Bitter divisions in New Zealand’s Russian community have led to hate speech and death threats, with many now afraid to speak out against Putin even though they don’t support the Russian president’s invasion of Ukraine. The animosity has deepened to the point where police and the Race Relations Commissioner have become involved. Commissioner Meng Foon Read more
New Zealand
Russian Kiwis who oppose Ukraine war targeted by death threats and hate speech
Thursday, July 14th, 2022Catholic education convention postponed
Thursday, July 14th, 2022It is with regret that NZCEO (NZ Catholic Education Office) wishes to inform our stakeholders that the National Catholic Convention scheduled for June 2023 has been postponed until 2024. NZCEO has undertaken extensive consultation with our various stakeholder groups including our school principal executives and in the main there is a strong feeling that the Read more
Catholic housing trust struggling to provide homes
Monday, July 11th, 2022
A Government decision to cut funding for a rental scheme means Auckland’s Monte Cecilia Housing Trust is struggling to provide homes for families stuck in transitional housing. Last October the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) cut funding to organisations leasing existing private sector properties to help families out of temporary transitional housing. Under Read more
Napier Seafarers Welfare Centre reopens
Monday, July 11th, 2022
The Napier Seafarers Welfare Centre has been a feature of Napier’s waterfront for almost 40 years. Apart from the past few years, seafarers have been able to treat the Centre as a home away from home throughout that time. The Marine Parade-based centre is now back in business on limited days after closing in March Read more
Together, not alone: Gielen installed as Christchurch bishop
Monday, July 11th, 2022
Michael Gielen, the New Bishop of Christchurch, wants to join the people of Christchurch in new adventures and not go it alone. He is urging priests of the diocese to “have the smell of the sheep”. Gielen said that all the former Christchurch bishops have brought their own personalities and style to the position and Read more
Schools with mask mandates saw fewer student absences than average in term 2
Monday, July 11th, 2022Auckland schools that decided to keep mask mandates during term 2 saw higher student attendance than those that dropped them. Heading into term 2, the Government made the controversial call to remove nationwide school mask mandates instead leaving it up to individual schools to make their own rules. The decision sparked disagreement from the disability Read more
Parents reading to children helps the most vulnerable
Monday, July 11th, 2022A new study has found that parents who read to their children at least once a day from 9 months of age improved their child’s developmental outcomes. The measure was associated with ‘higher language ability, cognition and social-emotional competence’ once the child reached its first birthday. The study, which drew on data from the highly Read more
Sacred Heart reopens after social media threat
Thursday, July 7th, 2022
Auckland’s Sacred Heart College is open again after a social media threat led its closure on Wednesday. Police have spoken to the person responsible. Area Commander for Auckland East Inspector Jim Wilson said the person was “extremely remorseful” for what occurred. He also said that police have wound down their presence in the area but Read more
Catholic conservatives gatecrash National Synod meeting
Thursday, July 7th, 2022
Conservative Catholics attempted to gatecrash the invitation-only National Synod meeting in Wellington last weekend. Before the meeting, a request was made to the bishops asking that at least one independent person might observe, but the request was declined. However, a statement received by CathNews says that nevertheless, two people who thought they should be at Read more
Radical and heretical suggestions form part of national Synod discussion
Thursday, July 7th, 2022
Radical, unrealistic and even heretical suggestions were part of the conversation background at the New Zealand Catholic Church’s national Synod synthesis group that met at St Catherine’s College, Wellington last weekend. The national Synod synthesis in New Zealand is the latest part of the local Church’s participation in the Pope’s Synodal path to the Church’s Read more