Church Leaders meet Prime Minister to talk vaccines, housing, poverty

Leaders of some of the country’s major Christian faiths met Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern in Auckland today to discuss housing, poverty and  the Covid-19 pandemic response including vaccination.

Those at the meeting included Anglican Archbishop Philip Richardson, Baptist Pastor Charles Hewett, Catholic Archbishop Cardinal John Dew, Methodist Church Vice-president Rev Etuini Talakai, Salvation Army Commissioner Mark Campbell and the  Rev Dr  Richard Waugh of the National Church Leaders Aotearoa New Zealand.

Social Development Minister Carmel Sepuloni and Housing Minister Megan Woods also attended, along with departmental officials.

After the meeting, Cardinal Dew, President of  the NZ Catholic Bishops Conference and Archbishop of Wellington, said Covid-19 vaccinations, welfare and housing were the main topics discussed.

“I spoke about the importance of vaccinations for the common good, and offered support, including offering churches and church facilities for vaccination centres,” Cardinal Dew said on his Facebook page. “The engagement with the political leaders was good across the three agenda areas.”

New Zealand’s Catholic bishops have been strong supporters of the vaccination programme. In a statement on 15 January, Cardinal John as NZCBC president said everyone, including Catholics, had a moral responsibility to protect themselves and others by getting a Covid-19 vaccine as soon as they become eligible for it under the Government’s vaccine programme.

“We reject the false information circulating on the internet and elsewhere that claims vaccines should not be used,” Cardinal Dew said then on behalf of the bishops. “Vaccines work, and they protect against a wide range of illnesses. Because of vaccines, once-universal diseases such as smallpox have been wiped out, saving countless lives.”

Meetings like today's between Christian leaders and the prime minister were established following the 1998 Anglican Church-led Hikoi of Hope, when tens of thousands of church members marched to Parliament asking for action on social and economic matters.

The meetings have been held annually since with few exceptions – the 2020 meeting was cancelled because of the Covid-19 lockdown.