Petra Oomen

Bishop Steve and Rev Matt Watts are taking on a 100km race next month, kicking off a campaign called “Go the Distance”.

11 Bishopdale College students graduated on Friday – including someone you might not have expected…

St Peter’s in Atawhai flowed with bargain-hunters and brainstormers on Saturday as a diocesan team opened the building up to offer a garage sale, give out free sausages, and invite locals to dream up ideas for the future of North Nelson.

I was fascinated with how touched the people of Nelson were by this small gesture of joy and goodwill.

“I'm not going to go join a monastery. But how much easier would it be to commit to spiritual rhythms if you got a bunch of people together in a house where you all agree to do those rhythms?”

It's AGM season, and the beginning of a new three-year synod cycle is upon us – time to elect our lay synod representatives! So what do they do?

"I firmly believe the mission of this parish is a continuum. It’s not about which vicar you’ve got or which one leaves."

Every parish has a "people's warden", a member of vestry tasked with keeping an eye on the wellbeing of the parish – but what does that actually look like?

Learn how the word for wardrobe became the name for a parish's governing group, why "every vestry needs a Nancy" and how you could get involved in shaping the future of your church.

Convergence Camp saw a fantastic turnout with over 200 members of our diocese gathering at Bethany Park in Kaiteriteri over the weekend for fun and fellowship.

"I'm always surprised how many people in Aotearoa don't realise that in places like Waitangi or Rātana, we can actually touch history, breathe history, and be a part of that history now."

I caught up with Zara – former Attitude presenter and Korowai Tupu manager, now teaching Laidlaw’s youth and young adult papers (“the fun papers”) – and we talked about youth ministry in today's world.

"We would love people to go away inspired, encouraged, refreshed, full of faith, and with a renewed determination to give God everything."

In another instalment of “Where are they now?” Jesse and I chatted about what he’s been up to since flying the nest.

10-year-old Barney Hossain is proof that you don’t have to be a grown up to make a difference, having raised thousands of dollars to go towards sepsis awareness.

I popped into Nelson Cathedral on Tuesday to witness the assembly of some of the Christmas trees and chat to a few of the organisations.

What began as a few friends jamming has become Home Sweet Homies, a six-piece band based in Nelson. I had the honour of asking the band a few questions about their music, faith and future.

Torrential rain, power cuts and road closures threatened to derail this year’s Spring Camp, but the weather broke just in time. 

"Often it’s hard to find the right language for mental health and wellbeing. But this is the language of art, which is universal."

Artists and art appreciators gathered to "Make Sense of Making" in the Makery in a two-day course led by Venn Foundation's Centre for the Arts.

"There's a hungry nation waiting to hear from Jesus. Every time we go out on the street or every time we do a bigger event, we just see God move and see how hungry people are."

The Abbey 2025 wrapped up at El Rancho in Waikanae this weekend after drawing around 300 youth workers and young adults from across Aotearoa.

What’s it really like to be a hospital chaplain? Stephen shares about nearly a decade of ministry, from medically blunt conversations (“Trust me, I’ve heard a few things!”) to moments of deep grace.

I had a chat with two women about their work with Open Home Foundation, the needs of this region, and the ways God is at work in the lives of tamariki and rangatahi.

Nelson’s iconic Christ Church Cathedral celebrated the 100th anniversary of its marble building over the weekend with tours, services, and a commemorative tree planting.

For all the wonderful things there are about elective workshops, there’s an unfortunate downside: you can’t attend them all. Or, if you don’t live near Nelson, you very likely didn’t attend any after the heavy rains changed plans!

Celebrating the launch of the new Cobden-Runanga Parish website, we look back on the last couple of decades of technology.

Victory Kea Kids is a creative, faith-filled outreach in Nelson’s Victory community. In this interview, Victory Church children’s leader Amanda shares how it’s become a place where tamariki can belong, grow, and shine through faith, fun, and whānau.

Generations of young adults have left the diocese to explore God’s calling and have achieved truly wonderful things, but they often fly off the radar, doing great things while we’re none the wiser. Let’s check in on a couple of them!

On 1 December 1870, a single penny could buy you the first issue of The Church Messenger, the Nelson Diocese’s inaugural diocesan newspaper.

Jason Shaw, our ministry coordinator for social services, and Mike Jessop, a Bishopdale College student and former NZCMS intern, share their reflections on what motivated them to get involved in Hīkoi mō te Tiriti.

Spring Camp this year was marked by an unexpected twist: heavy rain. But according to Brad, our youth enabler, not even the weather could dampen the spirits of the rangatahi. 

"As a Christian I believe that God created this world. So it's pretty amazing being able to capture it and offer that as a service. The business brings a bit of light and hope to people."

"We don't just want to have ‘mission’ as a programme or ‘social justice’ as an event, we ultimately want it as a lifestyle. But if you want it as a lifestyle, you have to embody it."

"When I asked Bishop Steve what his vision was for this diocese, he said to me that it is to take 'church outside church'."

In our diocese, there are a few key people whose hard mahi make our annual synod happen. I spoke with two in particular, here in the Anglican Centre: Deborah Oliver and Renata van der Wal.

There have been times in my journey where I’ve thought, "Does anyone else get this?" To be in a room where just about everyone else does get it – or at least they’re curious about it – was good for my edgy soul.

Bishop Steve is delighted to announce the appointment of Rev Mark Johnson as the new vicar at Golden Bay Parish.

“Loaves & Fishes is more than just a place where people come. It's a place where people get to connect and share their lives.”

Friends, church members and colleagues spoke of Watiri’s gentle, warm and peaceful presence, and her consistent integrity both in public and private life.

In early 2023 the parish was contacted by Heritage New Zealand, inviting them to apply for funding from the David Luke Heritage Bequest.

"I particularly loved coming together as the diocese and just being so encouraged by sharing stories and hearing how we’re all working for the gospel with our ups and downs, our challenges and our persevering and our celebrations."

"It is a huge privilege to be asked to lead in this way," said Archbishop Justin Duckworth, new senior bishop of the New Zealand Dioceses.

"I didn't work out until my 30s that I was probably a gifted evangelist," says Julie-anne. "And the image that I'd had of what a gifted evangelist looked like was quite different. I was a bit more 'ordinary'."

"We see people meeting with Jesus wherever they are in their ages and stages," say Gary and Phillipa, leaders of Messy Church in Motueka.

We asked a few parishes to tell us about how their Easter celebrations went this year.

Nearly 170 years after the first ship in the series was launched, Reverend David Hastings and Reverend John Sherlock conducted the blessing ceremony for Southern Cross 10.

“You’re not going to be beaten by a grandma are you?” works well when persuading them to do something a bit difficult for them – jumping over the side or climbing up the rigging.

If you've been part of the diocese for a while (especially the northern end), you've probably heard of a place called Mamaku Grove – but what actually is it?

"I wrestled for years about how art and craft could be spiritual, but I know now for sure that it is by the opportunities it provides."

The deliberate use of colour in Anglican liturgy is a way of participating through beauty and art in the seasons and celebrations of our faith. 

From church news and interviews with local legends to theological analyses and personal devotions, we read over 100 articles and heard from more than 40 different voices from Marlborough, Waimea, Māwhera and Nelson.

Last Sunday marked a significant moment in Rai Valley as St Mark's opened its doors for the first time in nearly ten years.

After three decades of hard work, Pip and Paul Etherington celebrate the publication of the first New Testament ever written in Nggem.

Ben Truman began life on the West Coast at Holy Trinity in Greymouth and attended The Shed youth group. Last night he became the youngest Dean in the history of Christ Church Cathedral.

On November 16, the Mission to Seafarers celebrated the opening of their new centre in Nelson, sure to be a comforting sight for those arriving after lengthy periods at sea.

"If we're doing a radio show on Sunday morning," Petra thought, "why can't it be a sacred, safe place, a spiritual place? Could it not be church on the radio?"

Some of us have been receiving odd emails from people claiming to be friends or colleagues...

"Our faith has a profound impact on our work," says Nick, "both in our service to those we host, but also in the way we steward the business and care for our staff and their families."

“I’m doing what songwriters and poets and artists are supposed to do,” Cory says about his new album, “which is to give language for the things that we all feel.”

Clergy and representatives from every parish gathered last week for Synod, opened by a compelling address from Bishop Steve. “It was more prayerful, Scripture-focused, and 'spiritual’ than other Synods I have attended,” says one member.

The Five Ways to Wellbeing is a set of simple, everyday actions that can make a world of difference. They're like little tricks to building resilience, boosting your wellbeing and reducing the chances of facing mental health challenges.

"Of course we should expect to see te reo in our churches. We are part of this place, where long ago we pledged to protect our Māori culture."

Evidence shows that one in three kiwis experiences mental health issues. Don wanted to make a difference. But he's not a therapist – he's a gardener.

"It's not the building that has made the ministry so successful, it's the myriad of leaders over the years who have supported us in building a culture of unconditional love, respect, community, opportunities to grow, and a place to explore faith."

"I love these little old church buildings because they're a physical picture of Christian fellowship. These are the places where people come together to worship their God and to encourage one another towards Christ."

People gathered together all across our diocese over the weekend to reflect on Jesus' sacrifice and rejoice in his resurrection.

“Sometimes I feel like a voice crying out in the wilderness. But I will keep at it until the Lord tells me to stop, so more children will hear the gospel.”

I was always eager to use my creative skills in some Christ-serving capacity, but I’m learning more and more about how much room there is for people like me in the Church.

"How could our church help?" wondered a group of women from Hills Community Church in Māpua, half a thousand kilometres away from the cyclone's epicentre of destruction.

By walking the same ground as Jesus walked, Christians are reminded that God is not just a distant figure from history, but a living and active God who is still working in the world today.

"I’ve been in some great services and felt the presence of God, but never like that," he said, between tears. "It wasn’t really emotional or hyped, it was just a tangible presence."