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
A generation of kids have grown up with increasing income inequality and high levels of poverty. “The violence, poor health and lack of educational success of our poorest kids is a direct consequence”, said Ruby Duncan, President of the New Zealand Council of Christian Social Services (NZCCSS). “Our members do not want to be constantly Read more
Australia’s Catholic bishops want politicians to think again about tough crime campaigns and look to creative sentencing options, saying Australia is putting too many convicts in prison. While Australia’s crime rates have remained steady, the bishops’ say the number of those behind bars has doubled between 1984 and 2008. They call the growth a “disproportion”. “While society will always Read more
As Social Justice Week (11-17 September) falls this year in the first week of Rugby World Cup competition, Catholic social justice agency Caritas has focused on the theme ‘On a level playing field’ to examine issues of fairness and the common good in the light of Catholic social teaching. Archbishop John Dew kicked off Social Read more
Most beneficiaries are genuine, a Catholic delegation told Finance Minister Bill English last week, and the government should not describe beneficiaries in ways that stigmatise and stereotype the poor. The delegation, led by Archbishop John Dew, met Mr English on 15 August to discuss welfare reform, a day after the National government began a series Read more
A workshop organised by the American Bar Association Rule of Law Initiative attended by lawyers, police, Ports Authority officials and Government officials has been told that “Human trafficking is real and it happens in the Solomon Islands,” Sister Doreen told the workshop that the issue of human trafficking has been seen as a problem experienced only in Read more
Embassy of the United States of America in Apia, has issues a statements saying that it is not accusing New Zealand of human trafficking after all. In its statement the Embassy said it wished to correct an inaccurate New Zealand press reports about the Regional Seasonal Employment Scheme. The US Embassy wishes “to correct the Read more
The rest of the world has watched transfixed and uncomprehending over the last few days as legislators in the United State struggled to come to some agreement to prevent the United States government defaulting on its debts. The spectacle led one commentator, Robert Dallek to say, “Something is at work here that makes you wonder if rational discourse Read more
“New Zealanders are proud of their universal healthcare services, with its founding roots in the Good Samaritan story, but they must be ever vigilant,” says Gerald Arbuckle. “Healthcare is not a commodity, to be available only to those who have money. It is a fundamental right. When people on the margins of our society begin Read more
“By making a blanket statement that asylum seekers are not welcome in New Zealand, our Prime Minister is showing a total disregard for our country’s legal and moral responsibility to offer protection to refugees,” says Patrick Holmes, Chief Executive Officer of Amnesty International Aotearoa New Zealand. “Asylum seekers are not breaking the law. Nobody wants Read more