The Nelson City Council will consider a private plan change request to rezone approximately 287 hectares of land in Kaka Valley at a meeting on Thursday.

The proposed 350-house Maitahi Development has been described by the developer as an innovative housing solution for the city with the aspiration to provide sustainable first-home opportunities to iwi and families with a village atmosphere.

A private plan change application was lodged by the developers, a syndicate between CCKV Dev Co LP and Bayview Nelson Ltd, in April. Read more

Reverend Steve Maina-Mwangi was announced as Bishop-elect of the Nelson Diocese this week, replacing Richard Ellena who retired at the end of last year. Read more

The launch, sponsored by an Auckland lay group, acknowledges Fr Garin's founding of the parishes of Howick and Panmure.

A good number of people were at the launch, including members of every branch of the Marist family, parish representatives from Howick and Panmure and representatives from local Catholic schools.

The father of Bibles in schools

In a country offering free and secular education, Garin was particularly noted nationally for his campaign for the Bible to be lawfully read in class as the last part of an ordinary school course of instruction and for school classrooms to be used for religious instruction outside of school hours.

It was a campaign he won and in 1867, with the support of Oswald Curtis, the Nelson provincial superintendent, the New Zealand Education Act was amended.

Is Garin a saint?

As well as preaching at the Mass, Fr Mervin Duffy posed the question whether Fr Garin was a saint.

Eighteen months after he was buried, Fr Garin's remains were exhumed and placed in a crypt underneath the chapel.

Despite the coffin being waterlogged, according to those present there was neither sign nor smell of corruption from the body and they all signed a document attesting to these facts.

However Archbishop Redwood wanted the account of Fr Garin's incorrupt body to remain secret and prevent a cult developing around him.

An incorrupt body or not Fr Garin was a man of great faith, a man who reached out across cultures and who has a popular following.

Duffy told the congregation that many of his contemporaries thought Garin was a saint.

Archbishop Redwood, who conducted his funeral declared "He was indeed a saint, and attracted universal respect, and in many sincere veneration."

Duffy therefore concluded, "Given his life and deeds, I think I can safely say that if he did not get into heaven then most of the rest of us do not stand much chance".

To mark the occasion, prayer cards were blessed and distributed with Duffy encouraging people to pray to God through the intercession of Fr Antoine.

Source

• sm.org.nz
• Image: sm.org.nz

Last night the sold-out Theatre Royal was rocking with 12 acts who made it through to the Nelson Rockquest final, with teens, younger siblings and even grandparents along for support.

Taking home top band for the second year running was Garin College band Oh Blok. The band is made up of Garin students Louie Persico, Paddy Sanders, Kieran O'Connor and Sam Butler as well as Robbie Day of Nelson College.

Band keyboardist Paddy Sanders, year 13, said the band was "pretty surprised" by the win.

"The competition was quite high, we are super proud of all the other bands. We were more confident coming this year [than last year], we were more familiar with the structure and how it all works."

He said they had Garin College music teacher Kyle Proffit to thank as he had done "wonderful things for the school". Continue reading

The celebrations started with a mass, followed by a lunch. A PowerPoint presentation of photos of the Nelson mission including historical photos up to the present day was also put together.

Ou Lady of the Missions province leader Sister Josephine Kane said Father Garin arrived in Nelson in 1850 and there was a presbytery and church at the Manuka St site when the sisters arrived.

Records show that when the sisters started teaching at the school in 1871 there were 117 pupils, four of whom were boarders. Only one of the sisters spoke English, she said.

Continue reading