Seventh-day Adventist congregations across New Zealand have gathered to watch the debut of the local affiliate of church-owned Hope Channel on free-to-air television. Hope Channel New Zealand, as it is known, had been broadcasting via satellite on Freeview Satellite since September 2015. As of April 30, its broadcast was extended to the free-to-air platform. “This Read more
New Zealand
Christian cites God’s law in defence of caning in Timaru court
Tuesday, June 21st, 2016A born-again Christian defending his bamboo canings says his faith taught him to hit his children’s bottoms when they misbehaved. The South Canterbury man, whose name is suppressed, faces charges of assault with a weapon. He says his hyperactive son needed the punishments. Continue reading
Homelessness: ‘The church needs to step up’
Tuesday, June 21st, 2016More than 50 homeless families have stayed at Te Puea Marae in south Auckland since it opened its doors last week The Marae is now asking what other groups – including churches – can do to help. Social worker Olive Hunkin, from the All Nations Aotearoa church, has seen the affect of poverty and homelessness Read more
NZ Anglicans continue to debate place of Confirmation
Friday, June 17th, 2016
The Anglican Church in Aotearoa, New Zealand and Polynesia has decided to broaden its conversation on confirmation after changes to the rites of baptism and confirmation were let lie on the table at General Synod/Te Hīnota Whānui (GSTHW) in May. The bill presented to synod proposed new formularies for the baptism of adults, baptism of Read more
NZ born population drifting away from church
Friday, June 17th, 2016
People born or raised in New Zealand, are drifting from church says the Catholic Bishop of Auckland Patrick Dunn. He said this is happening across all ethnicities. Dunn said that while it was affecting all parishes, many were not aware it was happening, because the churches were still full. New New Zealanders are replacing are Read more
Refugees – Community support to be tested
Friday, June 17th, 2016
“It is now for us as a community to welcome those who will settle in New Zealand, and do what we can to support them as they build a new life and find peace after the trauma they’ve experienced,” says the President of the New Zealand Catholic Bishops conference. Bishop Patrick Dunn was commenting on Read more
Guns to blame, not religion, says Key
Friday, June 17th, 2016Prime Minister John Key says the United States should be asking itself tough questions about gun control after the Orlando shootings rather than leaping into anti-Muslim rhetoric. Mr Key said he hoped anti-Muslim comments such as those by presumptive Republican Presidential nominee Donald Trump would not escalate the situation. “This is the time for the Read more
Garin College deputy principal retires after 40 year career
Friday, June 17th, 2016After 40 years in education Garin College deputy principal Denis Moriarty said his goodbyes to his students last week. Moriarty was part of Garin College from the start in 2002, after a 19-year long stint at Nelson College. In addition to being the deputy principal, he also taught geography. He said working with teenagers made Read more
Southlanders farewell their own Bishop Len Boyle
Tuesday, June 14th, 2016
The final requiem mass for Bishop Len Boyle was celebrated in St Mary’s Basilica in Invercargill last Thursday. It was attended by A crowd of several hundred people – many of whom spilled out into the foyer. Clergy from throughout Southland, Otago, New Zealand and Australia were in attendance at the mass, as was Invercargill Read more
Church pays out on fraudulent claims of sex abuse
Tuesday, June 14th, 2016
In 2013, a woman told the Palmerston North Catholic Diocese that a priest had raped her. The alleged rape and sexual abuse were reported to have happened in October 1985. The church paid her a total of $188,000.00 on what was subsequently shown to be fraudulent claims. She had provided medical reports by a psychiatrist Read more