Author: Sarah McMillan/cvnznews.com

A tough on crime approach and a near doubling of police foot patrols have driven a huge drop in the number of victims of violent crime since this Government was elected, figures show. The latest New Zealand Crime and Victims Survey shows there were 49,000 fewer victims of violent crime in the year to October 2025 than two years previously. “Since day one, we’ve been working tirelessly to restore real consequences for crime, and to place victims back at the centre of the justice system,” Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith says. “We have reformed the sentencing regime so those who cause…

In a remote area of a Southeast Asian country, a teacher named Erina has some of her students over to her house at night so they can read together. These visits are about more than just reading, though; they’re also about encountering God. Due to limited electricity, Erina uses hydroelectric power to generate electricity. This gives her and her students light so they can read God’s Word. Although the area in which she lives is considered Christian, radical Islamic groups are actively working to Islamize it. Low levels of education and economic hardship make Christians vulnerable to forced or coerced…

More than 12,000 allied, public health, scientific and technical workers employed by Health New Zealand will receive pay increases and new career‑development support after members of the Public Service Association (PSA) voted to ratify a new collective agreement. Health Minister Simeon Brown said the settlement marks “continued progress” in stabilising a workforce that has faced years of strain.“I am pleased for the approximately 12,300 workers nationwide who will benefit from this agreement,” Brown said. “These professionals play a critical role in patient care, and this settlement acknowledges their important contribution to the healthcare system.” Over the two‑year deal, workers will…

The Allahabad High Court (AHC) in the North Indian state of Uttar Pradesh ruled on Feb. 10 that caste, determined by birth, remains unchanged despite religious conversion or inter-caste marriage. This ruling was delivered by the AHC while hearing a criminal case involving an assault against a woman under the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. The woman belonged to the Scheduled Caste, but her husband was part of a non-Scheduled Caste. This ruling is also expected to be of paramount significance for millions of Indian Christians who belong to the Scheduled Castes (SC), Scheduled Tribes (ST),…

A group of five climbers were dramatically rescued from Mt Taranaki yesterday after a rapid deterioration in weather left them stranded high on the mountain, triggering a major search and rescue operation. Emergency services were alerted at around 2.15pm, after a distress call reported that one member of the group had collapsed and CPR was underway. The climbers, believed to be a mix of visitors from Wellington and Taranaki with varying levels of alpine experience, had set out early in the morning aiming for the summit via the North Ridge route — a popular but demanding ascent known for its…

A United Nations fact-finding mission for Sudan released a report Thursday claiming that the Rapid Support Forces, a nongovernmental militant group battling for control of Sudan, carried out a “coordinated campaign of destruction against non-Arab communities in and around El-Fasher, the hallmarks of which point to genocide.” The report marks the first time that the U.N. has suggested the crisis in Sudan may have risen to genocidal proportions since the civil war began in 2023. The U.S. has previously indicated that it believes the RSF to be engaged in a genocide and has imposed sanctions on the group and its…

Author: Unknown. Persecution as a test of faith for Christians delves deep into the core of religious beliefs. It challenges believers to question their devotion and resilience in adversity. But what does it indeed mean to endure Persecution? How does it shape one’s faith? In this blog post, we will explore the profound significance of Persecution as a test of faith for Christians. We will delve into the stories of those who have faced unimaginable trials and uncover the lessons they teach us about unwavering devotion and spiritual strength. From the early martyrs to modern-day believers, their experiences shed light…

Story by Lynn Arias A concerted effort to rewrite, slander, or outright ban the Bible is happening around the globe. Some attacks are fully exposed and out in the open, while others are more insidious and covert. Schools In 2025, a university in England placed a deceitful warning label on the Bible for English Literature students who would be reading it as part of their coursework. Due to the crucifixion of Jesus and the story of Cain and Abel, the University of Sheffield inaccurately described Scripture as containing “graphic bodily injury and sexual violence.” However, the warning is a false flag, as…

A formal WorkSafe New Zealand investigation has begun into work health and safety practices at Mount Maunganui Beachside Holiday Park following the landslide on 22 January, an event that resulted in loss of life and prompted a multi‑agency recovery operation that concluded on 1 February. WorkSafe says its inquiry will focus specifically on work‑related matters that preceded the landslide, examining whether businesses or organisations connected to the operation of the holiday park breached the Health and Safety at Work Act 2015. The agency has warned the probe will be detailed and may take up to a year to complete. What…

Wellington — A second independent review into the government response to the death of Malachi Subecz has concluded that tamariki remain at risk, four years after his death and three years after Dame Karen Poutasi’s landmark recommendations. The report, Towards a stronger safety net to prevent abuse of children, was published by Aroturuki Tamariki | Independent Children’s Monitor and warns that policy commitments have not yet translated into reliable protection on the ground. Aroturuki Tamariki chief executive Arran Jones said the review shows some early steps have been taken — including a new inter‑agency hub for children whose sole parents…

In 2024, the United Bible Societies (UBS) Fellowship distributed over 150 million printed Scriptures (full Bibles, New Testaments and Bible books published separately), across 240 countries and territories. The UBS annual Scripture Distribution Statistics report states that the countries with the most printed Bibles were Brazil (4.2 million), India (1.8 million) and China (1.6 million). Regarding the language, most Bibles were again in Spanish (4.5 million), followed by Portuguese (4 million) and English (3.2 million). Data from UBS. More digital than printed Bibles Data on the distribution of Bibles show that, with 25.9 million copies distributed, digital editions surpassed printed Bibles for the first time, with the number of these falling…

The 2026 Winter Olympic Games have begun in the Italian cities of Milano and Cortina d’Ampezzo. From 6-22 February, over 3,500 athletes from 93 countries will compete for Olympic gold in skiing, figure skating or ice hockey, among many other sports. Furthermore, organisers estimate that more than 2 million spectators will travel to northern Italy to attend the Milano-Cortina Games. For Christian organisation Open Doors, “at their best, the Games are a time for people from countries across the world to put aside differences and compete in a peaceful way, a reminder that all people share common humanity”. “For Christians, this can be extended, the…

Heavy rain warnings and watches remain for the North Island on Friday as torrential downpours and the possibility of thunderstorms are on the cards. MetService meteorologist Alwyn Bakker said it was the warm and humid conditions that were likely to generate the thunderstorms. Places like Auckland, Kaitaia and Whangārei were set to reach 26C on Friday. MetService meteorologist John Law told news outlet Stuff during the week that the northern and eastern coasts of the North Island were areas of concern following the deadly floods in January that soaked parts of the island. An orange heavy rain warning is in force for parts of Bay of…

The grand old lady of Baring Square East will mark her centenary on March 8 with a celebration service and lunch, and parishioners are preparing to welcome former minister and Methodist leader Reverend Peter Taylor to preach at the 10am service. Parish steward Judith Crozier said registrations were slowly coming in and organisers hoped more people would join to share memories and mark the building’s milestone. Taylor, who led the parish during the 2010 earthquake, presided over the church’s official reopening after extensive strengthening and restoration. Crozier recalled the nervous period after the quake and the wider church’s financial support…

Imagine sitting in a church pew, expecting to hear Jesus’ words of mercy, hope, and eternal truth–and instead hearing Him recast as an advocate for ending unborn life. This is the reality confronted by those who witnessed Rev. Dr. Rebecca Todd Peters, a Presbyterian pastor, openly bless abortion from her pulpit. She did not hedge, soften, or apologize. She claimed that Jesus would act as an abortion escort, a doula, and even bless those who terminate pregnancies. And she rewrote the Beatitudes to declare: “Blessed are those who end pregnancies, for they will be known for their loving kindness.” This…

After a bruising week of headlines, it’s difficult to ignore the turmoil surrounding Andrew Mountbatten‑Windsor and Sarah Ferguson—and the uncomfortable reality that their adult daughters are now caught in the fallout. Recent email releases suggest Jeffrey Epstein had a far greater presence around Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie than previously understood. References to shared meals, travel arrangements, and social introductions have raised fresh questions about how deeply the family was entangled in Epstein’s world. While the princesses were young adults at the time, the renewed scrutiny has inevitably placed them back under a spotlight they never sought. Commentators differ on how…

Story by Sarah McMillan cvnznews.com. Wellingtonians woke today to the fragrant news that roughly 70 million litres of untreated wastewater — yes, the full aromatic spectrum — has been gushing into the South Coast every single day since yesterday morning. Mayor Andrew Little, who lives in the neighbourhood and therefore has had the privilege of inhaling this civic masterpiece firsthand, has called for an independent inquiry into what he describes as a “catastrophic failure” and an “environmental disaster”. “This is a sewage plant processing the sewage for a big city, and it has completely failed,” Little said, in what may…

Story by Sarah McMillan/cvnznews Midwives across New Zealand will now be able to offer a wider range of funded immunisations, a move the Government says will strengthen protection for mothers, babies, and whānau during the most vulnerable stages of early life. Health Minister Simeon Brown says the change marks an important step in improving access to essential healthcare for families nationwide. Under the expanded programme, midwives—who already provide pregnancy vaccines—will now be able to administer funded immunisations to mothers after birth, to babies, and to eligible family members until a child reaches 12 months of age. Brown says the shift…

Police say they are now approaching the final stages of the long‑running criminal investigation into the first explosion at Pike River Mine in November 2010, a disaster that claimed the lives of 29 men and remains one of New Zealand’s darkest industrial tragedies. Detective Superintendent Darryl Sweeney says the investigation has been both “nationally significant and legally complex,” with Police working closely alongside the Crown Solicitor in Wellington for more than 18 months. The collaboration reflects the scale of the case, which involves technical mining evidence, expert analysis, and the challenge of reconstructing events inside a mine that has never…

An independent investigation is underway at Wesley College after disturbing claims surfaced that staff performed “deliverance and exorcism” rituals on students to rid them of “demonic serpents.” Allegedly conducted in darkened rooms without parental consent, the Pentecostal-style ceremonies involved “laying hands,” speaking in tongues, and encouraging students to cast out dark forces from peers. Two staff members have been suspended over the rituals, while a third faces unrelated negligence claims. Methodist Church president Te Aroha Rountree said she was “shocked” by the whistleblower’s revelations and confirmed the church acted swiftly to remove those involved. “These kinds of practices were denounced…

Wellington City Council has issued a second apology to ratepayers after uncovering another error in its 2025–26 rates calculations — though this latest mistake means households will pay slightly less than expected. The admission comes only weeks after the Council revealed it had undercharged the household and commercial sludge levy in invoices sent out in August and November 2025. At the time, officials promised a full review of the billing system to understand how the error occurred. That review has now revealed a separate issue: while Wellington City Council’s own rates were correctly invoiced, the regional council portion — set…

Unidentified individuals scrawled antisemitic slogans at the restroom of a McDonald’s restaurant on Bondi Beach in Sydney, Australia, near where 15 people were killed last month during an attack on a Chanukah event, a local Jewish group said on Wednesday. The perpetrators used a black marker to write “f**k Israel” and “Jews rape kids” on the door of the restroom, footage uploaded by the Australian Jewish Association to X showed. Between Dec. 1, 2024 and Dec. 1, 2025, the Executive Council of Australian Jewry (ECAJ) documented 1,654 antisemitic incidents in Australia. This tally did not include the Bondi Beach massacre, which happened…