Worksafe communications general manager John Tulloch said the new legislation reflected modern workplace conditions, the Southland Times reported.

Mr Tulloch is on the board of trustees at St Benedict's School in Khandallah, Wellington.

He said he understands there was some concern about the Health and Safety at Work Act, which came into force on Monday.

Principals will bear more responsibility when accidents happen at their schools.

Under the act, principals could be held liable if they fail to exercise due diligence in ensuring their school meets health and safety requirements.

Penalties including fines of up to $600,000 or five years imprisonment could be imposed if they fail to do so.

"Let's not lose sight of the main goal here: New Zealand has a really poor workplace health and safety record, almost twice the rate of Australia, three times the rate of the UK," Mr Tulloch said.

"There's nothing new, but having responsibilities for managing risk," he said.

Information had already been distributed to schools helping explain what the new legislation meant, he added.

A section on both WorkSafe's and the Ministry of Education's websites offered further information, he said.

Some school principals have reportedly reacted to the prospect of their being held liable by planning to place their family homes in trusts.

One school in the Wairarapa reportedly imposed a temporary ban on students climbing trees.

The Health and Safety at Work Act was prompted by the Pike River mine disaster in 2010, in which 29 men were killed.

Sources

• Southland Times
• Stuff.co.nz
• Stuff.co.nz
• Image: Stuff.co.nz

Bishop Max Davis, who stood down as head of Australia's military ordinariate, was found not guilty on six charges of indecent dealings with male children and youth between 1969 and 1972.

In this time, he was dormitory master at St Benedict's College in New Norcia, north east of Perth.

He stood aside from his duties as Catholic Bishop of the Australian Defence Force (ADF) when he was charged two years ago.

A jury on Monday deliberated for about four hours before finding Bishop Davis not guilty of all six charges.

Bishop Davis made no comment as he left court after the verdict.

He will now take some time to decide whether to return to public ministry or not.

The bishop's defence counsel had told the court that while there was "no dispute" the complainants had been sexually abused at the college, Bishop Davis was not responsible.

Bishop Davis took the stand on Thursday and denied under oath that he sexually abused any of the teenage boys at New Norcia.

In his evidence he said he had no "independent recollection" of any of the complainants.

He also testified he had no sexual interest in children.

He stated he was appalled when, in 1971, he was told by a group of students that another clergy member was behaving inappropriately towards boys.

Bishop Davis said he immediately reported the concerns to the abbot and the priest, Fr Justin, was removed from the school that day.

Defence counsel Seamus Rafferty has suggested two alternative suspects, who are now dead, including Fr Justin.

The other was Brother Benedict, who was in charge of discipline before Davis took this over.

During the trial one former student said he was abused by a "Brother Max".

Bishop Davis told the court he was never referred to as "Brother" because he was not a member of any order.

Bishop Davis was ordained as a priest in 1971.

Sources

• ABC
• AAP
• Sydney Catholic
• Image: Perth Now

That's after already spending about $2million ten years ago to restore the structure that was built in 1888.

That restoration brought the church up to 33 per cent of the New Building Standard, just short of the 34 per cent required by the Earthquake-prone Buildings Amendment Bill that could become law this year.

Critics have panned the widespread net cast by the bill.

Building and Construction Minister Nick Smith told the Weekend Herald that he has asked officials to come up with a compromise plan that would cut costs, limit work to those buildings that needed it most and still have the legislation ready to be introduced by the end of the year if National was re-elected.

St Benedict's finance committee chairman Richard Hurley said it would cost at least $3 million to meet the standard and up to $8 million to do it well for their church.

The parish is not poor, but could not possibly afford that, he told the New Zealand Herald.

The church is one of about 30 out of 50 church-owned buildings surveyed by the Auckland Catholic diocese, which would be classified as earthquake-prone under the bill.

Auckland diocese administration board member Paddy Luxford, who is a geotechnical engineer, said the Church accepted that some buildings would have to be upgraded, but it would struggle to find the money for many others.

"We cannot afford to upgrade these, so we'll have to vacate them," he said.

"If they're historical, as I understand it, we might not be able to demolish them so they might end up becoming derelict."

Early estimates suggested at least half of all church buildings in New Zealand could be classed as earthquake-prone under the bill.

The bill, which has passed its first reading, as currently worded sets a national time frame of 20 years for buildings to be strengthened or demolished.

It requires territorial authorities to assess buildings within five years and for work to be completed, or buildings to be demolished, within 15 years of assessment.

Owners of category one historic places may apply for an extension of up to 10 years.

Sources

• New Zealand Herald
• Weekend Herald
• Beehive
• Heritage New Zealand
• Image: Newton Resident Business

The NZ Historic Places Trust recently registered Bishop's House in Ponsonby, and St Benedict's Church and presbytery, as Category 1 historic places, identifying them as places of outstanding heritage significance. Continue reading

The ceramic one metre tall figurines were gifted to the church in the late 1950s by a family who were parishioners at that time. This is the first time in over half a century that the figurines will be mounted on custom-built platforms, with a manger and backdrops to showcase them to their potential. With the platforms and backdrops measuring between 8 and 13 square metres, the two Christmas scenes will definitely provide a "wow" factor for visitors to the church.

The church is open daily for visitors to enjoy the display until 9pm.

Source

• Media & Communications Auckland
• Image: Media & Communications Auckland