New Zealand Catholic Bishops Conference and agencies

The visit of Pope St John Paul II to Aotearoa New Zealand in 1986 was a time of great significance for Māori, as he was the first Pope to explicitly recognise their identity within the Church.

The unique identity of the Church in Aotearoa New Zealand within the global Church flows as it always has, from the presence of Māori, who have been part of the Church since the time of Bishop Jean Baptiste Pompallier. When Bishop Pompallier arrived in Aotearoa New Zealand in 1838 he set about establishing mission stations among Māori in both Te Ika-a-Māui and Te Waipounamu (the North and South Islands). In time, Māori priests were ordained, and worked among their people alongside missionaries from other countries. In 1988, Pā Max Takuira Māriu SM DD CNZM was ordained bishop, fulfilling a long held desire of Māori and the whole Catholic people for a Māori bishop.

 “Ecumenism…starts with the conviction that, in the beginning, Christ formed one community which became the the one Church of Jesus Christ. This Church then suffered from any number of divisions throughout its history, so that today there are many churches which would view themselves as more or less in continuity with that original Church of Jesus Christ. The task of the ecumenical movement is to restore that original unity. Consequently ecumenism and the ecumenical movement take very seriously those things which divide churches form one another. If unity in Christ is to be restored, then the obstacles to that unity need to be overcome, whether they are obstacles in faith or order, or sometimes simply social, political and even ethnic factors.”

Bishop Michael Putney, My Ecumenical Journey

Committee for Ecumenism - members

• Cardinal John Dew, Chair
• Anne Dickinson, Secretary

The Catholic Church in New Zealand is committed to strengthening relationships between people of different faiths present in New Zealand. The New Zealand Catholic Bishops Conference (NZCBC) established the Committee for Interfaith Relations to assist them in their interfaith work. The Committee (pictured here in 2023) is responsible to the NZCBC Commission for the Church in Society and looks to the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue (PCID) for leadership in the field of interfaith relations.

Bioethics is the study of the ethical issues arising from scientific advances, especially in biology and medicine. The term “bioethics” originated in the academic world in the early 1970’s, and Catholic bioethics was quick to develop because the Church already had a large body of bioethical thought on a range of issues.

The Catholic Church’s concern for healing, and its longstanding involvement in caring for the sick and dying, means it has a rich tradition of reflection and wisdom to bring to the study of bioethics. Catholic bioethics is distinctive for the way in which it has its foundations both in faith and human reason.

A Catholic approach is underpinned by a strong belief in the sanctity of life and the dignity of the human person.

The word “liturgy” originally meant a “public work” or “a service in the name of or on behalf of the people”. The liturgical life of the Church revolves around the Eucharistic sacrifice and the sacraments.

The celebration of the liturgy is a central activity in all Catholic communities. Liturgical services are celebrations of the Church, not private functions. Parishes will normally have a Liturgy Committee, to assist the priest in managing the celebration of the Eucharist and sacraments in the parish.

Justice is one of the four cardinal virtues (prudence, justice, fortitude and temperance). These virtues are pivotal in the commitment to follow Christ, because they dispose us to do good in relation to ourselves and in our relationships with others. The virtues grow through education, through choosing to act in ways which foster or reflect the virtues, and by perseverance. Working for justice is a core component of following Christ.

Injustice at the global level has national and local effects which are experienced by people who struggle to survive and reach their full potential against huge disadvantage. Injustice is often at the heart of conflict and wars, so work for justice is often also work for peace.

Social Encyclicals and the Principles of Catholic Social Teaching

The teaching of the Church on social issues has been developed by different popes in a series of social encyclicals, beginning with Rerum Novarum written by Pope Leo XIII in 1891, and extending through to the present day. These encyclicals examine social problems of their time, and are the source of Catholic Social Teaching. This teaching of the Catholic Church on social matters is often summarised as The Principles of Catholic Social Teaching. The principles provide a framework for analysis and action in situations of injustice.

The first Catholic School in New Zealand was opened in 1841, shortly after the Treaty of Waitangi was signed. It was the beginning of the development of a Catholic education system which now has 191 primary and 49 secondary schools, with around 64,000 students currently enrolled.

Catholic schools are state integrated. The government funds the operational costs of the schools, while the Catholic proprietors (bishops and religious orders) own the land and buildings. Integrated schools are able to preserve their special character, which is of vital importance to Catholic schools.

New Zealand Catholic Education Office

The New Zealand Catholic Education Office is the office of the New Zealand Council of Proprietors of Catholic Integrated Schools. It also serves the educational requirements of the New Zealand Catholic Bishops Conference. It assists the Conference and the proprietors of Catholic integrated schools in their mission of providing Catholic education.

Evangelising means bringing the Good News of Jesus Christ to others, and through its effects, transforming and renewing society. In its broadest sense evangelization encompasses any activity which helps deepen the faith of others even if they are already members of the Church.

Evangelisation proposes the Good News to others; it does not impose. Evangelisation is first of all about the kind of person we are and how we live our lives as followers of Jesus Christ.

There are moments in people’s lives when they experience a feeling that there may be more to life than they have realised. This may be a sense that there are bigger questions needing attention than those posed by daily routine, or it may be a moment in which the transcendent dimension of life is experienced. These moments are openings to God, and often lead people to search further. Catholics individually and collectively need to be available to those who are searching. These seekers may have no religious background; but they may also be Catholics who have given up the practice of their faith.

Among the baptised some are called to the ministerial priesthood as deacons, priests and bishops. Those called to the ministerial priesthood receive the Sacrament of Holy Orders, and are consecrated for the service of all the baptised and the building up of the Church. Those who receive Holy Orders live a celibate life and have a special obligation to pray and seek holiness.

A priest proclaims the Gospel, is the minister of the sacraments, teaches the faith and works to build up the local faith community. A diocesan priest works within a particular geographical area called a diocese, usually in a parish, as the co-worker of the local bishop who leads the diocese. A religious priest takes vows of poverty, chastity and obedience to the superior of the religious order, and works in the mission of the order. Religious and diocesan priests may also serve as chaplains to prisons, hospitals, schools, universities and other institutions.

Abuse can be sexual, physical or emotional. The Church takes reports of all forms of abuse seriously. Criminal sexual or physical abuse is a matter for the police to investigate. If the victim or survivor chooses to report the abuse to Police, the Church will cooperate with the civil law processes and will provide the known facts to the authorities. The Church encourages the victim or survivor to report criminal allegations to Police and will support them in doing so.

A protocol for dealing with complaints of abuse was established by the bishops in 1993 called A Path to Healing, Te Houhanga Rongo (APTH). This document was initially published in 2007 and revised in 2010.  It is currently undergoing a new revision, which will be published on this site once completed. The Church is indebted to those who have come forward, and encourages others who have experienced abuse to do the same.

The New Zealand Catholic Bishops Conference (NZCBC) and Congregation Leaders Conference of Aotearoa New Zealand (CLCANZ) work together through the Mixed Commission and it is this body which has the responsibility for APTH.  Revised versions have been documented, with the latest version published in 2010. There have been more recently approved changes to APTH.  Those changes are not reflected in the published version, but form part of a revision process which is currently underway.

Safeguarding

In May 2000 the New Zealand Catholic Bishops Conference adopted 'Integrity in Ministry' as its official statement of Professional Standards for Clergy and Institutes of Consecrated Life in the six dioceses of New Zealand.

The Catholic Church in New Zealand has many lay employees and volunteers, and the New Zealand Catholic Bishops Conference adopted 'Standards for Volunteers and Employees in Ministry' in August 2008. This document is currently being revised and the new edition will be published on this website.

The Tribunal of the Catholic Church is the official ecclesiastical court of the Church. In every Diocese, it is usually established by the bishop to assist him in carrying out his responsibilities as the shepherd of his local Christian community which has been entrusted to him. By the authority of the local bishop, the court administers justice, vindicates rights and assists in the pastoral care of the people of the diocese.

A major function of the Tribunal is to process declaration of nullity cases, meaning inquiring as to whether the marriage is binding for life or not according to the laws of the Catholic Church. Whenever Catholics or non-Catholics have been previously married, this process must be done to establish whether they may enter into a new marriage in the Catholic Church or not. Thus, it assists the person by finding if a declaration of nullity might be possible. The Tribunal uses both the administrative and judicial procedures outlined in the Church's Code of Canon Law to determine the nullity of a marriage.

The New Zealand Bishops' Conference decided in 1987 to have the Tribunal of the Catholic Church established nationally for all cases including penal trials, declarations of nullity and cases of 

The New Zealand Catholic Bishops Conference (NZCBC) has tasked the Council for Young People to work with the Church and young Catholics in developing a national vision for Catholic ministry with young people, implementing national projects and working with dioceses and all faith communities in achieving this. The Council will be guided in its work by scripture, policies set by the NZCBC, in addition to consultation with Te Rūnanga o Te Hāhi Katorika ō Aotearoa to deepen bi-cultural understandings.  

New Zealand’s Voice to Vatican survey for Young New Zealanders held in 2017 received almost 2000 responses from throughout the country.  

Bishop John Adams, who liaises with the Council for the NZ Bishops Conference, describes the Council “as an exciting step in working towards greater support for young people, their families and their faith communities. We are working