In 1855 Wellington experienced a severe earthquake that rocked the southern part of the North Island. At magnitude 8.2 it was the most powerful ever recorded in New Zealand.

The earthquake was caused by movement along a fault in Palliser Bay and lasted nearly a minute.

Wellington was worst affected and up to nine people died. It altered the landscape of the region and affected its subsequent urban development, although many new wooden buildings survived.

Bishop Viard (who had arrived in Wellington in 1850 as Vicar Apostolic of the Southern diocese, headquartered in Wellington, and was appointed Bishop in 1860) was overseas at the time.

He decided on his return to consecrate the Archdiocese of Wellington to the patronage of Mary under her title of the Immaculate Conception. Every year since then, on 8 December Wellington Catholics pray to Mary to protect the city from further earthquakes.

According to ‘local legend', during World War II Archbishop O'Shea forgot to say the prayer and in 1942 Wellington experienced another severe earthquake. Continue reading

But Tamaki's wife has tweeted, her husband will receive a tax return to the value of one third of every donation over $5.

Rainbow Youth supporters were encouraged to make the donations in Tamaki's name, using Destiny Church's office email address, to get back at him for things he said in a sermon Sunday before last.

In the sermon, given less that 24 hours before a massive 7.8 earthquake struck central New Zealand, Tamaki blamed gay people for causing natural disasters including earthquakes.

But as Tamaki's wife has tweeted that her husband will receive a tax return to the value of one third of every donation over $5

"Just letting u knw. if u do this. Brian will get a 3rd of that money back. in tax return. so go ahead. make a donation towards us. Thk u"

An online petition calling on the prime minister John Key to strip Destiny Church of its tax free status has been signed my more than 120,000 people.

Earlier prime minister John Key labelled Tamaki's remarks "ridiculous".

"The facts of life are New Zealand is a seismically prone country, with a number of very well identified fault lines," Key told RadioLive.

"It's nothing to do with people's sexuality. I mean, it's just madness."

Attorney General Chris Finlayson, who is gay, said "I think he needs a bit of counselling, frankly. He's a sick puppy."

Internal Affairs Minister, the United Future Peter Dunne tweeted:

"I do not favour taxing genuine churches & real charities, but as Destiny is obviously neither it should pay taxes like every other business"

As Internal Affairs Minister, Dunn oversees the registration of charities. But a spokesman for Dunne's office said removing the church's tax-exemption status wasn't within his power.

He told the Herald deregistering a charity was a lengthy process and if the petition went before Parliament a select committee would make a recommendation before referring the issue to Charities Services.

The Charities Services would then conduct a review determine whether the organisation fulfilled the criteria, the spokesman said.

Source

• nzherald.co.nz
• nzherald.co.nz
• nzherald.co.nz
• Image: gaynz.com

"The earthquake that struck midnight Sunday (sic), the 13th of November 2016 was warned of that Sunday morning at 10:45am, during the Sunday morning church service of Destiny Church Auckland, NZ - that person was me!"

Tamaki said "No other sin in the whole of the bible has any connection to earthquakes, floods and volcanic eruptions, but Sexual Perversions alone."

He admitted "most men this would seem ridiculous and judgmental by God and US! But God is not judging us, nature is! The environment is suffering under mankind's iniquities."

He said many natural disasters have obvious connection to man's blatant disregard to the environment. Some can be explained through human causes.

"But there are some disasters that are directly related to the (above) scriptures and previous explanation. It's not going to get better, but worse!"

"The Diminishing of our Christian faith in modern society and the increasing aggressive reaction to Christ and His Church in social, political and family life has hastened the frequency of natural disasters around the globe!"

Tamaki said his Sunday morning talk was "not a church service not a political speech." ... it was God speaking.

Among many other things he advised those listening no to "sit here and ever think that it couldn't happen for you and me."

"The comes a day when the Father says listen, I've tried every love option. I've tried every-long suffering way of waiting for you and you're still stamping your foot, and you're still huffing and puffing."

"Well the next time you stamp your foot there's going to be an earthquake. The next time you put push out your chest and huff out there your house is going to come under some serious trouble."

"The next time you throw your chest back and huff out of your mouth, os you think you are invincible you are going to face a horrible illness in your life."

Source

• bishoptamaki.com
• destinychurch.org.nz

To allow this to happen the diocese of Auckland, through its agency the Catholic Caring Foundation, has launched an appeal.

Star of the Sea parish in Blenheim has welcomed the move.

"Since our amalgamation of all three parishes including Picton, Blenheim and Kaikoura, we are in a much improved position to identify the needs of the poorest and most vulnerable within our community.," said the spokesperson for the Blenheim Parish.

"Although there is not much information coming out of Kaikoura at the moment we already have an established knowledge on the needs of this community."

"We welcome any support the Catholic Caring Foundation is able to offer and wish to thank the wider Catholic community for its support."

The Catholic Caring Foundation will absorb all administration costs of this campaign so that 100% of all funds raised will go directly to assisting the most affected and most vulnerable families.

Bishop Dunn will determine how these funds will be allocated on an ongoing basis so that donations can have a fast and effective impact on those in distress. In addition, Bishop Dunn has asked for prayers for all those who are affected by the earthquake.

How you can help:

Please consider a donation:

By Post to: The Catholic Caring Foundation, Private Bag 47904, Auckland 1144.

By Direct Credit: BNZ 02-0100-0242648-000
Please include your first and last name as a reference and QUAKE as the code. For a receipt, email info@caringfoundation.org.nz including your mailing address.

By donating securely online: to http://www.caringfoundation.org.nz/donate/online-donations/

• Please specify that your donation is for the QUAKE appeal.
• Please spread the word with your networks, through social media, word of mouth or by copying this statement and emailing to others.
• Run your own fundraising event and donate the proceeds to this campaign.

The Catholic Caring Foundation will publish information on the progress of this initiative.

Source

• www.aucklandcatholic.org.nz
• sunlive.co.nz