News & Views
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Ecumenical Walk 2025
Good Friday is a time when Christians of different denominations have come together for many years.After Cyclone Tam impacting Auckland with strong gale-force winds and heavy rains on Maundy Thursday, the organisers of the Ecumenical Walk in Beach Haven / Birkdale decided to go ahead with their endeavour and trust that it would be safe…
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Naw-Rúz, the Bahá’i New Year
Naw-Rúz is the first day of the Baháʼí calendar year, and one of eleven holy days for adherents of the Baháʼí Faith. It occurs on the northern vernal equinox, usually on the 20th or 21st of March.This year, the Baháʼí community on Auckland’s North Shore invited to Te Kamaka Marae which is part of the…
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Freedom of Religion and Belief
Scholars, religious leaders and people involved in their communities and in Interfaith dialogue came together from around New Zealand, Australia and the USA to discuss the theme of “Freedom to Do, to Be, and to Become: Enhancing Individuals’ Opportunities to Believe and Live as They Choose Within the Framework of the Law”[1].While it seemed like…
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World Day of Prayer 2025
“I Made You Wonderfully” – the theme based on Psalm 143: 19 was chosen by the Cook Island women who prepared the resources for the World Day of Prayer 2025.The painting that was used to promote this year’s theme and focus country seems to tell the story of traditional women in the Pacific: women weaving…
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Interfaith Creek Clean-Up
Beautiful sunshine, a diverse community, lots of laughter and the good feeling about having accomplished good deeds – the Auckland Inter-Faith Council organised a successful creek clean-up. All our Faiths share a deep concern for the environment, and particularly for clean waters.A few years ago, the Auckland Inter-Faith Council (AIFC) held an event on the…
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Picnic for Peace
Peacenic – a Picnic for Peace. This annual event is a popular event organised by the Council of Christians and Muslims in cooperation with the Pearl of Island Foundation and supported by the Puketepapa Local Board. This year, the invitation was explicitly widened to include people of other faiths. So, it was great to see…
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The first Wine Maker
James Busby was appointed British Resident in New Zealand in 1832 and was involved in drafting the 1835 Declaration of the Independence of New Zealand and the 1840 Treaty of Waitangi. The same James Busby was a passionate gardener and the first to make wine in Aotearoa New Zealand. His house still stands and can…
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Peace through Faith & Action
The 2025 annual convention by the Ahmadiyya Muslims surprised with the theme “Promised Messiah: A Beacon of Light for the Modern Age”.The Abrahamic faiths, Judaism, Christianity and Islam have the concept of a messiah, a saviour who would come and bring ultimately peace to the world. Keynote speaker Mustenser Oamar, a young Ahmadiyya Imam based…
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Pilgrims of Hope
On 13 January 1838 Jean Baptiste Pompallier, who later became the first bishop of Aotearoa New Zealand, arrived in the Hokianga (Northland) where he celebrated the first Catholic Mass on this land. His arrival was the result of pleas by Thomas and Mary Poynton who had settled in New Zealand and had to travel across…
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Art, Sculptures & Words of Wisdom
Tessa (Matakana Sculptureum)