Serious concerns have emanated from the first annual report of the Assisted Dying Service. The Assisted Dying Service which came into force last November has just released its first annual report for the period from November to March. By the end of June, 400 people had applied for an assisted death, 143 had died and Read more
In what he described as the organisation’s ‘worst kept secret,’ Monte Cecilia Housing Trust’s CEO Bernie Smith has handed in his resignation. Smith, who joined Monte Cecilia in 2016, will step down at the beginning of September this year. “Bernie has contributed significantly to the organisation,” says Monte Cecilia Board Chair Ken Brophy. His achievements Read more
A Canadian woman experiencing ongoing Covid symptoms more than two years after catching the virus has applied for voluntary euthanasia. Due to her enduring illness and lack of financial support, Tracey Thompson, a Toronto resident in her 50s, told CTV News she had begun the process of applying for Medical Assistance in Dying (MAiD), a Read more
It’s been a three-and-a-half year wait, but it’s finally happening. Tauranga’s medical mission ship, the MV YWAM KOHA, will soon be departing the Port of Tauranga on her maiden deployment to Fiji. On board the ship will be a minimal crew of about 16 for the voyage to the outer islands of Fiji. They leave Read more
New Zealand’s Catholic bishops are deeply concerned for Palestinians who for decades “have been reduced to the status of refugees in their own homeland”. In a statement released last week, they said: “Attempts to find a lasting peace in the Holy Land that would provide security for Palestinians and the ordinary people of Israel have Read more
New Zealander Fr Gerald Arbuckle’s latest book has taken out first place in his category at the annual USA/Canada Catholic Media Association in the United States. The book, “The Pandemic and the People of God: Cultural Impacts and Pastoral Responses” won First Place (Category “B50: “Future Church”) section. The book by the Australian-based New Zealand Read more
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern today pledged $12.6 million to support Fiji’s Gender Action Programme which will also help the South Pacific nation to address broader issues such as child poverty alleviation and other initiatives. Speaking at a breakfast programme organised by the Fijian government at the Museum in Suva this morning, Ms Ardern said that Read more
Ever since 2017 the Labour-led Coalition Government abandoned National Standards, school leaders have been left to make best practice decisions for their schools. “We’ve had to make decisions about how to lead curriculum delivery, assessment, pedagogy and professional development,” says Kevin Shore, CEO of the New Zealand Catholic Education Office. “I remember this time well Read more
The last day of term at Christchurch Catholic school for girls, Villa Maria College, should have been one of relief for its pupils. But for those sitting a level one NCEA external religious education (RE) assessment, this wasn’t the case. For them, the last day of last term turned into a worry. It was on Read more