Junaid Javed, a Catholic living in Pakistan, was looking forward to his appointment to collect a visa to travel to World Youth Day – WYD – with his wife, Sunaina. But to his dismay, the Portuguese embassy returned his passport without a visa July 24, making him one of a rising number of people prevented Read more
Last Thursday Chris Bishop MP asked the Associate Minister for Social Development and Employment about people sleeping in cars. It’s almost impossible to know, exactly, how many people sleep in cars. “None”, would be the best answer. But this isn’t a “best answer” world. One measure is how many people on the Housing Register (essentially Read more
An Auckland mother says the struggle to provide her kids with the most basic items such as food and clothing is taking a toll on her mental health. As food inflation hits a 36-year high and fuel costs go back up, working families are having to juggle between bills, while kids are going to school Read more
If you think the events in Sudan right now are an emergency without warning, think again. The current conflict is instead an acute symptom of a crisis that has plagued the country for decades. The people of Sudan have been suffering for far too long from political turmoil and economic instability. The escalating humanitarian needs Read more
Lack of money and high prices are causing food shortages in hundreds of thousands of New Zealand homes. Foodbank demand is soaring. Working families are among the growing number lining up for help as the cost of living and inflation bubble upwards. Food shortages are hitting food banks too. Like “Mother Hubbard“, who went to Read more
Manufacturers of plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) make various claims about their vehicles’ fuel use. Some say it’s very low and provide numbers to prove it. Consumer NZ, with support from Te Manatū Waka–Ministry of Transport, decided to investigate to see if these suggestions were true. They assessed fuel use in five PHEVs and five Read more
Social pressures in New Zealand are rising, according to the Salvation Army’s “State of the Nation 2023″ report. These pressures are hitting people from several directions. The report points to the escalating cost of living, increased household debt, lack of affordable housing and worsening education outcomes. It notes ever more young people are reporting psychological Read more
According to a World Bank Poverty Assessment Report, the Covid pandemic has forced around 460,000 Cambodians into poverty. It followed a decade of unprecedented economic growth and poverty reduction in Cambodia. At that time, the global economy was experiencing strong growth rates. The report “Toward A More Inclusive and Resilient Cambodia” notes Cambodia’s poverty rate Read more
Poverty is not pretty, says KidsCan ambassador Verity Brogden. She should know. She grew up that way. “Going through poverty as a kid you feel invisible – like no one sees you and no one cares about you.” Brogden says often people don’t want to acknowledge disadvantaged children exist. They’re trying to pretend there’s no Read more
It’s time to farewell Monte Cecilia’s outgoing CEO Bernie Smith. Smith told CathNew he is leaving on Wednesday. The Catholic housing trust has been flooded with messages since Smith announced his resignation last month. It’s clear he’ll be missed. Big time. Smith is modest about his involvement with the Trust. “Empowering the disempowered, housing the Read more