The Anglican Archbishops in Aotearoa New Zealand have identified four key challenges facing the country in the run-up to the General Election on September 20. These issues are: Child poverty Income inequality Lack of affordable and accessible housing Global warming Calling on all Anglicans to exercise their right to vote in the election, Archbishops Winston Read more
The Department of Corrections is defending its treatment of prisoners after a United Nations report criticised the state of New Zealand’s detention centres. The report said many remand prisoners and youth detainees were being held in cells for 19 hours a day, while some were being fed “frozen leftovers” and others were having to take Read more
The Senior A Hato Paora Team and Turakina Maori Girls’ College, Kapa Haka groups will be performing their brackets from the 2014 National Secondary Schools’ Competition at Pipitea Marae on Saturday 6 September from 4pm to 6.30pm. This Concert is the initiative of the Wellington-based Old Boys who have worked together with some Wellington based parents Read more
What do you do whens someone on TV infuriates you? Pray for them says producer and journalist for Television New Zealand, Tim Wilson. Wilson says a mutual distrust exists between the churches and the media. He says prayer as the way forward. “I find that prayer connects me with God, but also connects me with Read more
It’s easier to talk about other countries’ atrocities than to look deeply at the blight of violence meted out on innocent children on a daily basis in our own country says the parish priest of Oamaru in the South Island of New Zealand. In an opinion piece in the Otago Daily Times Fr Wayne Healey Read more
Hundreds of people are expected at a march this weekend in Auckland’s Queen St, calling for solidarity with persecuted minorities in Iraq. Christian groups and those supporting other religious groups who have been brutally attacked by the Islamic State, are calling on the Iraqi community in New Zealand and others to take part in the Read more
Political parties are showing their support for a review into religious instruction in state schools. Labour, New Zealand First and the Green Party are indicating they would support change in the way religion is currently taught in schools. Education Minister Hekia Parata says it’s up to Boards of Trustees to determine whether to include some, Read more
A bitter dispute is raging in the northern Southland town of Riversdale due to the school wanting to introduce a calming technique for its pupils in the wake of bullying. It is understood some Christian parents at Riversdale are furious the school wants to introduce the “mindfulness” technique, claiming it has Buddhism origins. Read more
A website aimed at sharing information about doctors and other medical professionals who oppose contraception and abortion for moral or religious reasons was launched last week. It is is called My Decision/Kei a au te Whakataunga (www.mydecision.org.nz). It is owned by the Abortion Law Reform Association of NZ. Last year ALRANZ condemned a group of Southland Read more
Environment Court adjudicators have reserved their decision on an appeal against the consent granted to demolish Euphraisie House, a church owned building in Hamilton. The consent supported by the Hamilton City Council, was sought and granted by independent commissioner Murray Kivell in April 2013. Last week the Environment Court heard an appeal against that decision Read more