Spiritual Practices
2018 Christmas Church Service
Today's Christmas Day Church service from the Meadowlands Fiji Methodist Church in Auckland features a generous mix of hymns and carols in Fijian. Audio
Religion, faith and feminism? It’s complicated
On the 125th anniversary of women's suffrage, Kim Hill discusses feminism and faith with Saziah Bashir, Dr Caroline Blyth, Rev. Jean Malcolm and Lilia Tarawa at Wellington's City Gallery. Audio
Cardinal Pell awaits sentence on sex abuse charges
Australian Cardinal George Pell, a senior advisor to the Pope, is on bail awaiting sentencing after being found guilty of sexually abusing children. The 77-year-old will be sentenced in February on… Audio
A living Advent Calendar in Paekakariki
We're two weeks out from Christmas and many kids, and adults, are well into their advent calendars. Some may say the countdown calendars are just a commercialised gimmick, but Tash Nilsson's one can't… Audio, Gallery
Lyndal Roper: why religious rebel Martin Luther is not a hero
Lyndal Roper, Regius Professor of History at Oxford, is a respected historian and author of the 2016 biography "Martin Luther: Renegade and Prophet", a book described by Hilary Mantel s "smart… Audio
Destiny claims Corrections breaching treaty over Man Up 'ban'
Destiny Church says the Department of Corrections is breaching the Treaty of Waitangi by refusing to let it into prisons. About 2000 people crowded the front lawn of Parliament on Thursday afternoon… Video, Audio
Pope: Stay celibate or leave the priesthood
Pope Francis says there is "no room" in the Catholic church for gay priests or nuns.
Wellington Ethiopians celebrate new priest with 10hr service
It has taken 15 years but Wellington's Ethiopian community finally has their own priest. The Ethiopian Orthodox Church plays a huge role in the country's culture and until now services could only be… Audio
'Anyone can be Santa, just wear the costume'
An attempt at a multicultural Christmas parade in Nelson left many children with just one question - where's Santa? The traditonal white beard and red suit was ditched in favour of a Māori man wearing… Audio
South Auckland
This week's cultural ambassador is our man from South of the Tamaki - North of the Bombays - Clendon, Manurewa to be precise. Amongst the topics on Raymond Sagapolutele's radar is the stoush at… Audio
Professor Peter Lineham: the future of religion in New Zealand
Professor Peter Lineham is retiring from Massey University at the end of this year - after 40 years! But not before he gives one final lecture about the state of religion in the country - its decline… Audio
Behind the Blazers: Te Reo o Ratana Te Tuatoru
Te Reo o Rātana te Tuatoru is one of seven Rātana bands around New Zealand – each with their own distinctive blazer colour – which are collectively known as Ngā Reo. This week, Justine Murray finds… Audio
A Muslim prisoner in a forced crucifixion pose? Something worth decoding, says Sarah Sentilles
The author of Draw Your Weapons Sarah Sentilles talks to Jo Randerson at the NZ Festival Writers and Readers 2018 about depictions of violence and terror in contemporary culture. Audio
Keeping the Rātana faith going, growing after 100 years
The Māori religion Rātana has flourished for the last century, and has over 40,000 followers. Now, its adherents are looking at how they can keep the faith growing. Meriana Johnsen was at Rātana to… Audio
Diwali - Hindu festival of lights
Today marks Diwali - a Hindu festival celebrating the triumphant return of the Hindu avatar, Lord Rama, to Ayodhya. Audio
Overseas Correspondent - Vietnam
Lien Hoang joins us once again with the latest from Vietnam. Audio
NZ Catholic Church withholds findings on sex abuse claims
The Catholic Church has withheld its findings about a child sex abuse accusation for months from the man who laid the complaint. The man says this has re-traumatised him and proves the church's… Audio
Michael Kirby
Early last month - news came through that the India's Supreme Court had ruled that sex between consenting male adults did not constitute a crime. The man who lead the campaign to decriminalise gay sex… Audio
Haruo Obata and Japan's retiree volunteers
Japan has faced earthquakes, deadly flooding, and 24 Typhoons in the past few months and each time the same volunteers - many of them retirees - have helped out, Japanese correspondent Motoko… Audio
Cults: Control methods and leaders
Most cults exist under the radar and not enough is being done to stop them, says Australian woman Ros Hodgkins. She got her daughter away from a cult in the early '90s and founded the Cult Information… Audio