A video of a man smashing pounamu with a hammer has caused outrage on social media. The destruction of the taonga appears to relate to a fringe fundamentalist Christian belief held by the two people in the video that the wearing of pounamu is idolatry. Throughout the video, uploaded to Facebook by the account Ahi Read more
New Zealand
Soaring inflation means many of us can’t make ends meet
Thursday, July 28th, 2022
A new study says one in four New Zealanders struggles at least once a month to make ends meet. Inflation has hit 7.3 percent in the June quarter, the highest increase since 1990. What people need and who’s seeking help is changing. There’s an increase in demand for food parcel services. There’s been an “influx” Read more
Former Plymouth Brethren want Church’s charitable status stripped
Thursday, July 28th, 2022
Former members of the Plymouth Brethren Christian Church are calling for it to be stripped of its charitable status. Registered charities can claim millions of dollars in tax breaks each year. But former members say the Church isn’t operating as a charity but as a pyramid scheme. How it works Members donate money and time Read more
Invitation to attend dedication of national shrine in Wellington
Thursday, July 28th, 2022All invited: Dedication of St Mary of the Angels Wellington as the national shrine to Mary Mother of God Assumed into Heaven. When: Sunday 14 August 2022, 2pm Where: St Mary of the Angels, Wellington Contacts: mlucero@nzbc.org.nz for support with accessibility requirements. New Zealand Sign Language available.
Govt’s Affordable Housing Fund gets mixed response
Monday, July 25th, 2022
The Government’s $350m Affordable Housing Fund is getting a mixed response from housing providers. It says it will start accepting applications for the Fund from community housing providers this week. The Fund will provide grants of up to 50 percent of the costs for affordable rental property developments. Some housing providers are positive. They say Read more
Vinnies robbery a ‘kick in the teeth’ for charity
Monday, July 25th, 2022
Invercargill’s Vinnies shop has been given a big kick in the teeth from thieves stealing from people in need. The metal bar the thieves used to break into the Catholic charity’s North Rd store caused thousands of dollars of damage. Then they stole money, food, the roller door remote – and the Vinnies van. The Read more
Family Court ‘unsafe’ and ‘brutal’: UN human rights committee calls for inquiry
Monday, July 25th, 2022In the face of accusations that the Family Court system is “broken” and “brutal”, the Government has rejected pleas for a Royal Commission of Inquiry into the court system by advocates who say urgent reform is needed. Their view is backed by a United Nations women’s rights committee which, in 2018, recommended that New Zealand Read more
Former Immigration Minister Tuariki Delamere rubbishes new investor visa
Monday, July 25th, 2022An immigration expert is rubbishing the Government’s newly-created visa category designed to attract high-value investors to New Zealand. The Active Investor Plus visa, announced by the Government on Wednesday, includes a minimum $5 million “active” investment, while the minimum amount of money required for indirect investments is $15 million. Investors would also need to spend Read more
Te Whāriki – an idea for Church reform in Aotearoa
Thursday, July 21st, 2022
Te Whāriki is a contemporary response to the need to reform the institutional Church in Aotearoa. “It is an urgent task,” the founding group says. “Although Pope Francis’ 2023 synod holds some hope for nurturing a church that is responsive to the needs of all, we don’t feel confident that the people can get the Read more