I te Pāpaho - Media and Latest News
Keeping up to date with news and stories from across our faith communities, the wider church and community....
Recent News...
Above: Bishop Anne visited Rakiura-Stewart Island last weekend... and caught two blue cod in the process!
Call to see the humanity of every person a timeless message: It is just as well that governments don’t get to heaven. Christian theology has Jesus saying on Judgement Day “Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: for I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in; I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me”. (New King James Bible) (Dr Anaru Eketone, ODT 15 December 2025).
Church marks 150th anniversary: The St Matthew’s Dunedin church community came together for a successful celebration of its 150th year at the weekend. (The Star, 11 December 2025)
Clergy member’s 60 years of dedication celebrated : It's not very often the Anglican Church gets to celebrate a 60th anniversary for one of its clergy.
But that’s how it was in Oamaru on Thursday, when Archdeacon The Ven Bernard Wilkinson (94) was the subject of a special morning tea at St Luke’s Church in Oamaru. (ODT, 6 December 2025)
Grief, loss initiative receives grant: The largest grant ever awarded by the Clutha Foundation will help bring a much-needed grief and loss programme to South Otago, marking a major step in expanding emotional-wellbeing support across the district. Anglican Family Care received $15,000 to pilot its Oceans Grief & Loss Programme locally — funding foundation administrator Jess Weichler said reflected the foundation’s commitment to health and wellbeing during a cost-of-living crisis that was putting families under pressure. (ODT 6 December 2025)
Touchstone December 2025: Have a look at the latest news from the Methodist Church in New Zealand
‘Significant milestone’ marked: Past and present members of the St Matthew’s church community will come together this weekend to celebrate 150 years of worship at the historic central Dunedin church. (Star, 4 December 2025).
Advent an invitation to slow down and wait with deep hope : The Advent calendar experience is about something sweeter than chocolate, Graham Redding writes. (ODT, 3 December 2025)
Organisations keep produce cost low: Blueskin Bay Library is partnering with two local low-cost food services to help support families on a budget in the Waitati and northern coastal areas. Every Thursday for the past 10 years, volunteers with the All Saints Fruit and Veges scheme have delivered pre-ordered fruit and vegetable packs to the library for local people to collect.
In recent months, community eatery The Bowling Club, which provides low-cost meals at its Caversham restaurant and offers meal deliveries via volunteers, has come on board to deliver meals twice per week. (The Star, 27 Nov 2025)
St Heliers Church (Auckland Diocese) now running on sunshine: In partnership with Solar Hub, St Philip’s Church, St Heliers has recently installed solar panels to significantly reduce its carbon footprint, generate clean, locally sourced energy, strengthen the church’s energy resilience, and deliver long-term financial savings. This initiative reflects the fifth Anglican Mark of Mission: safeguarding the integrity of creation and sustaining and renewing the life of the earth. WATCH THE FACEBOOK VIDEO
Inclusive and diverse Dunedin churches one of city’s great attractions: Diversity is vital to a thriving church, Terry Pouono writes (ODT, 21 November 2025).
World news
Bethlehem Christmas tree lights up—BBC
Church of England's 'Joy of Christmas' Campaign—ENS
Aotearoa New Zealand news
VSA opportunity lifts each other up—Daily Encourager
National Anglican News at Taonga
How do churches serve widows?
Anglican deacon and nursing educator the Reverend Faye Davenport has taken a deep dive into the pastoral and practical needs of widows, as she looks for ways that church communities can better respond when a woman's spouse dies.
Te Runanganui gathers in Ngāmotu
As Te Rūnanganui o Te Pīhopatanga o Aotearoa opens this week in Ngāmotu - New Plymouth topping the agenda are: Taranaki history, connecting with Sacred Circle, wānanga on the findings of the Commission on Episcopal Leadership, and looking into church resourcing equity and Indigenous leadership on climate.
Christ Church reopens in Advent
Christ Church Cathedral is bringing the city back to its heart for Christmas with a second year hosting the City Mission Christmas tree and a new Colin McCahon-inspired artwork by Pete Majendie that carries visitors through Gospel texts proclaiming the birth of Jesus.
Finding God's angle on disability
The Anglican Disability Network has released a video to help the Church hear from people with lived experience of disability, as they unfurl the meaning and impact of this Church's Theology of Disability.
• Read the full Anglican Theology of Disability here
• Watch the Theology of Disability video on Youtube here
Anglican schools uphold Te Tiriti
This week the Anglican Archbishops encouraged Anglican schools across Aotearoa New Zealand to continue upholding Te Tiriti o Waitangi in their life and practice, with the full backing of the Church.
NZer eyewitnesses in Palestine
Anglican Journalist Cole Martin from the Diocese of Christchurch has spent six months of this year in Israel and Palestine, documenting firsthand the realities of life in the Holy Land. Anglican Taonga checked out his insights on 9 November during his South Island speaking tour.
• Metro News: A Kiwi journalist's time in Palestine
• ODT: Palestine trip 'a sobering privilege'
• 'Horrific things': Kiwi journalist reflects on time in Palestine’s most tear-gassed camp
• The West Bank through an NZ man's eyes
Global communions meet at COP30
Anglican and Catholic delegations attending COP30 in Brazil met to explore theological responses to climate change, new pathways for collaboration, education, and advocacy in the face of a global crisis.
Plan 'for all' this Advent
The Anglican Disability Network has released resources to help church communities more fully welcome and include everyone in worship and community events this Advent and Christmas.
• View Advent 2025 resources