Heart of the City and the City Centre Residents Group say it’s time for recent investment in housing and support services to bring an end to rough sleeping and begging on our city centre streets. This is a critical time to act and deliver on a significant opportunity for our city. We now have purpose-built Read more
While I am always happy to celebrate any accolades my country and city might garner on the international stage, seeing Auckland/Tāmaki Makaurau awarded the top ranking in a recent “most liveable cities” survey left me somewhat flummoxed. In particular, I would argue that many Māori whānau in Auckland do not enjoy the benefits of this Read more
It should go without saying (but often doesn’t): the fact that 2030 New Zealand will be much more ethnically diverse is by no means a bad thing. But it’s also necessary. As the baby boomers age, our population will become disproportionately elderly, with a dependency ratio of about 2.6 people aged between 15 and 64 Read more
Grumble, grumble, grumble, went Tim Wilson, author, journalist, TV guy, brainy guy and wit. Have I left anything out? Oh, yes, there is the little matter of his conversion to Catholicism. He said: “Were you surprised when you heard I’d become a Catholic?” Of course I was surprised! Wasn’t everyone? But why was I? he Read more
While New Zealand is becoming less religious overall, there’s greater diversity to the country’s religious make-up, according to the latest census. Most people who consider themselves religious identify as being Christian, however other religions are growing. The three that saw the biggest increase in followers between 2006 and 2013 are Hinduism, Islam and Sikhism. Meanwhile, the Read more
On 7 September, the Anglican Diocese of Auckland voted overwhelmingly to withdraw its investments from fossil fuel companies. Youth organisation, Generation Zero, endorsed the moral leadership on climate change taken by the Diocese. Generation Zero spokesperson, Kern Mangan-Walker, said “New Zealand has a strong history of taking moral leadership on the important issues of our Read more
AUCKLAND — Twenty-three years ago the life of Vietnamese Community chaplain, Fr Andrew Nguyen, was transformed. On June 6, 1990, Fr Nguyen arrived in New Zealand to a life of peace and freedom, after a life of war, repression, imprisonment and torture. Speaking of that day in 1990, he told NZ Catholic: “I was very Read more
Auckland Catholic school, De La Salle College, involved last year in a high profile rugby brawl with Auckland Grammar has welcomed a new initiative aimed at improving sideline behaviour among supporters. The initiative involves having a parent or guardian of every boy playing for De La Salle attend an educational evening about appropriate sideline behaviour. Read more
A large Advent calendar is to be erected in Auckland’s Wynyard Quarter in December. Each day a giant lever will open individual doors to the 12m-high calendar at Silo Park to reveal a Kiwi Christmas scene. Local businesses, artists such as Dick Frizzell and school children are contributing to the project. The Advent calendar will Read more
Auckland Mayor Len Brown has told Auckland church leaders that the Church is right at the heart of the city. He said he really wanted everyone’s thoughts and feedback on the issues, and in some cases, for churches to come up with constructive ideas which could provide input to the Council, maybe even with joint Read more