A delegation from Caritas Aotearoa New Zealand recently presented its new booklet Remembering Parihaka to the Parihaka community after consulting them over its preparation. “This is not a booklet just about Parihaka’s history,” said Caritas Aotearoa New Zealand Director Julianne Hickey, “but a justice and peace resource that enables us to reflect on the impact of Read more
‘Urgent help is needed to assist refugees as well as those affected within the country,’ says Caritas Aotearoa New Zealand Director Julianne Hickey. ‘Caritas will also be there to help Syrians recover and rebuild, when – we pray – peace is re-established.’ While the immediate threat of escalation of the Syrian crisis has eased, the Read more
The Constitutional Advisory Panel which is conducting the Constitutional Review is taking public submissions and reporting to the Government on what New Zealanders think about its constitution. The New Zealand Catholic Bishops have made a submission to the Advisory Panel. The full text of the Bishops’ Submission can be read kin the New Zealand Catholic In its Read more
As the war in Syria deepens and people continue to flee across borders, Caritas Aotearoa New Zealand has pledged NZ$100,000 towards supporting Syrian refugees in Lebanon. The funds will contribute to a third phase of support by the international Caritas network to refugees from Syria, regardless of race or religion, and their Lebanese hosts – Read more
Caritas Director Julianne Hickey says the generosity of New Zealanders will bring joy to the hearts of many, as this year’s Lenten Appeal tops one million dollars for the first time. The Appeal is run by Caritas on behalf of New Zealand’s Catholic Bishops to support the Church’s work of promoting social justice and full Read more
A bill to introduce changes to the social housing sector announced in Budget 2013 passed its first reading in Parliament last Friday. The Social Housing Reform (Housing Restructuring and Tenancy Matters Amendment Bill) allows private sector groups to be allowed to replace Housing New Zealand as providers of social housing. However, Catholic social justice agency Read more
Since 1999 Caritas Tonga since has been running neighbourhood programmes that are based on revolving loans for microenterprise. The neighbourhood programmes support groups of 8 – 15 people to pursue small businesses in areas such as: tapa cloth and mat weaving; chicken and pig raising; growing crops; and fishing. The income earned supports school fees Read more
Since the 2011 earthquake, Caritas has allocated more than $700,000 of earthquake recovery funds, to support projects such as emergency toilets immediately after the quake, thermal wear, and specialist trauma counselling and social work. Two years on from the February 2011 Canterbury earthquake, Catholic agency Caritas is still maintaining a commitment to long-term recovery in Read more
Many have expressed concerns about the perceived absence of any real relief assistance from the mainstream churches since Cyclone Evan, according to an editorial in the Sunday Observer last month. “Apart from the Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter Day Saints and the Seventh Day Adventist Church, the other mainline churches – as well Read more
A national not-for-profit organisation that specialises in working with young parents is expanding the ‘Better Housing, Better Health’ programme to support more homeless youth in Canterbury with funding from Caritas Aotearoa New Zealand Youth agency St John of God Waipuna has received funding from Caritas Aotearoa New Zealand to expand its innovative ‘Better Housing Better Health’ Read more