Sign Up To Stay In Touch
We send out newsletters only occasionally and we fully respect that your information always remains private.
-
New Plymouth, Taranaki
News & Events
"Community is first of all a quality of the heart. It grows from the spiritual knowledge that we are alive not for ourselves but for one another."
Henri Nouwen
Abuse hearing: Catholic Church told sexual abuse victim that abuse was not criminal, offered him $5000
A former Catholic boarding school student who was abused by a priest says the Catholic Church repeatedly tried to minimise his abuse and deny that it was criminal offending. The former student, now aged 81, was sexually abused by Father…
Upper Hutt sexual abuse victim says abuser was quietly moved to South Island school
A former Catholic boarding school student who was abused by senior staff says one of them was quietly moved to another school in the South Island without being punished. Patrick Cleary died in July, aged 82, before he could give…
Catholic Church abuse survivors describe ‘horrific’ experiences, trauma to Royal Commission
Survivors of abuse at the hands of Catholic clergymen have spoken of their shame, trauma and the struggle to get redress from New Zealand church leaders. The first of 25 witnesses told the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in…
Royal Commission told Catholic Church needs to stop honouring paedophiles
A man who was sexually abused as a boy at St Patrick’s College, Silverstream only ever wanted the photographs of his abusers removed from the school’s hall, the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in Care has heard. Tina Cleary’s…
Abuse survivor pleads with public to wake up to child abuse
A man who was in both faith-based and state care wants the public to wake up to historical abuse and be concerned that it could still be happening. Darryl Smith, 57, first went into care at the age of seven…
Survivors group calls for independent authority to redress abuse claims
A group representing survivors of abuse while in faith-based care believes victims could die before there is any satisfactory resolution to their claims against churches. The Network of Survivors of Abuse in Faith-based institutions wants an independent authority set up…
Abuse in Care: Catholic Church loses bid to keep names of abusers secret
The Catholic Church has lost its bid to keep the identities of perpetrators and those accused of covering up abuse secret at the upcoming Abuse in Care Royal Commission of Inquiry hearing. The hearing, beginning on Monday in Auckland, will…
Survivors prepare for Abuse in Care redress hearings
The chair of the Royal Commission into Abuse in Care, Judge Coral Shaw, today declined all but one of the non-publication applications made by lawyers acting for the Catholic Church, the Salvation Army and the Anglican Church. The applications asked…
Peer Work in Rural and Remote Communities and Mental Health Services
Peer Workers are the most under-utilised, valuable resource available to rural and remote mental health services and communities. Evidence has confirmed the efficacy of peer work, yet their historically slow uptake has robbed communities and individuals of the opportunity to…
A 15-year-old boy says a man picked him up from school, drove him to “the middle of nowhere” and tried to have sex with him.
Teacher Edwin John Downing is on trial at the High Court in Auckland. He has denied 13 charges, including sexual violation, sexual conduct with a young person and sexually grooming a young person. The police interview of one of the…
The impacts of child sexual abuse: A rapid evidence assessment
Research reviewed as part of a rapid evidence assessment shows that being a victim and survivor of CSA is associated with an increased risk of adverse outcomes in all areas of victims and survivors’ lives. Additionally, long-term longitudinal research suggests…
Service centre for homeless to open next year after ‘whirlwind’ Rotary effort
A new hub for Nelson’s homeless is expected to be up and running in a few months. The Male Room director, Philip Chapman, said the daytime shelter, called Whare Haumanu, was a “fantastic effort” from many people and organisations. Published…