In Depth:  New Zealand

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Can New Zealand churches multiply once again?
letter from New Zealand

Can New Zealand churches multiply once again?

Charley Ballinger

Christmas Day 1814 saw the first preaching of the gospel of Jesus Christ on the shores of New Zealand.

The preacher was Samuel Marsden and he had arrived from Sydney convinced of the transforming power of the gospel to reach the indigenous Māori of New Zealand. The various tribal groups were gripped in cycles of “utu”, where one tribe would attack another as retribution for a previous conflict; the premise behind utu is one of restoring balance to society.

New Zealand moves toward pre-Christian spirituality
letter from New Zealand

New Zealand moves toward pre-Christian spirituality

Charley Ballinger

February 6 is a significant day in the New Zealand calendar; a nationwide public holiday that sees demonstrations that sometimes result in violence.

February 6, 1840, was the fateful day when the British Crown and many Maori chiefs (but not all) signed the Treaty of Waitangi. In essence it is New Zealand’s founding document; the chiefs were agreeing to give the British Crown rights to certain lands, but it was by no means an agreement to give up all their lands.

The slippery slope? It’s real and it’s here
letter from New Zealand

The slippery slope? It’s real and it’s here

Charley Ballinger

As I have written previously, New Zealand is often at the cutting edge of progressive law making. With euthanasia it is no different; we are amongst 19 jurisdictions in the world where it is legal to request medical help to die.

The End of Life Choice Act came into force on 7 November 2021: as a result almost 1,000 people have been euthanised. When the law was introduced the Ministry of Health was required to review it after three years. The review was published at the end of November 2024, and many of the recommendations made are alarming for those who believe in the sanctity of life.

New Zealand today – England tomorrow?
letter from New Zealand

New Zealand today – England tomorrow?

Charley Ballinger

New Zealand sees itself as a forerunner when it comes to progressive thinking: in 1893 New Zealand became the first self-governing country to award women the vote. And, whilst many of the progressive advances have brought good, there have been others which have had a detrimental impact.

One such ‘progressive advance’ came in 2018 when the Anglican Church of Aoetearoa, New Zealand and Polynesia (ACANZP) voted to bless same-sex relationships despite this being contrary to Scripture and the Church’s canons.