When Patsy Caskey says volunteering is a rewarding thing to do, she is speaking from experience. More than six decades of it, in fact, as Patsy has spent the past 60-plus years giving her time and skills freely to a wide range of organisations. One of this year’s three Stratford District Citizen Award recipients, Patsy Read more
New Zealand
Stratford District Citizen Awards: Patsy Caskey a humble yet passionate volunteer
Monday, July 31st, 2023Sir Wira Gardiner’s High Court case win to help veterans access support a final ‘koha’
Monday, July 31st, 2023Sir Wira Gardiner’s final “koha” to those who served in our military has come to fruition in the form of a High Court judgment that should make it significantly easier for support to be provided to veterans. Gardiner’s widow Lady Hekia Parata, former Cabinet minister and now Royal Commissioner, said the judgment offered clear guidance Read more
Earthquake-prone Christchurch South parish church closes
Thursday, July 27th, 2023
Telling parishioners their beloved parish church is earthquake-prone and must close can’t have been easy for Christchurch South parish priest Fr Peter Head. Head delivered the news after a notice from the Christchurch City Council informed him the Our Lady of the Assumption church building is earthquake-prone. Head says his first concern is for his Read more
Statistics show NZ has passed peak climate pollution
Thursday, July 27th, 2023
It’s just possible that New Zealand has passed peak climate pollution. The country’s greenhouse gas emissions are dropping, according to newly-released statistics. As a country, our emissions’ decline, initially catalysed by the Covid-19 movement restrictions, continued after the restrictions were lifted. Figures Statistics New Zealand (Stats NZ) released on Thursday show our country’s climate pollution Read more
Christchurch exorcisms – Paddy Gower has issues
Thursday, July 27th, 2023
Fr Michael Mary, the leader of the ‘Sons of the Most Holy Redeemer,’ a conservative Latin Rite Catholic group in Christchurch, denies accusations that his group performed exorcisms on children. He clarified that sprinkling Holy Water around a child does not constitute an exorcism. The controversy surrounding the ‘Sons of the Most Holy Redeemer’, also Read more
Human Rights Commission gives NZ mixed report card on indigenous rights at United Nations
Thursday, July 27th, 2023The Human Rights Commission has filed a mixed report card to the United Nations on New Zealand’s commitment to indigenous rights. Addressing a UN expert group in Geneva the commission’s Kaitahutahu Rangatahi, Waimihia Maniapoto-Love said there have been periods of good progress towards tino rangatiratanga alongside periods of inactivity. The Government, the National Iwi Chairs Read more
City Mission Cook-off delivers
Thursday, July 27th, 2023
Auckland City Mission is a major beneficiary of a cook-off backed by Foodstuffs North Island. The initiative was held at St Matthew-in-the-City, and the event aimed to assist those facing homelessness and food challenges. Morgan McCann, Head of New World for Foodstuffs North Island, and Steve McClean, Owner Operator of New World Orewa, cooked a Read more
Plan now for ‘staggering’ rise in retirees renting
Monday, July 24th, 2023
Kiwi home ownership is losing ground, with a fifth of all today’s retirees renting and a ‘staggering’ rise in older tenants predicted. It’s a problem that needs urgent attention, the Retirement Commission says. The Commission should know. It’s just completed a survey about older people’s housing status. Today, 20 percent of those over 65 are Read more
Opposition to Brethren chapel called ‘Nimbyism by stealth’
Monday, July 24th, 2023
Opposition to an Exclusive Brethren chapel being built in a Havelock North residential street is a case of “Nimbyism by stealth”. Lawyer Matthew Lawson made the comment while acting for the Hastings Gospel Trust in a Hastings District Council Resource Consent Hearing last Friday. The application involves demolishing a house on a 758sqm Reynolds Road Read more
Hindu temples around New Zealand targeted with intimidating letters
Monday, July 24th, 2023Intimidating anonymous letters have been sent to Hindu temples around the country, warning them that “idolatry is worse than carnage”. “Islam teaches that God does not share His divine attributes with anyone”, the letters continue, among several passages quoted from the Quran, Islam’s holy book. The letters began arriving last week, and police were immediately Read more