,000 turbo-charged Mercedes-Benz. The Herald on Sunday reported the latest luxury purchase of the controversial Tamaki family. They are fundamentalist Christian church leaders known for urging their religious followers to shower banknotes at the feet of self-anointed bishop Brian Tamaki. Registration records show Brian’s Read more
Young women need more help to see abortion is not the only option
Tuesday, June 21st, 2016
It is important pregnant mothers who feel they have no other option than to have an abortion know there are people who are ready to listen, to be a friend, and to work through their situation in a caring, confidential manner says Michelle Kaufman. Kaufman is the Communications Director of Family Life International NZ. “Abortion Read more
Bishop Dolan in Rome for St Vincent de Paul Assembly
Tuesday, June 21st, 2016
Owen Dolan, emeritus coadjutor bishop of Palmerston North, is pictured above with Pope Francis. He is pointing out to him the presence of the St Vincent de Paul group at the General Audience, just 50 metres away. The photo shows the Pope acknowledging the group with a wave. Bishop Dolan was at the International Assembly of Read more