Some Secondary school principals have been left feeling uneasy after Family Planning presented a session called Taming Terrifying Topics at the Physical Education NZ 2015 conference in Hamilton on Monday. The subtitle for the session was “teaching pleasure within your sexuality education programme.” At the conference teachers were shown pamphlets that said sex talks should Read more
The Parihaka story is set to be shared in schools across the country. The 26-page booklet was the brainchild of the Bishop of Palmerston North Diocese Charles Drennan, who wanted to ensure the Maori account of the injustices suffered by the people of Parihaka were acknowledged. The resource contents were put together by Caritas Aotearoa Read more
Charging for police vetting has been given the green light despite concerns from charities and volunteer groups about crippling new costs. A select committee has recommended a law change that will allow police to recover costs for “demand services” such as criminal checks be passed into law. The committee made minor changes to the bill, Read more
Housing charity Habitat for Humanity has asked the Government to consult state house tenants before selling up to 1600 state houses in Tauranga and Invercargill. Habitat chief executive Claire Szabo said she had asked the head of the Treasury’s transactions unit managing the sale, Stacey Wymer, to “give tenants a voice” in the process. Continue Read more
Expectant parents are registering their unborn children with Waikato church-run schools in a bid to ensure a place for them when they turn five. Hundreds of non-Catholic children are already registered on Catholic school waiting lists in Hamilton city alone and this has Hamilton Diocese planning a new primary school north of the city. The Read more
Secondary Principals’ Association (SPANZ) executive member Patrick Walsh is concerned that injunctions and other legal threats are edging “dangerously close” to undermining the authority of the country’s principals to manage their schools. Walsh said a legal Pandora’s box had been opened after a judge forced St Bede’s College to reinstate two teen rowers dropped from Read more
The Church hasn’t valued higher education in the way it should have, says a prominent New Zealand artist and academic. In an address given at the Good Shepherd College graduation in Ponsonby on June 5, Lady Mary Barker said that, as a body, the Church has generally been suspicious of new thought and ideas. It Read more
Finance Minister Bill English says he’ll vote against any legislation allowing euthanasia in New Zealand. Prime Minister John Key said any moves by parliament on the issue would be a conscience vote and the best mechanism would be a private members’ bill. “In the past, I have personally voted for euthanasia, as I do have Read more
A special Mass to launch the unification of three Hastings Catholic parishes into one was held at St John’s College yesterday. The inaugural Mass for the combined parishes of Heretaunga Plains drew almost 1000 Catholics. The celebrant for the service was Bishop Charles Drennan, the second Catholic Bishop of Palmerston North. The move to unify Read more
Nick Watt, the pastor of Grace Baptist Church in Whanganui was a character witness at the Denpasar, Indonesia, court in early June during Anthony de Malmanche’s trial. de Malmanche was found guilty on Tuesday and sentenced to 15 years in prison. Watt says he has known de Malmanche for four years and been his minister Read more