Trevor McGlinchey, the executive director at the NZ Council of Christian Social Services, said the typical Kiwi family seeking help was now often more at risk of unravelling after a single financially stressful event. Read more

The money became available when, in 2016, the Sisters of the Good Shepherd returned the proceeds from the sale of property in Halswell in the south-west of Christchurch.

The diocese had given the land to the sisters in the 19th century to establish an outreach known as Mount Magdala.

A committee has been formed to make recommendations to the bishop on how the funds should be allocated.

From the beginning of next year, trusts, parishes and schools in the Canterbury region will be able to apply to the fund for grants to support their work with people in need.

The funds will be available to help women, children and families in the Canterbury region so as to honour the original intention of Mount Magdala.

Mount Magdala was the brainchild of Fr Laurence Ginaty who, in the 1870-80s, had been working as a prison chaplain.

As a result of this work, Ginaty became aware of the plight of many women and children living in poverty.

He wanted to establish a place for them to live in and, while there, develop skills that would allow them to improve their lot.

It took years of hard work before this vision began to take shape but, with the help of two sisters of the Good Shepherd, Mount Magdala was established in 1888 on the small farm at Halswell.

At its height, Mount Magdala was home to 25 sisters, 159 young women, 62 orphans and eight workmen.

But, as the nature of social outreach changed, numbers dwindled and Mount Magdala closed in 1966.

The land was sold to become part of the Aidanfield subdivision.

In the Te Reo translation of the Bible, the word ‘hoatu' appears a number of times. In particular, Matthew 7:9-11 refers to God knowing the needs of his children and giving them what they need.

Source

• Inform
• The Marist Messenger
• Image: 3.bp.blogspot

He was supporting a team of businesses and volunteers.

They wanted children of low-income families to know the excitement of receiving presents at Christmas.

Tua's appearance happened at Otara's St John the Evangelist Catholic School.

He was taking part in a present drop in all Otara schools over five days.

The Child Abuse Prevention Foundation set up the Christmas present drop.

It hoped to raise enough money to pay for 10 thousand presents.

Each present consists of educational books and outdoor activities.

It gave them to babies and children up to the age of 13 years.

One of the organisers, Puti Taufa, says she knows there are families in Otara that need the help.

"Some of our kids don't get presents and so this is our way of giving back," she says.

Tua took part as his wife helped organise the present drop.

Community groups and social services combined for the distribution.

Many businesses donated money to pay for the presents.

In addition, many donated staff time.

Fundraising continues to pay for the presents, which each cost about $10.

Tua says his family didn't have much when he was a kid.

"But you have to be creative and make your own little fun," he says.

Auckland Mayor, Phil Goff, also attended a drop.

Goff says poverty prevents people reaching their potential.

"You can't [achieve] if you're living in cold or damp or you don't get the same opportunities in life."

Future Present Drops

While this events winds down, there is talk now of expanding the project to other Auckland suburbs.

In that case, community leaders in each would be responsible in their own suburb.

The Child Abuse Prevention Foundation set up a Give A Little page to help pay for the presents.

Source:

• Radio NZ
• Maori Television
• Stuff
• YouTube

More than 132 agencies and churches use Christchurch's 0800 Hungry - which also delivers directly to families - with surplus supplies going to low decile schools. Continue reading

The Methodist mission has taken the lease on six houses.

The tenants pay rent, but the mission has committed to the landlord to pay any missed rent, and repair any damage.

The Methodist Mission is working with Christchurch youth service, Youth Cultural Development.(YCD)

YCD works with the young people to provide support.

The mission does this for families.

Four Families now have a home

Methodist Mission director Jill Hawkey said the four families have needed far less intensive support once they were in a stable home.

She said for the families it had largely been an advocacy role.

"What we've found with the families we've worked with, is often they had a poor credit history, so landlords didn't want to rent to them.

"And sometime it's that they may have mental health issues, or just a lack of confidence so they are unable to really go out there and advocate for themselves."

Finding landlords who were willing to rent to homeless people was also a huge struggle, and Jill Hawkey rang at least 40 before she found someone who would take them on.

Caring for young homeless presents more problems.

Anni Watkin from Youth Cultural Development said for the young people the transition from living in abandoned buildings to managing a home hasn't been easy.

She said at times the homes have been chaotic, and the young people have had to be taught basics like the need to clean up after themselves, how to be considerate of neighbours, and how to portion out food to last a week.

"They weren't accustomed to responsibility and routine, and being considerate of others, so there was a lot of learning."

Watkin said the YCD youth workers helped the young people sign up for unemployment benefits, and to start addressing some of their negative behaviours with daily visits.

"They were living off stealing, begging, prostitution... We supported to them to address synthetic (cannabis) and drug abuse issues, and some of the barriers which were stopping them from moving forward positively."

Source

• radionz.co.nz
• Image: radionz.co.nz

Almost a quarter of all New Zealand families with children experience income poverty. 2014 Child Poverty Monitor

That means that these families live on less than 60% of New Zealand's mean income.

Only 37% of the adults in these families are in paid employment.

Caritas Aotearoa New Zealand has produced a short documentary - 'Kiwi Families: It's Our Story' - featuring four community groups across the country and the families they support.

It forms part of an awareness raising campaign about child poverty in New Zealand.

A DVD copy of the film can also be ordered from the Caritas office by email: caritas@caritas.org.nz or phone: 0800 22 10 22.

Caritas Aotearoa New Zealand is encouraging people to share this story by organising a movie night this Social Justice Week.

Click here for a link to the Discussion and DVD Screening Guide to get some guidance on how to run a movie night, and how to discuss and debate some of the issues shown in the film.

This week is Social Justice Week, 13-19 September.

The focus this year is family poverty and what it would take for all Kiwi families to flourish.

The aim in 2015 is to increase awareness and understanding of the challenges struggling families face today in Aoteraoa New Zealand, while also inspiring people to take action. Resources for Social Justice Week

As well as using 'Kiwi Families: It's Our Story Caritas Aotearoa New Zealand suggests some other things that anyone can to:

• Write to your local MP, councillor, decision makers and share with them your top three essentials that you believe every family need in order to flourish.
• Take some time to pray for families that you know who are going through a hard time and listen to how God might be calling you to respond.
• Support Social Justice Week events are being held in your parishes and community centres.

Cardinal John Dew will mark the beginning of the campaign and also launch The Poverty and Justice Bible with a special mass at the St Peter and Paul Mass Centre in Lower Hutt on Sunday, 13 September from 5:30pm. A showing of the Social Justice Week 20-minute documentary will follow the mass.

Produced in partnership with Bible Society New Zealand, The Poverty and Justice Bible uses the Catholic NRSV translation, but also includes a unique study section which was developed with The Catholic Institute and derived from the New Zealand Year 12 Religious Education curriculum and Caritas resources.

Event: Launch of Social Justice Week 2015 and The Poverty and Justice Bible
Venue: Catholic Parish of Te Awakairangi, St Peter and Paul Mass Centre 60 Knights Road, Lower Hutt
Date: 13 September, 2015
Time: 5:30pm start

Source

• Supplied: Caritas Aotearoa Zealand
• Child Poverty Monitor
• Image: 3news.co.nz