Justice & Peace

Part 2 I have no qualms in saying I am not as familiar with some of the aspects of my ‘homeland’ as I would like to be. Fate, circumstance, and means had not shined favourably on my travels, and my pathway to visiting up North was often rushed (usually to attend tangihanga), direct, and unwavering. Attending ‘Nga Tapuwae Sacred Footsteps Pilgrimage’ was the perfect opportunity to meander and amble (two words my American friend whispered in my ear for definition, as they had never heard the words in use before), to take time to inhale the landscape, exhale our urban …
Read More about ICCI Conference Continued: ‘Nga Tapuwae Sacred Footsteps Pilgrimage’ into the Mid and Far North Island

Part 1 What is the collective noun for a group of Indigenous Catholics? A tribe, clan, bond or nation of faithful, perhaps? Ko Hāhi Katorika te Iwi? You could be forgiven for not knowing what the abbreviation of ICCI represents. As of a few weeks ago, I too was unaware of the International Conference on Catholic Indigenous. That was until I was assigned to assist our Bishop, the Vicar for Social Impact, Vicar for Māori, and the New Zealand Catholic Bishop’s Conference in their immense task of hosting the 2026 triannual ICCI Conference here in Aotearoa New Zealand. The second …
Read More about ICCI Conference Aotearoa New Zealand 2026

There is a limit to what can be said and done in one sitting, and yet, it was the consensus, that we came away knowing and appreciating a great deal more than we had hoped to achieve from the fast paced, near two hours of free-flowing conversation between Rt. Hon. Helen Clark, and the ‘Godfather’ of human rights, former executive director of Human Rights Watch – Kenneth Roth. Being Catholic, our ears attuned to the word ‘God’ in the opening sentence and held our attention from the introduction. It was a stimulating conversation to observe, moderated by Vice-Chancellor of AUT …
Read More about Conversations with the Rt. Hon. Helen Clark and the ‘Godfather’ of Human Rights, Ken Roth – An experience.

This blog is inspired in part by the recent Gospel Reflection from our Bishop for the commencement of Lent, and partly out of a sense of wayward (in)justice. After an incident on Friday, this weekend left me pondering something that would otherwise seem inconsequential but left me feeling at a loss – in more than one way. Bishop Steve’s reflection referenced temptation, desire and want (particularly in the form of greed) in the Garden of Eden, and the temptation of Jesus by the devil in the wilderness, which brought me to mind of our work courtyard garden and the ownership …
Read More about The Season of Lent, a courtyard garden, and the mysterious displacement of a statue of St. Francis of Assisi

We are proud of the strong leadership and representation of our Deputy Chair of the Justice and Peace Commission, Deacon Sanele Poluleuligaga, as he joined Pacific Justice – alongside Church, community, local and central Government, and youth representatives for protest and petition presentation to the Rt Hon. Vaovasamanaia Winston Peters on the grounds of Parliament in Wellington on 11 February 2026. Near 50,000 people and organisations (including our Commission) signed the petition that calls for peoples from six Pacific nations: Fiji, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, and Vanuatu – to be issued a short-term visa upon arrival in Aotearoa New Zealand. Essentially, this petition advocates for our nearest Pacific neighbours to join a list of over 60 approved visa-waiver …
Read More about Pacific Justice 2026

I was asked why and how I would be celebrating Waitangi Day this year. The how was easier to answer than the why. “Quietly,” I replied. Going North and being part of the throng, this Waitangi Day was not a viable option for me. The why, was harder to explain. Why are you celebrating Waitangi Day? “Because there is still a lot of good that comes from Te Tiriti.” The response I received was “perhaps, but so many people are still lost.” That was not the reply I had anticipated from this person. Coming from one who had been a …
Read More about A Spirituality of Te Tiriti o Waitangi

Welcome to our new weekly blog spot: Maratona Cinematografica (Movie Marathon) for the Year of St. Francis of Assisi 2026-2027. For those playing at home this means 50, yes 50, secular movies, video series, or documentary reviews that tie into the ethos of St. Francis of Assisi. Why? I was asked how or what we can do at home to help focus and infuse our lives for this Year of St. Francis. My initial response was ‘get educated’, but this can also mean relaxing and enjoying some leisure time too. Once I started listing modern-day witness and renewal that are …
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Welcome back for another year of the JPCA blog! Jubilation years, one after another, can bring both enthusiasm and tribulation. Expectations are high, and energy (possibly pockets too) are running low after a year of Jubilee pilgrimage. Not quite at a complete loss, but not quite replenished either. Does this resonate with you? My initial response to the Year of St. Francis of Assisi decree for the 800th anniversary of his death – was exaltation. I feel very close to what I know and understand of the life and death of St. Francis. This is based on a defining moment …
Read More about Reflecting on the Acts of the Special Jubilee Year of St. Francis of Assisi 2026