Sexual violence in schools is a very real problem. A report by ‘Let’s Talk Consent’ collected testimonies from 300 students. All had been victims of sexual assault at school. Let’s Talk Consent’s founder and report author, Genna Hawkins-Boulton, says victims were confident about reporting their assaults. However they often still found themselves in the same Read more
Race relations have become an increasingly divisive political issue, but other controversial topics such as hate speech may not pose an issue for the incoming government, new polling suggests. A report from pollsters Talbot Mills, seeking to understand the degree to which New Zealand has become more politically polarised, shows people broadly agree on Covid-19 Read more
Archbishop Paul Martin received his Metropolitan Archbishop’s pallium during the 5pm Mass at St Mary of the Angels church in Wellington on Sunday 5 November. Martin is the Archbishop of Wellington, New Zealand. He had been expecting to receive the pallium from the Papal Nuncio, Archbishop Novatus Rugambwa. But Rugambwa – the Pope’s diplomatic representative Read more
The new entranceway to Nelson’s Catholic College celebrates the school’s Māori and Christian heritage. Built in a style reminiscent of an open-sided whare (house), the new entrance structure helps welcome people into Garin College’s wairua (soul). It also protects the school’s “story and curriculum”, principal John Maguire says. Bicultural story That story began with the Read more
The Christ Church Cathedral in Christchurch, a landmark in the city’s Cathedral Squared and severely scarred by the 2011 earthquake, is poised for a full project review after a significant stabilisation phase was completed in March. Since then, details on the $160 million restoration have been sparse. Keith Paterson of Christ Church Cathedral Reinstatement Ltd Read more
A 110-year-old building that once served as a Catholic presbytery has been transformed into a stunning family home in the South Wairarapa countryside. The villa was formerly home to St Mary’s Catholic Church’s parish priest in Carterton and was hauled away in pieces in the middle of the night in November last year. The building Read more
Under a contentious plan, the building of a new Christchurch Catholic cathedral precinct will proceed. Earlier this year, after opposition from a small group of parishioners, Bishop Michael Gielen paused plans for the new central city precinct. On Sunday, Gielen wrote to congregations saying the diocese’s post-earthquake project – including most parish mergers – could Read more
On 29 October the papal ambassador to New Zealand, His Excellency Archbishop Novatus Rugambwa, suffered a severe stroke. Asking for prayers for His Excellency, Catholic Communications says the 66-year old’s condition is now stable. Rugambwa is Pope Francis’ Nuncio (ambassador ) to New Zealand, Fiji, Palau, Marshall Islands, Kiribati, Naru, Tonga, Samoa, Cook Islands, Micronesia Read more
Scammers are posing as priests and contacting parishioners, the Catholic Diocese of Auckland says. It is warning Auckland parishioners that scammers are asking for gift cards and money. The Bishop’s office says the texts usually start with the name of the so-called priest. Sometimes parishioners’ names are included. Describing a typical text from the scammers, Read more
The backers of the contentious Olive Leaf parish building proposed for Arrowtown have lost an Environment Court appeal, six years after applying for resource consent. The Olive Leaf Centre Trust appealed a decision by independent planning commissioners in 2020 turning down its proposal for a multipurpose parish and community centre on land beside the St Read more