Is it oppression or liberation? Eugenics or social responsibility? The New Zealand Government’s proposal to make free long term reversible contraception available to beneficiaries and their daughters has created a tidal wave of comment and has seen groups that do not normally see eye to eye agreeing with each other. In its submission to the Read more
The Finance and Expenditure Select Committee last week received submissions on the Mixed Ownership Bill. The Bill passed its first reading on 8 March and if it proceeds will allow the partial sale of the four state owned power companies. Caritas Director Julianne Hickey made an oral submission to the Select Committee last week. Caritas Read more
Children are being endangered by the speed of welfare reform – just as children are put at risk by excessive speed on our roads. In a written submission Caritas says the speed of consideration was unreasonable and unrealistic. Only 11 working days were provided between the first reading of the Social Security (Youth Support and Work Read more
Caritas Aotearoa New Zealand has launched a Special Appeal and pledged NZ$50,000 towards averting severe hunger and deaths in the Sahel region of West Africa. ‘An estimated 13 million people are in grave danger,’ says Caritas Director Julianne Hickey. ‘This has been brought on by severe drought, poor harvests, and rising food prices – made Read more
Caritas Aotearoa New Zealand has made a submission to the Consultation with Maori about the Mixed Ownership Model being proposed by the Government. Caritas supports the retention of Section 9 of the State Owned Enterprises Act 1986 as it relates to the new legislation being proposed under the Public Finance Act and believes insufficient time has been allowed for meaningful consultation. The Read more
Claudette Habesch, Secretary General of Caritas Jerusalem for the last 25 years, is visiting New Zealand in late February/March as a guest of Caritas Aotearoa New Zealand for its annual Lent Appeal. Catholics in New Zealand are invited to pray for peace in the Holy Land this Lent, while hearing firsthand about efforts to bring healing and hope to a land where Christ continues to suffer.
‘We are pleased to be hosting someone of such experience and standing in the Caritas network for Lent,’ says new Caritas Aotearoa New Zealand director Julianne Hickey. Ms Habesch has also been a past President of Caritas Middle-East and Northern Africa region (Caritas MONA) and a Vice-President of Caritas Internationalis.
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The annual Caritas Oceania forum, which began in Auckland on 3 October, was attended by representatives from eight different nations. About 25 people attended the week-long event, including representatives from Caritas Internationalis, and Catholic Relief Services (CRS) – Asia. Many of the states represented, such as Tonga and Kiribati, are among the most vulnerable to Read more
Tonga 31-18 Japan; Tonga slew the giant. But Japan is a gentle giant and champion in terms of social justice and equality They may have lost the game but they gets the trophy for off-the-field fairness. Caritas Aotearoa New Zealand’s rankings rate Japan champion in terms of social justice and equality. While being one of Read more
Catholic schools are being invited to honour St Francis Day with liturgy and reflection remembering our connection with the Earth and all that it sustains. Caritas Aotearoa New Zealand has provided online resources to help teachers and students celebrate it in early October.
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Caritas Aotearoa New Zealand is one of the aid agencies to receive some of the $1 million that the Government has made available for African drought relief. The Foreign Minsister, Murray McCully, has been criticised by aid agencies and opposition parties with claims of “unacceptable delays” in providing the money. McCully issued a statement on Friday afternoon saying that money has been allocated to Read more