A member of New Zealand’s Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster has been approved as a marriage celebrant The first ‘Ministeroni’ Karen Martyn, from Wellington is certified as a marriage celebrant for the niche religion, whose followers believe the world was created by a god made of spaghetti and meatballs. Karen Martyn defended against her Read more
New Zealand
Does NZ need a sex abuse royal commission?
Friday, March 11th, 2016Survivors and supporters of church sex abuse victims are renewing calls for a Royal Commission into sex abuse throughout New Zealand. They say Australia is facing up to its past by having an inquiry, and New Zealand should too. Bill Kilgallon, who handles the Catholic Church’s sex abuse claims, says if we do have one Read more
Anglican proposal for same-sex marriage blessing in New Zealand
Tuesday, March 8th, 2016
Blessings for same-sex marriages could be permitted in the Anglican Church in Aotearoa, New Zealand and Polynesia if a new proposal is adopted by its General Synod. After a debate at the Synod in 2014, a working group was established to find a way for opponents and supporters of same-sex marriage to co-exist in the Read more
Construction under way on new school for Kapiti
Tuesday, March 8th, 2016
Construction has begun at the site of a new Catholic school and church in Paraparaumu. A site blessing ceremony was held at the land last Friday, with school children, parishioners, and clergy. Wellington archbishop cardinal John Dew blessed the site, and expressed the hope the project would benefit the parish and wider community. The first Read more
Cause of sainthood to be launched for another New Zealand saint
Tuesday, March 8th, 2016
The launch of the cause of sainthood of Fr Antoine Marie Garin SM will take place with a Mass on the 14th April 2016, at St. Michael’s Church, 6 Beatrice Rd, Remuera Auckland at 7-30 p.m. The launch, sponsored by an Auckland lay group is taking place there because Fr Garin founded the parishes of Howick and Read more
No holiday is sacred to retail New Zealand
Tuesday, March 8th, 2016Shops should be allowed to be open whenever they like, says Retail New Zealand which has presented its case on trading laws for Easter Sunday. Retail NZ supported the “liberalisation” the bill provided. It should be up to businesses to decide for themselves whether they wanted to open on any day of the year, spokesman Greg Read more
NZ Marist Fathers launch donations drive for Fiji
Friday, March 4th, 2016
The Marist Fathers in New Zealand are accepting donations to alleviate people’s suffering and aid the re-establishment of their lives in Fiji. New Zealand Marist Mission promoter, Fr Tim Duckworth, SM, confirmed the move on Tuesday evening. “The people of Fiji are resilient, but in many cases will have to start again from the foundations,” Fr Read more
Hato Paora protest sees kapa haka poi ban revoked
Friday, March 4th, 2016
Hato Paora College has successfully protested over a rule stopping boys-only schools doing the poi at the National Secondary Schools kapa haka competition. Last month, the organising committee for the competition told boys-only schools they would have to swap poi routines for mau rakau – performances using taiaha. But that change has now been revoked, following Hato Paora’s Read more
Auckland bishop labels Madonna material highly offensive
Friday, March 4th, 2016
The Bishop of Auckland, Bishop Patrick Dunn, has described some of pop-singer Madonna’s performances as ‘highly offensive to Christianity’. Bishop Dunn’s comments, made to the New Zealand Herald, came ahead of performances by Madonna in Auckland. “There is no question in my mind that some of Madonna’s material is highly offensive to Christianity and will Read more