Local & Wider News

Government will change charity tax rules at its peril: OPINION: When Oliver Twist said, “Please, sir, I want some more”, it accurately characterised the mindset that many still carry today when thinking about charities. It’s a mindset of reliance on donations from others, with hands outstretched in the hope of some crumbs falling from the plate of the wealthy (Steven Moe is a partner at Parry Field Lawyers and hosts the podcast Seeds. He works extensively with purpose-driven organisations. The Post, 21 March 2025)

History of the first Chinses Churches in Aotearoa New Zealand: On Saturday, 15th March a successful book launch was held at the Wellington Anglican Chinese Mission Church for “Rich Treasure in Alien Soil - Chinese Churches & Poll Tax in Aotearoa New Zealand 1865- 1960” by Rev Stuart Vogel.

(News for our Movement, Diocese of Wellington, 19 March 2025).

Kapiti Parish Reflects on Community-Focused Christmas Initiative: Kāpiti Parish is embracing new strategies to address post-pandemic decline and engage with the community. By implementing the principles of Leading Your Church into Growth (LYCIG), the parish has seen an inspiring response to its outreach efforts. To bring the real meaning of Christmas into the community, the parish launched an ambitious Advent initiative that combined festive decorations, interactive storytelling, and hospitality. Over 100 parishioners helped host and set up St Paul’s Church into a welcoming space, complete with lights, an interactive nativity, and a series of nine storytelling stations that guided visitors through the Christmas narrative. (News for our Movement, Diocese of Wellington, 12 March 2025)

Engaging Our Local Communities: A Conversation with Alice Kinyua. How can churches engage their multicultural communities? Join the conversation at FIND. (Korero, Diocese of Nelson, 12 March 2025)

Church scheme still in demand: After 10 years of providing affordable, top-quality fruit and vegetables to Dunedin households, the All Saints’ Fruit & Veges scheme is going strong. Founded in February 2015 by All Saints’ Anglican Church to meet a growing need for affordable food in the community, the volunteer-run programme is as much in demand as ever (The Star, 13 March 2025).

March Edition of Touchstone(Methodist news): Inclusiveness, justice and healing are three of our guiding principles so it is entirely appropriate that MCNZ leaders have been swift and vocal in their condemnation of the recent outpouring of hate, homophobia and zenophobia espoused by those in positions of power.

Memorial marks end to decade long cemetery study: The ground-breaking Tokomairiro Project 60 (TP60) officially ended with a memorial on Saturday , after a decade of historical and archaeological digging around St John’s Anglican burial ground near Milton (ODT, subscribers only, 10 March 2025)

Ash Wednesday, All Saints Dunedin: Have a look at a Facebook post, including clips of the Choir (mostly from Selwyn College) leading worship. (5 March 2025)

World news

Declaring Cook Islands 'Christian' would violate human rights said lawyers—CathNews
Pope Francis concelebrating mass in hospital chapel—CathNews
The Māori Anglican Church welcomes others for pilgrimage—ACNS
WCC condemns attacks in Gaza and Yemen—WCC
A beginner's guide to church planting—Church Times

New Zealand Aotearoa news

For the good of the city—Daily Encourager
Peek inside Christchurch's partly-restored cathedral—Stuff
Anglican Seminary Deans Network met at St John's College—Anglican Taonga
5,000 Freemasons in NZ: Church says Catholics can't join—CathNews

National Anglican News at Taonga

Oceania Primates' Fono reports

Anglican Primates and General Secretaries from across the Oceania region meeting in Ngā Motu | New Plymouth from 7 -10 March have released a communiqué laying out key aspects of their programme and discussions over their four-day Fono.

Hoani Tapu hosts seminary deans

St John’s Theological College in Auckland has hosted a landmark gathering of Anglican Seminary Deans from East Asia and Oceania to present the challenge of reshaping theological education through an indigenous lens.

Archbishops stand up for the Treaty

Archbishops Don Tamihere, Justin Duckworth and Sione Ului'lakepa were represented by Archbishop Emeritus David Moxon at a New Zealand Parliamentary Select Committee hearing last week, where he presented their opposition to the Treaty Principles Bill.

The Wider Church and World