Jehovah’s Witnesses are being accused of “religious marketing” as another grieving Wellington woman reveals she was sent marketing guff from the religion. This week, Aro Valley woman Jean Sergent-Shadbolt spoke out after a hand-delivered, hand-written letter arrived from a Jehovah’s Witness, three months to the day since the well-publicised death of her close friend and Read more
New Zealand
Marae calls for army to help with homeless crisis
Friday, June 3rd, 2016The South Auckland Marae that has taken in 54 homeless families is calling for the armed forces to help out with the housing crisis. Te Puea Marae in Mangere Bridge says it is now full and has 12 families on a waiting list. “We really would like those in authority to lift this to another Read more
Hato Petera: Incorporated Society replacing Trust needs operating licence
Tuesday, May 31st, 2016
In February operation and boarding warrant of fitness licences for five of Hato Petera’s hostels were approved and signed off by the Ministry of Education. A new governing body now has been formed to operate the hostels. A Ministry of Education spokeswoman says any new entity formed to operate the hostels will now need to Read more
Next stop for NZ Youth Choir: Notre-Dame Cathedral
Tuesday, May 31st, 2016
The New Zealand Youth Choir which sang at Wellington’s Sacred Heart Cathedral last Sunday will soon be singing at a high mass in Paris’s famous Notre-Dame Cathedral. The Mass they will sing is one specially composed for them by New Zealander Andrew Baldwin. Notre-Dame de Paris is an historic Catholic cathedral on the eastern half of Read more
Marriage best protector against Child Poverty?
Tuesday, May 31st, 2016
Despite marriage being the best protector against child poverty it has become politically unfashionable – some argue insensitive – to express such a view says Lindsay Mitchell. Her views are expressed a report Child Poverty and Family Structure that she has written for Family First, published Monday. Mitchell says child poverty is consistently blamed on Read more
Kiwis learn about Sikh religion at ‘Turban Day’
Tuesday, May 31st, 2016Hundreds of people in Auckland took the opportunity today to find out what it’s like to wear a turban. The event was arranged to help people understand more about the Sikh religion. New Zealand is home to 20,000 thousand Sikhs. The turban is one of five articles of their faith, and is considered to be Read more
Bereaved sister: Don’t jail the driver
Tuesday, May 31st, 2016An American tourist who killed a mum-to-be, Kylee Anne Rakich, and another woman in a head-on crash has avoided jail time. In an extraordinary display of compassion, Ms Rakich’s bereaved sister lobbied the judge to not send the 66-year-old to prison on charges of careless use of a motor vehicle causing death – because, she Read more
Sallies helping people pay for rental bonds
Tuesday, May 31st, 2016The Salvation Army has dipped into its reserves to help people who were turned down by Work and Income pay for rental housing bonds. About four people have come into the Salvation Army Manukau office in the last two days to ask for help to get into new accommodation. Salvation Army policy analyst Alan Johnson Read more
Incurable pain: Is euthanasia the answer?
Friday, May 27th, 2016
Christchurch psychologist Dr Mark Ottley, says the best medications, psychological help and palliative care did not always work for patients. Ottley leads psychological pain management services at Southern Rehab. He outlined his views in a submission to the Health Select Committee inquiry into euthanasia legislation. Confusion of Terminology The director of The Nathaniel Centre Dr John Kleinsman Read more
Religious NZers more tolerant of Muslims
Friday, May 27th, 2016
Results from a research project in New Zealand suggest that, in that country, communities of religious non-Muslims are a key resource for bridging the Muslim acceptance gap. The researchers were interested in the drivers of prejudice and tolerance towards Muslims, says Associate Professor Sibley, a member of the research team. “New Zealand is an incredibly diverse, Read more