Another National government may introduce more charter schools to maintain diversity, but Labour says it would scrap them altogether. The announcements were made by Education Minister Hekia Parata and Labour’s education spokesman Chris Hipkins as they joined TVNZ’s Q+A discussion on Sunday. Continue reading
New Zealand
Mr Key goes to Church
Tuesday, September 9th, 2014The Prime Minister John Key has attended a church service in South Auckland and hailed the “changing nature” of the Samoan community. Mr Key and his wife Bronagh attended the Malaeola Samoan Church Service in Mangere last Sunday. The Prime Minister spoke after the 90 minute service and said he believed the Samoan community was Read more
Sister Helena: God’s Girl Friday
Tuesday, September 9th, 2014Last Sunday at St Brigid’s in Pahiatua as she, her family, friends and church celebrate this milestone in her service, Sister Helena will be renewing her vows to continue serving God through the Catholic church. Not for one moment as she grew up did Helena Margaret Fouhy think she’d ever be wearing a habit. She Read more
St Joseph’s School Dannevirke gets a makeover
Friday, September 5th, 2014
St Joseph’s School Dannevirke has a lot to be excited about. The school has had a big makeover. Principal Chris Gunn describes the new amenities as a “cutting edge first for Dannevirke”. Gone are the dark, dingy, box rooms and unappealing toilets and in their place a state-of-the-art modern learning environment, funded by the Catholic Read more
Multiculturalism more acceptable in NZ than in Aus & Europe
Friday, September 5th, 2014
A study carried published by the Centre for Applied Cross-cultural Research of Victoria University in Wellington New Zealand in 2013 reveals that a significantly higher proportion agreed that, “It is a good thing for any society to be made up of different races, religions and cultures”, compared with similar surveys conducted in in Australia and 15 Read more
Nun’s headresses OK – Indian headdresses not
Friday, September 5th, 2014
Go to any event these days and your are sure to find some one dressed up as 1950s nun or sporting gear based on some kind of religious attire. No self respecting party hire business can afford to not have a big stock of false nun’s habits for hire . So, “What’s the fuss about Dame Read more
Student surprised at lack of religion in NZ
Friday, September 5th, 2014Katherine Collier a student visitor from Loyola University New Orleans says she was struck by the lack of religion in every day life. “The biggest shock I encountered while studying abroad was the lack of religion in every day life.” “Although New Zealand natives, or ‘Kiwis’, do celebrate holidays like Christmas and Easter, emphasis is Read more
Army comes to Francis Douglas Memorial College
Friday, September 5th, 2014Colby Wall has had his eyes set on joining the army since he was a child. The 15-year-old had his chance to drill the New Zealand Army on a career in the military when the Queen Alexandra’s Mounted Rifles were at his school, Francis Douglas Memorial College, as part of the regiment’s tour around Taranaki Read more
Dementia tops fear list – but life can still have meaning
Tuesday, September 2nd, 2014
Getting dementia tops the list of fears for older people including baby boomers, says a celebrated world authority on ageing and spirituality, Dr Elizabeth MacKinlay. Yet people with dementia can still find meaning in life, she says. MacKinlay is professor of theology at Charles Sturt University in Canberra and an Anglican priest. She has been presenting Read more