A controversial church which advertised that a prayer session could heal health problems including “incurable diseases” has been told to remove the advertisement. A complaint to the Advertising Standards Authority was made about a brochure from the Universal Church of the Kingdom of God, which was circulated publicly and contained a timetable of healing sessions. Read more
New Zealand
Hindus in New Plymouth see need for city temple
Friday, July 4th, 2014When a young Indian child asked if Krishna was Jesus’ righthand man, the president of New Plymouth’s Indian Community knew it was time the town got a Hindu temple. New Plymouth’s Indian community has doubled in size in the past three years. Despite the city’s Indian population being 60-70 per cent Hindu and 10-15 percent Read more
Bibles in Schools issue goes to Human Rights Commission
Friday, July 4th, 2014
A parent has taken concerns about religious teaching to the Human Rights Commission in the latest effort to remove the lessons from state school time. Red Beach School north of Auckland has been in a long-running dispute with parent Jeff McClintock over its Values in Action lessons, which are 30 minutes a week and teach Read more
Maori deacon ordained in Palmerston North
Friday, July 4th, 2014
Over 600 people gathered in the Cathedral of the Holy Spirit in Palmerston North New Zealand for the ordination of Danny Karatea-Goddard to the permanent diaconate. Karatea-Goddard is the Bishop of Palmerston North’s Assistant for Māori Apostolate. The ordination took place on 7 June and was attended by people from Wairoa, Ohakune, Te Awa o Read more
Muslim woman aspires to become New Zealand lawmaker
Tuesday, July 1st, 2014Anjum Rahman is a Muslim woman who has lived in New Zealand for 41 years. Sh is the mother of four, is a candidate for the New Zealand a Labour Party in the upcoming September general elections. She unsuccessfully stood for the Hamilton City Council last year. If chosen this year, she will be the Read more
Pride of NZ: Pastor dedicated to youth and arts
Tuesday, July 1st, 2014Joseph Fa’afiu is a popular church leader, particularly among youth, in South Auckland. But he shies away from his official title – pastor – preferring only to be known as Joe. “I always tell people to just call me Joseph or Joe. I want them to not think of me as higher than them, just Read more
Developer says Trust blocking plans to save Erskine
Tuesday, July 1st, 2014
Property developer Ian Cassels says he needs community support to sway Save Erskine College Trust towards his plans for Erskine College, a landmark building in Island Bay Wellington, New Zealand. In 2012 the building was red-stickered as an earthquake risk, and might be demolished by Wellington City Council within a year unless the trust agreed Read more
School merger – parents thought options were still open
Tuesday, July 1st, 2014
Some parents of Our Lady of Fatima School students were shocked to see a sign promoting a new school that would close their own because they believed consultation on the details of the decision was open until late July. The school, in Christchurch New Zealand, is to be closed along with another school, St Paul’s Read more
Catholic education’s CEO – law change may be needed
Tuesday, July 1st, 2014
The chief executive officer of New Zealand’s Catholic Education Office is predicting the start of next term could see pupils testing the limits of uniform and appearance rules. Brother Patrick Lynch said the recent court decision had ramifications for all schools when it came to student grooming. He said a law change may be needed Read more
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