New Zealand’s rapidly rising cost of living is “absolutely a crisis”, says Monte Cecilia Housing Trust CEO Bernie Smith. Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said Monday that while rising living costs were impacting, she wouldn’t describe the situation as a crisis. However, the Catholic Housing Trust CEO with first-hand real-life experience of hardship is pushing back Read more
Vaccination certificates and ‘traffic lights’ are coming soon to your church. Under the new COVID-management system, places of worship may legally choose to implement a vaccination entry requirement for congregants. Whether they do or do not has different consequences. Vaccine certificates will also apply to clergy. The government’s three-tier “traffic light ” framework will come Read more
Despite the Ardern government’s stated child poverty focus, more and more of New Zealand’s children, particularly Māori and Pacific children, are suffering. In the face of miserable outcomes in relation to child poverty, obesity, suicide and basic education, the Prime Minister remains upbeat about her government’s efforts to date. “You would be hard pressed to Read more
The Government’s Covid economic success story might not be a sparkly for some as it seems for others. Data released by the Government shows Māori and Pasifika have been the big losers since the Covid pandemic struck. Both the Prime Minister Jacinda Adern and Finance Minister Grant Robertson are hinting Māori and Pasifika may be Read more
Over 60 religious and community groups are asking Jacinda Ardern to address current benefit levels that are keeping people in poverty. “During the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, you acted quickly to set up the COVID income relief payment, which is nearly twice the amount of the usual jobseeker benefit. “You showed us that you Read more
Former National Prime Minister Jim Bolger is challenging Jacinda Ardern to live up to her promises and deliver rapid progress on reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Bolger says many people have been disappointed at the Government’s “timid response on Green issues” over the past three years, despite having the Green Party in Cabinet for the first Read more
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern is refusing to take responsibility for the country’s damning social statistics; in particular child poverty. Amid the growing need for food banks and the accusation that Ardern, has done nothing to address the issue of child poverty, the Prime Minister told One News that she needs more than one term to Read more
Bolstered by scientific evidence, virtue ethics can help nations reopen not just economically but morally, too, according to a post in The Conversation. New Zealand is held up as an excellent example of virtuous pandemic policymaking even considering its advantages in having wealth, low density and no land borders say Mary Elizabeth Collins and Sarah B Read more
A Wellington parish priest is calling into question the Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern’s decision to limit the number of people in churches to ten people. “It is strange that bars and restaurants can open but churches are limited to just ten people”, said Fr Pete Roe the Parish Administrator of St Francis of Assisi parish Read more
New Zealand’s top scientific body has joined calls for an overhaul of genetic engineering (GE) laws, after finding an “urgent need” for a fresh look at how we might use the contentious technology. The Prime Minister’s chief science adviser has also shared with Jacinda Ardern her belief that laws governing gene editing technologies were no Read more