According to the ODT, the South and Dunedin in particular are considered one of the country's epicentres for child sexual abuse in the Catholic Church.

There was no mention or comment about the Presbyterian, Anglican and other Christian churches.

The Survivors Network told the ODT that the Commission is failing to meet its obligations.

Network spokesman Dr Murray Heasley (pictured) said it was ‘‘astonishing'' Dunedin would not host hearings.

‘‘It is a massive dereliction of duty and a repulsive slap in the face for all of the victim-survivors who reported thinking they would be listened to, validated and respected.

‘‘It seems the victims of the south are not considered as worthy of healing and redress as their brothers and sisters in the north.''

He compared Dunedin to Ballarat, Australia, where a similar church abuse scandal was uncovered.

It served as a case study for the Australian equivalent of the commission, one of 57 case studies it produced.

‘‘Our Abuse in Care Royal Commission, by comparison, has produced exactly zero case studies.

"Allow me to repeat that. Zero. None", said Heasley.

‘‘The case studies were not simple victim-survivor statements added as appendices but major royal commission involvement at every level in situ to make the whole process accessible to the targeted community, not limited to Auckland,'' he said.

However, the Royal Commission says it has engaged with many Dunedin survivors and is committed to investigating their claims. Commission chair Judge Coral Shaw said it was an inquiry for all of Aotearoa, including the people of Otepoti.

‘‘The inquiry's investigations span the country and participation is not limited to where someone lives — all people in this country are able to share their experiences with our investigation teams.

‘‘We want to reassure Dunedin-based survivors of abuse in the care of the Catholic Church (whether currently in Dunedin or living elsewhere) — and other survivors around the country — that you are important to the inquiry.''

Shaw told the ODT all survivors from all parts of the country can give evidence at the Auckland hearings.

She said the Commission funds flights and accommodation for survivors and a support person and that financial assistance is also given to survivors required to attend.

Source ODT

The hall will be demolished to help meet the rising demand for accommodation in Dunedin.

Wallace said he was in talks with Habitat for Humanity to build housing for those in need on the site of St Martin's Hall in Northumberland St.

Much of the old hall — parts of which were considered unsafe in an earthquake — has been empty since 2013. The rest was vacated last year.

Wallace said plans for the housing are still being finalised. At this stage, the idea is to develop a cluster of one and two bedroom residential units.

Just when the work will start has yet to be confirmed.

Consent to demolish the old hall was not required, as it was not a listed heritage building, but consent for new houses would be, Wallace said.

‘‘We haven't signed anything with Habitat but we're working with them about the possibilities there."

‘‘We're not rushing into anything, but we're really happy that the site that was used by the community so well for decades and decades, but is not able to continue being used in that way, has the possibility of serving the community in a whole other way.''

Once built, the houses would add to those the parish already owned, in Cumberland St next to the All Saint's Anglican Church.

Four units in Cumberland Street built by parish are now offered to those in need, in partnership with the Salvation Army.

Source

• Otago Daily Times
• Image: Otago Daily Times

The St Francis of Assisi Dunedin Trust has been formed to provide micro-loans to people in need of a helping hand, especially in a crisis situation.

The initiative by a small group of Dunedin Catholics, was prompted by The Expert Advisory Group on Solutions to Child Poverty.

The Advisory Group recommended reducing debt as a major way to improve the circumstances of disadvantaged children in New Zealand, and the Parish Priest of Forbury, Dunedin, Fr Gerard Aynsley asked the community whether it could help address the problem.

With it's focus in South Dunedin, the St Francis Trust has formed a relationship with South Auckland based Nga Tangata Microfinance Trust enabling the St Francis Trust to provide

• a no interest loans of up to $1500 to purchase a household asset, e.g. washing machine, TV or computer or for paying the likes of medical, dental, car repair or school uniform bills
• a debt relief loan of up to $2500 to help pay off a high-interest loan.

Spokesperson for the St Francis Trust, Lynne Toomey said that loaning people money is legally quite complicated, but Nga Tangata through their relationships with the Good Shepherd Microfinance Trust in Australia, the NZ Council of Christian Social Services, the NZ Federation of Family Budgeting Services, have excellent systems in place.

Kiwi Bank provides Nga Tangata with the loan capital.

Toomey says the trust is also keen to look at other ways of helping people with financial problems.

"We know we won't be able to solve all their financial worries, but we're particularly keen to help people look at all the options before taking on high-interest loans", she told CathNews.

The St Francis Trust is also using the opportunity of providing the loan as a way towards giving people financial literacy, and is keen that people learn to budget for themselves.

"Those who get a loan are required to work with budget advisors for the duration of the loan", she said.

To make the service more accessible, the St Francis Trust, through Church Resources, has set up an free call number 0800 086 177.

The St Francis Trust is keen for parishioners and members of the community to become directly involved in the work and development of the trust. Those looking to get involved are welcome to email: stfrancisfund@dspa.org.nz.

Sources:

• Supplied
• Image: Hope Church

Many have already commented on the man, his life and his works and I have read reflections and tributes online that tell the story of a man who commanded enormous respect. But at the church service I learnt quite a bit more.

Although much of his work contains a religious element, I had no idea how deeply he held the Catholic faith.

His real name is Hone Papita, which is a translation of John Baptiste, and he was named after Jean Baptiste Pompallier. This is, of course, the Bishop Pompallier who was basically the first Catholic missionary to set foot in New Zealand and became the first Catholic Bishop of Auckland.

His presence in Northland from 1838 onwards meant that several of the Maori villages of the far north took on the Catholic faith. Mitimiti was one of those villages. I had intended to visit the village when we were on holiday in the Hokianga simply because I knew of it from Ralph's work but what I know now is that the village is also full of religious symbolism. The graveyard is called Hione or Zion and the church is Hato Hemi or St James. These stand alongside a traditional marae and perhaps give an insight into the way that Ralph perceived the world.

Certainly the Roman Catholic service conducted for Ralph was highly ritualised and full of symbolism itself. Most of us present were not Catholic but the religious proceedings were clearly requested by Ralph before he passed away.

During the eulogies he was described more than once as being his own man and being a man of integrity who used his talents to fight issues of racism, inequality and threats to the environment.

Quite possibly, the church has played its part in cementing his convictions about doing the right thing. Continue reading

Sources

• Tahu Potiki in The Press
• Image: Commonwealth Study Conferences Australia

Article and photo reproduced with permission.

Tahu Potiki is a columnist for The Christchurch Press.

It will be known as An-Nur Kiwi Academy (AKA), it will be the South Island's first Islamic (Moslem) school and will accept pupils from overseas as well as those living in New Zealand.

The Trust has now announced it also wants to open an out-of-school programme for younger Muslim children in Dunedin.

He said the reaction to the Trust's plans had largely been positive.

There are more than 36,000 Muslims in New Zealand, including more than 500 in Dunedin. Most of those are University of Otago students or staff and their family members.

Source:

• Otago Daily Times
• Image: IndiaCurretAffairs