Key met with Pope Francis at the Vatican in what he described as a "remarkable experience".

He gave the details of the meeting, which were published in NZ Catholic, at a charity event in Auckland last month.

According to NZ Catholic Key met with the Francis because of his connections with the ISPS Handa Foundation.

The Pope had asked to meet the foundation's founder, Dr Haruhisa Handa.

Handa asked Key, who is a patron of the charity, to attend the meeting too.

"He is a fabulous man," Key said of the Pope. "I have a lot of respect for him and the work he does. Personally, I think he is a great Pope.

"We did have an opportunity to discuss what is happening in the world and various different things, he was amazing."

Key told the anecdote while giving the keynote address for Auckland diocese Catholic Caring Foundation annual dinner.

The former prime minister told those gathered he was not overly religious, but had great respect for the church, according to NZ Catholic.

The Handa Foundation is a non-religious, non-political, not-for-profit organisation with the mission of building hospitals and schools in various countries of Southeast Asia.

Source

• stuff.co.nz
• fairfaxmedia.newspaperdirect.com
• Image: chinapost.nownews.com

It said the government's claims that Ministry of Social Development (MSD) staff accompanied Salvation Army staff to visit homeless people in a South Auckland park were incorrect.

The prime minister's office has issued a statement saying his comments were based on advice given to him.

Last week prime minister John Key was talking about the "flying squad", dispatched earlier this week by the government to help the homeless, and gauge the level of the problem.

"On I think Tuesday or Wednesday night MSD and the Sallies went around and knocked on I think eight cars that they could find, all eight of those people refused to take support either from Sallies or from MSD."

However, the Salvation Army said that was not true.

Divisional commander Ian Hutson said it declined an offer by MSD officials to accompany them, as many of the people there had a deep distrust of government officials.

The Salvation Army had been working with the people in the park for four weeks building trust, he said.

"I guess the main issue here for us is re-establishing the fact that we were concerned that we would lose some of that relationship with statements like this, that it will impair the way we will be able to help the people there," Hutson said.

Speaking to Checkpoint, Hutson said he believed there had been some kind of miscommunication.

"We've been carefully developing relationships with people there... gaining their trust."

He said while MSD had asked the Salvation Army if they wanted to participate, they preferred working the way they were.

"That's not how we do things, we weren't involved in it.

Mr Key's office told ONE News he was given the information by Social Housing Minister Paula Bennett.

He said he was making the point that people have refused assistance that they had been offered.

MSD has responded by saying it is continuing to support mobile squads of NGO workers who are "actively engaging with homeless in the community".

"Local community organisations make up the mobile squads while we provide the support to make sure people are getting what they need - the help is there, and this is one way we can make sure those needing it are getting it," MSD's Auckland regional commissioner Blair McKenzie said.

To date, MSD said it has approached 15 people living in cars. One person, who was not homeless, has chosen to engage further with MSD.

Source

• radionz.co.nz
• tvnz.co.nz
• Image: d3lgc28rsiigal.cloudfront.net

It comes after Mr Key yesterday said the number of people on a Government watchlist of potential threats had grown. He said 30-40 people were on the list because of their involvement with or support for IS and a similar amount required further investigation.

Mr Key said he was happy to meet Muslim leaders but the Government would not change the decisions it had already made about its response to IS. Continue reading

The bishops released a statement on February 24, the same day Prime Minister John Key officially announced the deployment of up to 143 personnel.

The deployment, likely in partnership with Australia, will probably start in May.

The bishops' statement opens by saying New Zealand can no longer "watch from the sidelines as the Islamic State continues to inflict immense suffering and brutality on the people of Iraq".

The bishops go on to cite Pope Francis who said it is "licit to stop an unjust aggressor".

On behalf of the bishops, Cardinal John Dew said: "If by providing training to the Iraqi Army we can assist them to stop the aggressor in their land, then as a matter of promoting the common good we should provide that assistance."

"Substantial humanitarian support should also be part of New Zealand's involvement in Iraq," Cardinal Dew said.

He noted that New Zealand's place on the United Nations' Security Council gives this country a unique place of influence in global affairs.

This could be "used to advocate strongly in the UN forum for further sanctions and other actions which will stop the flow of arms to ISIS, and prevent it making money from Iraqi assets it has captured", Cardinal Dew said.

"We urge Christians to pray unceasingly for the people of the Middle East and we pray for global leaders in their efforts to stop those who inflict this brutality on others," he added.

Two weeks before Mr Key's announcement, Peace Movement Aotearoa released an open letter opposing deployment of New Zealand military personnel in Iraq and Syria.

Among the 30 representatives of peace, justice and faith organisations and academics who signed the letter were Pax Christi's Kevin McBride and Fr Peter Murnane, OP, of Waihopai Ploughshares.

The letter stated that "further involvement of western armed forces in the Middle East, whether in a training or combat capacity, will do nothing but bring more violence, killing and hardship to the peoples there".

"Military trainers will add nothing of value to peace processes in the region."

In a statement to Parliament, Mr Key noted that New Zealand would step up humanitarian and diplomatic efforts.

Sources

• New Zealand Catholic Bishops Conference
• Scoop
• New Zealand Herald
• Image: TVNZ

He has written to Prime Minister John Key, offering the support of the New Zealand Catholic Bishops for the cautious and measured approach to making decisions about New Zealand's involvement in the Middle East conflict.

"We are aware of the difficult challenge this situation presents for countries and world leaders, and we offer the Prime Minister our prayers as he makes further decisions about New Zealand's involvement," said Dew.

"We've also urged the New Zealand Government to use its seat on the Security Council of the United Nations to find a way to move beyond the impasse on Iraq and Syria, and which will allow actions to be carried out under the UN banner."

The New Zealand Catholic Bishops' Conference has also asked Key to be open to further humanitarian assistance for Syrian and Iraqi refugees.

"While our concern is not only for Catholics, Catholic Syrians and Iraqis in New Zealand speak to us regularly about their deep concern for the desperate situation faced by family members in Syria and Iraq or who have become refugees."

"These insights about the effects the actions of ISIS are having on ordinary people are deeply moving."

"We encourage Catholics to remain steadfast in their prayers for the people affected by the conflict and for the world's leaders - remaining hopeful that together we can bring lasting peace to the Middle East."

Source

• Supplied NZCBC
• Image: sconews.co.uk

On Sunday Ghani told ONE News his organisation contacted the Prime Ministers office in hopes of a private meeting to raise concerns and to tell John Key to not get New Zealand actively involved.

He says his organisation has been ringing the PM's office every day but are being told the PM is too busy.

"We made the approach 10 days ago when John Key raised potential for a beheading here in New Zealand, that was scaremongering."

He said to make a statement like that and then to justify terror rules and laws to be passed is of huge concern.

New Zealand Muslim Association president Firoz Patel many in the community were nervous about the Government's proposal to strengthen anti-terror law including having powers to cancel passports of New Zealanders planning to, or already fighting in overseas conflicts.

Muslim leaders met with the Police on Saturday to discuss the terror law overhaul and safety concerns following Sunday's fire at a West Auckland mosque.

Source

• New Zealand Herald
• TVNZ
• Image: Fianz.co.nz

On his first day back at Parliament since being re-elected on Saturday, Key said he had ordered Treasury and Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet officials to start presenting new ideas.

‘‘The recognition I think we all have is that there are some extremely poor children who are missing out,'' Key said on Tuesday.

‘‘And so then the question is how do you resolve those issues, it's not straightforward but there will be more you can do.'' Continue reading

He spoke at the Auckland Catholic Samoan Centre, at the Malaeola Community Centre in Mangere.

Mr Cunliffe was accompanied by other south Auckland Labour MPs, including Louisa Wall who sponsored the same-sex marriage bill that became law last year.

Auckland diocese said Mr Cunliffe spoke after the monthly Mass, at the usual time for notices and announcements.

"David Cunliffe didn't in any way abuse the occasion, he did speak very respectfully indeed," diocese spokesperson Lyndsay Freer said.

Prime Minister John Key is scheduled to speak at the Malaeola Centre next month, she added, so there is no question of partisanship.

MPs from various parties are often given the chance to greet the community when attending Mass at Malaeola.

Samoan chaplain Fr Michael Endemann and Catholic Samoan community leaders are keen to give people a chance to listen to what the political parties have to say.

"They have told people there that the Church doesn't tell people how to vote, and that is why they are asking leaders from various parties to come and talk so people can make up their own mind," Mrs Freer said.

After the Mass, Mr Cunliffe told 3 News that he disagreed with National Party claims they are making inroads into the traditional Labour heartland in south Auckland.

"There's no evidence of that at all," Mr Cunliffe said.

"As you can tell from today, the Pacific vote is firmly with the Labour Party because we are firmly for the Pacific community."

Mr Cunliffe played down any Pacific Islands backlash against Ms Wall.

3 News showed comments from churchgoers saying they will vote for Labour, as they always have.

Earlier this year, National MP Judith Collins also spoke at the Malaeola Centre.

Ms Collins told reporters after her visit: "South Auckland can always make or break elections."

Sources

• 3 News
• Stuff.co.nz
• Auckland diocese
• Image: 3 News

The meeting, with Pacific church leaders at the Samoan Independent Seventh Day Adventist Church in Mangere, was also a platform to promote National's candidate for Mangere, Misa Fia Turner.

Key says there had been a shift in support in the Labour stronghold of South Auckland.

"I can't think of a time when I've been the leader of the National Party when we would have had so many people in Mangere turn up for a National Party meeting."

"I think it just sends a very strong message that there are changes afoot in voting patterns for Pacific New Zealanders." Key said.

Key concedes National is still the Pacific underdog, but believes come September they will secure more votes from south Auckland than ever before

Gay marriage is considered to be one of the main reasons for the change.

"The values, that's important to us because that's really against our moral values ," says Misa-Fia Turner.

National's Pacific Island Affairs Minister and Maungakiekie MP Sam Lotu-Iiga admitted that unseating incumbent Mangere MP, Labour's Su'a William Sio, would be a tough ask.

I wouldn't get overly optimistic about it," Lotu-Iiga said.

Labour leader David Cunliffe insists he is still living the Pacific dream.

"We have had a wonderful day here in Manurewa," he says.

He says the turnout at his meeting in south Auckland last night proves that.
"It's great. We are having an amazing turn out, record numbers."

Source

• The New Zealand Herald
• 3News
• Image: 3News

At the Service, overseen by Bishop Kito Pikaahu, Key lead the congregation in prayer thanking the nations forefathers for their "courage to come together and sign the Treaty."

He honoured the work of New Zealand's police, firefighters and military.

The Prime Minister paid tribute to the memory of Parekura Horomia. He said Horomia would be remembered "for the beaming smile and the beauty of the human spirit he had"

"We pray that 2014 will be a prosperous, happy but mostly safe year," Key said.

Labour leader David Cunliffe began his prayer asking that God bless "the young, the old, the wet and the dry" which earned chuckles from the dozens standing in the rain outside the whare.

Green Party Co leader also offered a prayer

Te Ururoa Flavell spoke in Te Reo for the Maori Party, and Mana leader Hone Harawira elected not to speak.

NZ First leader Winston Peters' name was read out as one of the speakers, but he was not there. He later told 3 News he had not been invited to speak and had conflicting interview commitments.

Prayers were also offered from the Defence Force and on behalf of foreign diplomats.

Waitangi Day is New Zealand's national day and commemorates the signing of Treaty at Waitangi in 1840 between Queen Victoria and Maori, the indigenous people of Aotearoa New Zealand.

Source

• New Zealand Herald
• Stuff.co.nz
• 3News
• Image: TVNZ

Both publications illustrate the immense power and wealth that is concentrated amongst a miniscule group of businesspeople. According to the NBR, 'The rich continue to get richer'. Editor Nevil Gibson says 'This year's Rich List is bigger and richer than ever before, with the total minimum net worth of members now at $47.8 billion, an increase of $3.5 billion on last year's list. Add the small group of New Zealand-based international billionaires and the figure climbs to $60.4 billion, an all-time record' - see: How to be a millionaire - NBR Rich List.

This enrichment is because, Gibson says, 'The past year has been a good one financially', with record profitability: 'The surge in wealth is mainly due to the substantial gains of most investment classes; the New Zealand equity market returned 25.9% last year'.

Most of the 2013 NBR Rich List information is behind the NBR paywall online, but you can still see the summary Rich List at a Glance (Wealth order), as well as the individual entries for various rich-listers such as Graeme Hart, Richard Chandler, the Todd family, Owen Glenn, and Alan Gibbs. And of course there's some very political people on the list too - for example, both the National Party's leader and president - see: John Key and Peter Goodfellow's family. A good summary of the report can also be read in Steve Deane's Hart returns to top of wealthier NBR rich list.

Further evidence of growing wealth and profitability in New Zealand was also seen earlier this week via Hamish McNicol's Luxury car sales leave rest behind and Christopher Adams' Banks' profit jumps 12.9pc, nears $1b. Continue reading

Sources

• Bryce Edwards in The New Zealand Herald
• Image: IZ Quotes

Dr Bryce Edwards is a politics lecturer at University of Otago.

The report dumps all the blame on civil servants. But its description of events makes it very clear the prime minister, his office, his Tourism Ministry, and the Ministry of Economic Development spent a year trying to stitch up a convention centre deal with SkyCity before any other interested party got a glance in.

By doing so, John Key and his officials subverted the normal processes required for government procurement. These are designed to ensure solutions are canvassed widely and the best option chosen. As a result we'll get the convention centre SkyCity wants to build on terms highly favourable to it, which may not be the convention centre New Zealand needs. Here's how the prime minister and his colleagues abused the system, according to the chronology of actions described in the deputy auditor-general's report.

The challenge of building an international-scale convention centre in Auckland has troubled business and Government since the mid-1990s. Competing ideas failed to deliver the optimal solution of type, amenity, place and viability.

Auckland was never short of analysis, particularly government-commissioned studies in 2006 and 2009 by Horwath HTL, New Zealand's leading tourism sector consultant. Horwath's 2009 report said there were three options for a convention centre:

Private ownership through a mechanism such as a build, own, operate, transfer scheme.

Direct ownership by the public sector.

Creation of a special purpose entity accountable to the public sector but operating at arm's length - for example, a statutory body or council-controlled organisation.

After analysis and extensive consultation in the sector, Horwath concluded the third option, public ownership, had the widest support.

But SkyCity had other ideas. Even before the report was delivered in July 2009 it began pushing its own plans. It met senior officials on May 12 and hosted the prime minister at SkyCity on May 14.

The deputy auditor-general reports: "The prime minister's diary includes a meeting with SkyCity's chief executive on 14 May 2009 ... SkyCity confirmed that this meeting took place. Neither participant can recall the discussion, and think that it was probably just an opportunity for them to meet rather than for any particular purpose." Continue reading

Sources

• Rod Oram in The Sunday Star Times
• Image: Stuff

Rod Oram is a columnist for The Sunday Star-Times.

Archbishop Dew said the NZCBC would support any similar investigation in New Zealand.

But the Prime Minister of New Zealand, John Key says he does not see the need for an inquiry into child sex abuse, similar to the one announced in Australia

Key says a lot of work has already been done in New Zealand to prepare a white paper for vulnerable children.

He says the level of child abuse is too high, but programmes are being put in place to address that.

New Zealand's Police Minister, Anne Tolley, says a sex offender register she is proposing would help keep track of offenders.

And Social Development Minister, Paula Bennett, says enough is already being done.

"I think the fact that we have been addressing historical abuse cases in this country, we have been doing it faster than it's ever been done, we've been fronting up to some of the liability around that and settling a number of cases," Ms Bennett said.

That includes the confidential listening and assistance service, through which people can raise allegations of abuse or neglect, or who have concerns relating to their time in state care before 1992.

"I think we've got other things in place that are addressing what, without a doubt, is cases of historical abuse."

Source

• Radio New Zealand
• 9 News
• Radio New Zealand
• Image: NewsTalkZB

"I think there's a lot of euthanasia that effectively happens in our hospitals."

The director of the Association of Salaried Medical Specialists, Ian Powell, did not think euthanasia was occurring the way Mr Key made out.

"The situation is much more complex than that," he told Fairfax Media.

"Sometimes continuing a treatment can prolong the agony for a patient, and not even keep the patient alive.

"By not prolonging the agony . . . even though the intent is not for the patient to die, it is sometimes a consequence."

Sinead Donnelly, a palliative medicine specialist and chair of the Australian and New Zealand Society of Palliative Care Aotearoa (ANZSPM) has hit out, and said Mr Key seriously misrepresented the care by doctors and nurses in hospitals.

"Palliative care doctors and nurses throughout New Zealand strive ceaselessly, on a daily basis, to relieve the suffering of people facing imminent death. We never practise euthanasia; euthanasia is the deliberate ending of life, and is illegal and unethical."

• Continue reading: PM 'broadly supports' voluntary euthanasia
• Continue reading: Palliative Care appalled by Key's euthanasia statement

At a press conference on Thursday New Zealand Prime Minster, John Key, said he and Samoan Prime minister Tuilaepa Aiono Sailele Malielegaoi had discussed the possibility of expanding the existing Recognised Seasonal Employer Strategy, which enables Samoans to access seasonal horticulture and viticulture work, to include trades. "And that's a possibility in Christchurch," according to Key.

Earlier in a speech to mark the 5oth anniversary of the signing of the Treaty of Friendship between Samoa and New Zealand Key said Samoans are making a rich and important contribution to the fabric of New Zealand . "The arts and culture of Samoan New Zealanders have enriched New Zealand, and helped form part of our national identity."

Key said "Many of New Zealand's national and international achievements reflect the contributions of highly talented Samoans - whether in arts, literature, sport, film-making, music, business, or a host of other areas. Those success stories are as much Samoan as New Zealand."

"This is reflected in the delegation travelling with me. We have political leaders, church leaders, sports heroes, business people and academics. These are all prominent and proud representatives of Samoan New Zealand communities," he said.

Source

• Voxy.co.nz
• Island Business
• Image: Te News

Mr Key confirmed the Queen's lady-in-waiting had briefed him that Queen Elizabeth wanted to talk about the future of the Cathedral after a flood of letters.

The Queen is the nominal head of the Anglican church in Britain, though not New Zealand.

"The Queen has had an extraordinarily large amount of correspondence in relation to the Christchurch Cathedral," Mr Key said.

Continue Reading

Did the visit of the US Secretary for Homeland Security (1-3 May) have anything to do with this hasty amendment to the 2009 Immigration Law?

An immediate reaction from the Council for Refugees states that ‘New Zealand is better than that: proposed Immigration Amendment unneeded, will not deter potential boat arrivals, and risks breach of International Refugee Law.' That seems to sum it up for me!

Or is this a resurgence of the ‘Yellow Peril'? Did the 10 Chinese refugees arriving in Darwin trigger a knee-jerk reaction? An axe to smash a non-existent problem, as one advocate for refugees called it.

With the proposed amendment, refugees will no longer be able to apply to bring in extended family - such as parents or siblings - only spouses or children would qualify. How can we expect refugees to settle here, knowing that close family members are left for years in camps, without hope of a better life? The Government pays nothing for them in any case, so why this restriction - is it to prove that we are tough on anything that might threaten our way of life?

New Zealand's percentage of refugees accepted through the UN is a poorer ratio than Australia's, although we have not generally locked up new arrivals, at least not till this new amendment, with its mass warrant for more than 10 people arriving together.

In fact, we accept only about 40% of our annual quota of 750 people, for a population of about 4 million. Would that statistic suggest that NZ is a ‘soft touch'? The rejected 60% is deported, so there is no ‘queue' to jump if refugees arriving by aeroplane are given residency.

For 99% of the huge numbers of displaced people in our world, a tiny 1% is resettled through the UN quota system. How can we live with our conscience if we strive to keep out God's children in need, when we have space to spare!

That is shameful, in my view. God created the world out of love for us - every single one of us. It is heartening to know of the untiring work of a small group of people, motivated by a sense of justice and fair play, who have set up a trust for family reunification. If you share these concerns, and would like to know more, or help the Trust, contact the site www.refugeefamilyreunificationtrust.org.nz or send cheques to P.O. Box 27342, Marion Square, Wellington 6141

Tricia Kane is a retired librarian and a grandmother.

Right now we are aware that even the work of demolition is not yet complete; that the city is beset by all kinds of problems. That should not be forgotten. At the same time city planners have already started coming up with models of what the rebuilt city might look like.

I therefore thought that since the word ‘resurrection' has been used, and because this is the time of Easter, of resurrection, it would be in order to reflect on what the resurrection of the city of Christchurch might mean: the rebuilding and regeneration of the city? Or something more?

To get at the issues involved, I have nutted out five words that sum up what the New Testament means by resurrection, in this case, the resurrection of Christ; and which, by the same token, will serve as bridging concepts from what the Bible teaches to the realities of rebuilding a city. They are: standing, touching, communicating, remembering, prophesying. Let's look at each in turn to see what light they throw on the resurrection of Jesus and, at the same time, on our vision of the future of a city in ruins.

Continue Reading

Raymond Pelly is a Priest and Theologian who works out of the Anglican Cathedral of St. Paul in Molesworth Street in Wellington New Zealand

In the week before Easter a member's bill which aims to extend paid parental leave in New Zealand from 14 to 26 weeks came up in the ballot.

It is being proposed by Labour's Sue Moroney, and with Peter Dunne's vote there would be enough support in Parliament for it to to be given a first reading.

However Bill English has announced that the Government will make rare use of its power of veto to stop the passing of any legislation that extends the period of paid parental leave. The Prime Minister, John Key, who is in Indonesia, subsequently said the National Party may consider extending paid parental leave at some time in the future.

"Successive Governments have undervalued mothers - and it continues with this decision.

"In reality, this policy would represent about 0.2% of the total Government spending, yet research shows that the role of mothers and the early bonding between mums and babies is vital for healthy child development."

The Families Commission has reversed its earlier support for a full year of paid parental leave, saying the country can probably no longer afford it.

Most bills are government bills. However, members who are not Ministers can introduce their own bills, which are called members' bills.

The House has limited the number of members' bills that can be introduced. Bills are selected by ballot.

When a ballot is to take place, members are notified of the number of new members' bills that can be introduced and are invited to enter bills in the ballot. They have until 10.00 am on the day of the ballot to notify the Clerk of their intention to enter.

Under Parliament's rules, the Government can veto a bill if it is deemed to have more than a minor impact on government finances.

Source

• TVNZ -Family First
• New Zealand Herald - Bill English
• New Zealand Herald -Families Commission
• TVNZ - John Key
• Image: TV3

The incoming National government chose to ignore this expression of New Zealanders' views, and has been taking steps to change legislation to allow the sales to go ahead. The call for a citizens' initiated referendum on the asset sales has been dismissed on the grounds that the 2011 Election was the poll, as if all who voted wanted every last promise of the National Party implemented, without the right to examine it further.

Several important drawbacks have surfaced since the election.

We were told that the money raised was to retire some of our public debt, or maybe to fund anything else we needed - a very elastic windfall, it seems. Now we are told that the amount likely to be raised will not be 7 billion, and, indeed, was only ‘a guess' by the Minister of Finance! ‘Counting your chickens' comes to mind.

Do we seriously trust our country's reputation and autonomy to people who seem hell bent on selling our assets - and land - to anyone with a deep wallet?

Another fish hook is the Maori Party's insistence on a clause in the sale process that will safeguard Te Tiriti rights, a factor which may well reduce the value for prospective foreign buyers, even if they are not constrained by it. Selling only to New Zealanders will not necessarily keep the shares in this country, either, because there can be no regulation forbidding the on-sale of shares to anyone else. Nor can there be safeguards to prevent a large shareholder selling off part of the holding, e.g. a dam. Nor is the government insisting on the buyers making a commitment to sustainable development - a serious omission in the case of Solid Energy, which wants to expand the mining of coal and lignite, adding to already high CO2 emissions for our fragile world.

It has been rightly said that even partial asset sales would be selling the goose that lays the golden egg, given the substantial dividends paid to the government by these energy companies, averaging 14.5% over the last 5 years. (From a recent Treasury report). A certain sum may be paid to the present government, but the next government would have nothing - no dividends, no capital assets.

Another sure result of selling energy companies would be a rise in electricity prices to the consumer. Shareholders require profits - at our expense - and the poverty gap widens.

Where is the fiscal sense in any of this? After giving tax breaks to the wealthy, we find that the tax take is much lower than expected. Is this what happens when a share trader runs the country, and the Finance Minister makes assertions based on guesswork? Is the government concerned only with the economy over next three years? Is this responsible governance? Tricia Kane

Sources

• Tricia Kane is a retired librarian and a grandmother
• Image: Werewolf