A much-loved chaplain at one of Auckland’s most prestigious schools has been reinstated after a court case alleging he had sexually abused a student in Australia 20 years ago was abandoned by the plaintiff. It has brought to end a highly distressing period for Father John Goodwin, who is known for his engaging character and Read more
New Zealand
King’s School chaplain Father John Goodwin reinstated after Australian child sex abuse case dropped
Thursday, April 27th, 2023Junior doctors increasingly leaving before training as specialists, new estimate suggests
Thursday, April 27th, 2023More and more junior doctors are being lost in the training pipeline before they emerge to bolster the stressed ranks of specialists, data suggests. A new estimate from the senior doctors’ union puts the loss rate at about 40 per cent compared to just 16 per cent a few years ago. The analysis, passed by Read more
New Zealand Police are frustrated despite new online grooming law
Monday, April 24th, 2023
New Zealand Police are frustrated that end-to-end encryption on social media platforms is a significant barrier to identifying online sex offenders despite a new law that targets online grooming. The Child Exploitation Offences Amendment Bill passed into law recently, making it illegal for adults to lie about their age or identity to meet up with Read more
Caritas reports good progress in Pacific & Southeast Asia
Monday, April 24th, 2023
Caritas Aotearoa New Zealand’s (CANZ) first report on a seven-country programme in the Pacific and Southeast Asia shows the new programme is progressing well. Oranga Taurikura – A Thriving Life – is a 5-year integrated development programme which CANZ leads. It works through established community organisations to provide food and water security, build healthy lifestyles, Read more
Church removes all restrictions but Covid may be back to bite
Monday, April 24th, 2023
It seems no sooner than all Covid restrictions have been lifted from Catholic churches – the sneeze-proof face mask, the empty holy water stoup, the contactless signs of peace, that a selection of lurgies have made themselves known. The rising number of Covid cases, hospitalisations and deaths suggest we could be in for another rough Read more
Why has Red Cross spent just $3m of $21m Cyclone Gabrielle cash?
Monday, April 24th, 2023After Cyclone Gabrielle, endless work continues to repair communities overwhelmed by rising waters and clean-up efforts are ongoing across damaged farms and businesses. Meanwhile homeowners hold their breath for insurers to deliver relief. But as individuals face varying degrees of disruption, a collective sense of frustration has built among those in dire need of financial Read more
Auckland pharmacy apologises after trans man was asked if he was going to heaven
Monday, April 24th, 2023An Auckland pharmacy has apologised after a staff member asked a trans customer who was picking up a prescription whether he believed he would go to heaven. Logan Popp, a trans man, said he was speaking out to warn others in the rainbow community about the staff member’s words – which he said “could be Read more
Colin Campbell appointed interim seminary rector
Thursday, April 20th, 2023
Retired Catholic Bishop of Dunedin Colin Campbell has been appointed as the Interim Rector of Holy Cross Seminary in Auckland. Campbell is taking over from Father Mathew Vadakkevettuvazhiyil, who has left the seminary. Bishop Emeritus Campbell accepted the interim role until a permanent appointment is made, expected at the end of 2023. The appointment has Read more
New Zealand’s coal use plummets to 32-year low
Thursday, April 20th, 2023
Coal use in New Zealand is plummeting, new Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) data shows. Less coal was burned in the last three months of 2022 than in any quarter since December 1990. In the September 2022 quarter, 426,000 tonnes of coal was burned for industry, process heat and electricity generation. This rose Read more
Lack of pastoral care for migrant bus drivers pushes credibility
Thursday, April 20th, 2023
The pastoral care of Filipino migrant bus drivers who responded to an international recruitment campaign is being questioned. The article highlighting their plight has been pulled from the NZ Herald’s website. On Wednesday, Wellington NZ Herald reporter, Georgina Campbell, reported that migrant bus drivers have been brought to the Capital and are being put up Read more