It is 26 years since Pā Wiremu Te Awhitu died on the 29th July 1994. Some would argue he is an Aotearoa saint waiting to be recognised. Every year people from the Hamilton Diocese and beyond gather at his birthplace Okahukura, north of Taumarunui to celebrate his life. His family have a marae there dedicated Read more
Catholic Archbishop of Wellington Cardinal John Dew will bless construction workers, and the city’s Metropolitan Cathedral of the Sacred Heart in a ceremony at 10 am on Friday to mark the start of the cathedral project restoring and strengthening the Category I historic building. The classical-style cathedral in Hill St, Thorndon – designed by Dunedin Read more
When Hospice NZ reviewed the End of Life Choice Act, they were deeply concerned with the lack of clarity and detail when it came to the potential application of the End of Life Choice law. Following legal advice, Hospice NZ took an unprecedented action to seek clarity from the High Court on how the act Read more
Two small Catholic churches in rural Marlborough are to close following a review. Masses are held at Sacred Heart in Havelock three times a month, while the congregation of St Francis de Sales in Renwick gathers for Mass once a month. However, those churches are to close following the review. Continue reading
Two local musician, both internationally acclaimed in their own right, performed in concert to celebrate the opening of Our Lady of Kapiti Catholic Church in Kāpiti. Construction of the new church complex began January 2019, and Cardinal John Dew blessed the church and parish centre on Saturday, May 30. Organist Dr Kemp English and his Read more
The incidence of prolonged loneliness for youth increased significantly during the lockdown. For youth aged 15-24 years (General Social Survey) or aged 18-24 years (other surveys), the incidence of prolonged loneliness increased from 5.8% of youth before lockdown to about 20.8% during the lockdown. It fell slightly to 17.0% post-lockdown. These are the findings of Read more
Joseph Auga Matamata, 28 July, was sentenced in the Napier High Court to eleven years in jail after being found guilty of ten charges in human trafficking and thirteen charges in dealing in slaves. “Modern slavery is not something that happens ‘over there’ that we don’t have to think about,” Grace Forest, co-founder of Walk Read more
Fed up with groups from different schools fighting, students in Auckland have marched against inter-school violence. In June, a student was stabbed in the stomach and another left with concussion after a brawl involving up to 30 teens outside De La Salle College. Read more
Rainbow groups are celebrating “Mx” pronoun titles being included on voting enrolment forms for the first time. A spokesperson for the Electoral Commission said that enrolment forms – where eligible voting New Zealanders can enrol or update their details on the electoral roll – were updated last year. Continue reading
Quick action by bystanders and nearby fire crews limited the damage from a fire that broke out at a South Taranaki church on Thursday morning. The fire in a back porch of St Joseph’s Catholic Church, on Stanners St, Eltham, is being treated as suspicious. About 9 am, smoke was spotted coming out of the Read more