Dr Claire Achmad, Chief Children’s Commissioner, invites us all to work towards creating a place where all children and vulnerable adults are safe, loved and treated as taonga.

The Free Wesleyan Church of Tonga’s Centennial Conference and Celebrations, held in Nuku‘alofa, in the Kingdom of Tonga at the end of June involved more than 3,000 participants in an eight day event.

MCNZ President Rev Peter Taylor and Vice President Te Rito Semu-Peyroux, Superintendent Rev Kalolo Fihaki and hundreds of members from the Vahefonua Tonga o Aotearoa representing the Methodist Church of New Zealand attended The Free Wesley Church of Tonga 100th Anniversary Conference this year.

Sharing our own origins and mission story Maea te Kupu provided a powerful and personal perspective that captured the minds and imaginations of global religious leaders and scholars gathered in Nairobi.

International Youth Day is celebrated on 12 August. Simulata Pope reports on the contribution of MCNZ youth leaders and how we can engage with them to encourage their voice and involvement.

Music has always been a mainstay of Methodism and students at Wesley College are writing and performing songs that build on those strong traditions.

As congregations and parishes prepare for Lay Preacher’s Sunday in August, Lute Taufalele-Vute, President of the NZLPA, encourages parishes to consider the roles and responsibilities of lay preachers, and the congregations they serve.

Taranaki farmland, originally bequeathed to the Methodist Church in trust to provide an orphanage in Kaponga, is providing funding for a range of programmes and study opportunities that could not have been envisaged by the benefactor, Robert Gibson when he died in 1932.

All current and previous members and presbyters of Durham Street Methodist Church are invited to attend events on Saturday 26 & Sunday 27 October.

The Government has acknowledged the nearly 2,400 courageous survivors who shared their experiences during the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Historical Abuse in State and Faith-Based Care.

Zooming Newsies, a current affairs group from the Takapuna Methodist Church invite Methodists and friends to a Zoom discussion on The Abuse in Care Inquiry report hosted by Peter Lineham.

Hamilton Methodist Social Services run several community programmes designed to connect and empower students in the disability communities. The Sensory Garden provides a safe space for Brain Gym students to enjoy the calming and engaging environment.

This is the first in a series of three articles on the Aotearoa New Zealand benefit system and how it impacts people in contact with Methodist missions across the motu.

I am not of Fijian roots. And with this article i may be charged with the sin of cultural appropriation – that i am appropriating a talanoa that does not belong to me, nor to my people, but to natives from another Pasifika island group. Guilty as charged!

Our regular cartoon that seeks to find the funny side of faith.

Christian Blind Mission (cbm) Director recently visited Nigeria and spent time with a small community benefitting first hand from initiatives aimed at bringing clean, fresh water and good hygiene practices to combat diseases.

In today’s digitally connected world, reliable internet access is crucial for the smooth functioning of any organisation, including churches and community centres.

The "Inspiring Change for a Sustainable Future" event, held recently, was a remarkable gathering of passionate individuals committed to driving sustainable practices within our communities.

On 6 July people gathered at the James Buller Memorial Centre in Dargaville to celebrate the completion of a renovation project that has seen a treasured legacy building restored for use by the wider community.

I was shocked but not surprised to read recently that some studies have shown that carers for whānau living with dementia frequently die before the person they are caring for.

“Mission is what the church does when it is dying”. Attributed to Deitrich Bonhoeffer, this is an uncomfortable challenge. We don’t want to believe it/him.

When St Mark’s Somerfield Church in Christchurch has its all-age worship service it is a chance for everyone – young and old – to try activities that are different from their usual Sunday service.

In July MCNZ leaders issued a public issues statement calling for ‘reconciliation, the righting of injustices and the mitigation of systemic inequalities in Kanaky New Caledonia’ in response to a long held call for independence.

Given that Kanaky New Caledonia is closer to Tamaki Makaurau Auckland than Tonga, we should be mindful and empathetic as the people call out for independence.

West Papuans have been occupied by Indonesia for more than 60 years, and during that time more than 100,000 West Papuans have been killed in the struggle for self-determination and independence from Indonesia.

One of the defining features of modern society is the separation of religion and politics. This hasn't always been the case.

Fly Me to the Moon introduces itself as a real, "mostly" true story. A movie filled with stars, including Scarlett Johansson and Channing Tatum, makes light of moon landing conspiracy theories and UFO conspiracy theories.

Author: Annelien De Dijn Publisher: Cambridge, Massachusetts, Harvard University Press, 2020. 432 pages

Author: Dan Ariely Publisher: Heligo Books (2023) 312 pages

The editor of the Wesley Historical Society Journal has been seeking untold stories to share with the whole church. It is surprising what can be uncovered.

Riwha Titokowaru c 1823 – 1888

Wasewase ko Viti kei Rotuma, had their Ministerial and AGM over the weekend 19 and 20 July at Aldersgate Centre, a venue with capacity for 500 people. In 2015, the AGM was held at the Brydnwr Road Hall, Christchurch, a venue able to seat 20.

O se vaaiga lena i le Mission Choir a le Sinoti Samoa i lo latou sao i le lagiina o viiga mo le faamanatuina o le 62 tausaga o le Malo Tuto’atasi o Samoa i Sisifo.

“Ko e Fakalotofo’ou” ko e Kaveinga ia ‘o e Konifelenisi faka-hisitōlia ‘a e Siasi Uesiliana Tau’ataina ‘o Tonga, ki he ta’u 2024. ‘Oku mahino mei he hisitolia, ‘a e tufunga ‘a e ‘Otua ki hono Siasi.