Wellington’s Kilbirnie Mosque has confirmed plans to broadcast the Islamic call-to-prayer three times a year, putting to rest claims that it would occur five times a day. The request includes broadcasts on the anniversary of the Christchurch mosque attacks and during two major Islamic festivals, Eid al-Adha and Eid al-Fitr. The decision comes after Mayor Read more
The Muslim community is being targeted by a pamphlet’s malicious misinformation, says the Federation of Islamic Associations of New Zealand (FIANZ). The pamphlet claims Wellington City Council wants mosques to broadcast the Islamic Call To Prayer throughout the city. The Better Wellington campaign group behind the pamphlet expected 80,000 of them to be delivered this Read more
The Wellington City Council says it went above and beyond to consult with Fire and Emergency before a crew, on the way to a fire, were blocked by a surprise cycleway planter box. That and a catalogue of other Fire and Emergency (Fenz) safety problems with the council’s cycleway programme have been detailed in an Read more
When Wellington Mayor Tory Whanau heard Wellington’s mosques were seeking permission to broadcast the Call to Prayer, her response was offensive and irreligious. Whanau was on air at the time talking to The Platform’s Sean Plunkett. “The Platform has received quite a bit of feedback regarding the district plan vote Thursday on the broadcast of Read more
Migrant exploitation and its prevention are current concerns for Immigration New Zealand (INZ). The concern follows media exposure of numerous shameful examples of migrant workers coming to New Zealand and finding themselves without work, money or suitable accommodation. On Monday, INZ said it had received 711 complaints against accredited employers, with 154 being investigated for Read more
The pastoral care of Filipino migrant bus drivers who responded to an international recruitment campaign is being questioned. The article highlighting their plight has been pulled from the NZ Herald’s website. On Wednesday, Wellington NZ Herald reporter, Georgina Campbell, reported that migrant bus drivers have been brought to the Capital and are being put up Read more
The Wellington City Council is rethinking its policy after being slammed as “complicit in genocide denial”. The accusation against the Council followed its decision to grant police the power to arrest Anzac Day protesters. The issue came to light on Anzac Day last year. Richard Noble arrived at a service at Wellington’s Pukeahu War Memorial Read more
Eco-church NZ received $20,000 from the Wellington City Council to support grassroots efforts by churches in Wellington to understand their carbon footprint and develop climate action plans. Eco-church NZ is one of five recipients in the Council’s first round of the new Climate and Sustainability Fund today. “By funding them, we as a Council demonstrate Read more
Although Wellington icon St Gerard’s church and monastery has been declared earthquake-prone and will close next month, it is unlikely to be pulled down. While St Gerard’s future is ultimately up to the owners, the church – built in 1908 for the Redemptorists – could be deconsecrated so it could be used for events like Read more
Wellington City Councillor Iona Pannett says St Gerard’s Church itself is not at risk, but some “tough calls” might have to be made about the future of other earthquake-prone buildings that are part of the St Gerard’s Monastery. Pannett holds the Council’s heritage building resilience portfolio. She said a special grant was one option the Read more