Climate Mission for Submissions - an epic effort!
We just wanted to shout out a huge thank you to all those who took part in the Climate Mission for Submissions over the last few weeks – together, we are raising our voices to make a difference for the biggest issue facing our planet.
Conference takes anti-trafficking mahi to next level
Government ministers, CEOs, NGO leaders and migrant community representatives were all part of the recent "Tango i te Kaupae Muri - Take the Next Step" conference on people trafficking and exploitation, which we co-organised. It was a conference at which Government launched our new five year action plan to tackle the issue, and feedback suggests it has taken our country's response to the issue to a whole new level. Yet within days of it ending, another prosecution has hit the news - and the exploitation happened right under our noses.
Social supermarket brings innovation to Wellingtonians in need
Wellington City Mission, supported by New World, have come together to introduce an innovative new Social Supermarket, improving food security for Wellingtonians in need.
Anglicans meet with Minister to hand over Big Hearts messages
In December, as part of the Big Hearts campaign, our diocese wrote over 300 messages to ministers and Members of Parliament asking them to boost our funding for overseas aid. On Friday, Bishop Eleanor and others hand-delivered those messages to Minister of Finance Grant Robertson, one of the key decision-makers setting the government's budget.
Exodus and exploitation in a rapidly changing world
Rev. Chris Frazer, our Deacon for Social Justice, has been busy co-organising an important conference on human trafficking and labour exploitation. The conference, entitled “Take the Next Step,” brings together representatives from across multiple sectors of our society - industry, churches, government, embassies, and cultural groups. It aims to move our country forward in the important work of ending modern slavery, and Chris has been our representative in this important mahi. Here are excerpts from her sermon at Wellington Cathedral of St Paul on the 7th of March 2021.
Mission for Submissions makes it easy to have your say
Churches in our diocese are busy preparing to hold their Mission for Submissions service in the coming weeks, and some are going all out to theme their service around the important need for us to respond to climate change.
Our climate advocacy team has been busy creating resources, so even if some of us can't host a speaker, or would prefer not to hold the service in the 14th of March, we can all still take part.
Climate change mission planned for March
2021 is a momentous year for climate change policy in New Zealand. Later this year, our government will set the targets by which we hope to reduce our carbon emissions for the next 15 years. Right now, the Climate Change Commission is consulting on its first advice to Government on how Aotearoa can reach net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. This is our opportunity to have our say.
Submissions are open now - and remain open until the 14th of March. To help everyone to have their say, we will be launching another advocacy "mission," much like the Climate Mission we launched in 2019 that saw us make a huge 500 submissions on the then-draft Zero Carbon legislation.
Coffee with friends, for friends
Empowering people just by drinking coffee? It sounds like a stretch but Whanganui priests Rev. Paul and Rev. Ana Fletcher have found a way to do just that. With long friendships from their years in the cafe industry, they’ve teamed up with their friends at Crave and Kind Cafes in Auckland, and Addington Coffee Co-op in Christchurch to launch a new coffee brand that has “a strong social heartbeat.”
Election forums to canvas current issues
It's now two months until we go to the polls to exercise our democratic responsibilities, and this year presents a few differences - we are to vote on not one but two significant referendum questions, in addition to voting for the government and representatives we want to lead us through a time of global challenge. There are a number of election forums coming up, including the one that we are co-hosting. To assist with your decision-making in the lead up to the election, here is a list of the forums we are aware of.
Mission to Seafarers’ call for funding heeded
The Ministry of Transport has now allocated $295,000 to help those stuck in New Zealand ports through the Mission to Seafarers' organisation. Reverend Lance Lukin dof Upper Hutt Parish is the Oceania Regional Director for the organisation, and he talked to Kim Hill on RNZ's Saturday Morning about the situation.
Enough For All: How political parties will help New Zealanders to thrive
As Election Day nears, how might we use our voting privilege to love our neighbours? Are the policies and parties we support going to help or hinder those who are struggling to flourish? How might we, Christ's body, stand up for the last, the lost and the least in our democratic process?
Trafficking report: “I come as one but I stand as ten thousand”
Sophie Otiende powerfully quoted Maya Angelo when she stated “I come as one but I stand as ten thousand”. A survivor of human trafficking, Sophie from Kenya is now works tirelessly to assist other women to take their first steps to freedom…
