New Zealand

Three kura buck social trend in school exam results

Monday, March 4th, 2024
academic success

The latest available data for every New Zealand high school shows three kura (schools) bucked the socio-economic trend for school exam results. According to analysis of 2022 University Entrance (UE) and NCEA Level 3 results across New Zealand’s high schools, there is a clear correlation between academic success and social privilege. Based on 2022 data Read more

Having fun while helping environment

Monday, March 4th, 2024

Dressing up in fancy clothes is just one of the perks of volunteering at an op shop. Senior pupils from Trinity Catholic College and Taieri College spent the morning helping unpack donations at Shop on Carroll as part of an Enviroschools hui yesterday. The secondary schools hui “YOUR VOICE!” focused on turning environmental ideas into Read more

Kāpiti Coast council sets up trust to run affordable housing

Monday, March 4th, 2024

Kāpiti Coast councillors has agreed to set up an independent trust which will provide local residents with affordable housing, and could potentially take over the district council’s money-losing pensioner flats. The entity could work with iwi or other organisations to build affordable or social housing on land that it bought or received from the council. Read more

We need Māori-led research into poverty

Thursday, February 29th, 2024
poverty

Māori-led research is needed to understand poverty. So says Massey University’s Pro-vice Chancellor Māori, Professor Meihana Durie (pictured). The Government should focus Māori-led research on the causes of high poverty among tamariki instead of dismantling former Māori leaders’ work, he says. “What we know from Māori led research projects is that the data that reveals Read more

Migrant workers sold short by Immigration NZ

Thursday, February 29th, 2024
migrant workers

Immigration New Zealand should have done more to protect migrant workers. It should also have done more to minimise their exposure to work predators. It didn’t. So wrote the Public Service Commission in its review report “Accredited Employer Work Visa Scheme”. The scheme was established in July 2022 after COVID-related border closures resulted in a Read more

Alcohol consumption falls in ‘challenging’ year for brewers, producers – but have Kiwi attitudes to booze changed?

Thursday, February 29th, 2024

Alcohol available for consumption fell by the biggest amount in 15 years. A brewers association said broader economic and living cost pressures were impacting consumption and the hospitality sector. Stats NZ data released today showed a 4.3 per cent decline last year compared to 2022. The last year was challenging for domestic producers Read more

Kiwi and Chinese scientists achieve ‘breakthrough’ system to convert carbon dioxide into fuel

Thursday, February 29th, 2024

If we could only convert the greenhouse gas carbon dioxide into fuel, that would be a huge leap forward in the fight against global warming. In what’s been hailed a breakthrough, Kiwi and Chinese scientists have developed a system they hope will be able to do exactly that. Eventually, the process could be used to Read more

Christ Church Cathedral Anglican Campaign seeks extra cash

Monday, February 26th, 2024
Christ Church Cathedral

The Christ Church Cathedral restoration project needs funds says Christchurch’s Anglican bishop. He’s hoping parishioners will be able to help with the Anglican Campaign. The project is due to be completed in 2027. Budget shortfall The $160m project’s $50m budget shortfall is being met from various sources says the Anglican Bishop of Christchurch Peter Carrell Read more

Bishop Lowe asks prayers for Efeso Collins

Monday, February 26th, 2024
Fa’anānā Efeso Collins

“Please pray for the soul of Efeso Collins” says Auckland Bishop Steve Lowe. “We give thanks for Efeso’s ministry in our church and his mahi in the world. “Please join me in praying for his family and all those who are struggling with this sad news. Rest in peace Efeso.” Brought up a Pentecostal Christian, Read more

Once was plumber now hospital chaplain

Monday, February 26th, 2024
chaplain

Life has changed a lot for Joe Gray since becoming an Ecumenical Chaplain at Taranaki Base Hospital. He’d been a plumber for 32 years before that. “When you hang a toilet, fit a bath, turn it on and it’s done, you walk away” he said. Gray says life is extremely different going from a 9am Read more