An appeal by a former Catholic brother against a decision to extradite him to Australia to face hundreds of child sex abuse charges has been delayed. Bernard Kevin McGrath’s appeal was scheduled to be heard at the High Court in Christchurch on 15 August, but has been adjourned until 5 September. Continue reading
For the first time the New Zealand Qualifications Authority has collated and publicly released NCEA results for all secondary schools, giving a snapshot of how they performed in exams last year. Of the 14 secondary schools in Taranaki only five were above the national average for the number of students who passed NCEA level 3. Read more
A late bid to save landmark Hamilton East building Euphrasie House has been rejected by the Catholic Church, which bought the building in 2012. The Hamilton East Community Trust (HECT) is still fighting to keep the pre-World War II Spanish mission-style convent standing, despite the church diocese gaining consent to demolish the 74-year-old building. The Read more
The Diocese of Auckland is selling a 1.1643ha site in Silverdale. The Diocese has owned the site since 1999 when it purchased a 22.245ha farm. The General manager of the Diocese, Kerry Coleman, said the land was purchased with the long term strategy of accommodating future Catholic primary and secondary schools and a parish centre. Read more
Holy Family Parish in Timaru has decided, that if Bishop Jones approves, St Joseph’s church in Douglas St will sold. The Holy Family parish was formed in 2012 by combining two Timaru parishes, Timaru North and Sacred Heart There are two churches in what was formally Timaru North, St Thomas the Apostle and St Joseph’s. Read more
One solitary admirer was waiting as Christchurch’s cardboard cathedral opened its doors to the public for the first time on Monday. Central city resident Ross Evans was the first to inspect the church when it opened at 9am. A week of celebration began on Monday evening with a performance by the Christchurch City Choir. It Read more
An Auckland heritage-listed building bought by the Church of Scientology for more than $10 million six years ago may finally become the religious organisation’s new home. At the time of the sale, church secretary Mike Ferris said the church would fully renovate and restore the building, built in 1927, over two years and expected 100 Read more
ABOUT 110 Catholics received the sacrament of confirmation yesterday in Labasa, Fiji. In anointing them with oil, church head Archbishop Peter Loy Chong told them to go out and spread the good news of God. He told the group that they have now become soldiers of Christ. Continue reading
Prominent Christian minister and gay rights campaigner Rev Margaret Mayman has accepted a calling to a church in Sydney. Ms Mayman, who has been senior minister at St Andrew’s on the Terrace since 2002, will take up a position with Pitt St Uniting Church in December. She has been in discussions with the central Sydney Read more