The
NZ Catholic website aims to help you keep abreast of Catholic news worldwide without having to scan the contents of dozens of websites every day. Although it is an online companion to New Zealand.s national Catholic newspaper, it is not an online version of
NZ Catholic.
Most of the content of the website does not appear in print; and most of the newspaper does not appear online. Both use reports by
NZ Catholic staff and correspondents, as well as coverage by international Catholic
news services.
Since it was launched in 1996,
NZ Catholic newspaper has won 49
awards for excellence in religious journalism and receives consistent positive
feedback from readers.
Read its statement of purpose.
The newspaper also offers an annual
journalism scholarship for young Catholics entering journalism.
Subscribe now and you can receive New Zealand.s award-winning national Catholic newspaper delivered to your home every two weeks. Besides national and international coverage, the
contents include opinion columns (including Ronald Rolheiser) and letters; reviews of television, films and books; award-winning cartoonist Malcolm Evans; and features for young adults and children.
NZ Catholic is portable, lightweight (except in content) and foldable. After you.ve read it, you can leave it around the house for family members, or leave it in a waiting-room or bus to spread the Good News.
NZ Catholic is a member of the Australasian Religious Press Association and the Australasian Catholic Press Association.
The staff of
NZ Catholic pray daily to the paper.s patron,
St Maximilian Kolbe, who was a media genius in the 1920s.
To find out more about the
NZ Catholic, click on one of the links below:
StaffNews services
AwardsFeedback
Statement of PurposeSubscribe
Journalism ScholarshipContents in Print
Our staff
Gavin Abraham (managing editor) graduated with a bachelor of arts degree in communications and psychology from the Jesuit-run Rockhurst University in Kansas City, Missouri. An internship with the
Shawnee Journal Herald led to a full-time job for two years before he returned to New Zealand to work on the
Eastern Courier, Auckland, and
Rodney Times, Warkworth. After a period as assistant editor for the
Platte County Citizen, Missouri, he was assistant features editor for the Suburban Newspapers group in Auckland. He joined
NZ Catholic in 2005 as assistant editor and later that year became managing editor.
Pat McCarthy (associate editor) has been in journalism since 1958. He has worked on the
Southland Daily News, Invercargill;
Evening Post, Wellington;
Zealandia, Wellington and Auckland; and
NZ Herald, Auckland. He has edited the national pro-life paper,
Humanity, and the national magazine for people with disabilities,
NZ Disabled. He became founding editor of
NZ Catholic in 1996 and stepped down to associate editor in 2005.
Peter Grace (layout sub-editor) moved to his present position in 2004 after five years as senior journalist with
NZ Catholic. Earlier he had been a journalist on the
Franklin County News, Pukekohe; editor of the
Piako Post, Morrinsville; communications manager for MAF Quality Management; sub-editor on the
Evening News, Dannevirke; farming editor on the
Wanganui Chronicle; and chief sub-editor on the
Levin Chronicle.
Christine Gounder (journalist) is currently completing a master of communications degree at the Auckland University of Technology. She came to
NZ Catholic in 2004 after being editor of an ethnic Indian newspaper and a reporter and production assistant for another ethnic paper, both in Auckland. Earlier she had worked for
Fiji Television, the
Fiji Women.s Rights Movement and the
Fiji Daily Post, and had been a part-time journalism tutor at the University of the South Pacific.
Dennis Augustine (advertising and promotions manager) joined
NZ Catholic in 2000 after a successful career in sales, marketing and promotion in South Africa. He also started the first black Jaycee chapter in South Africa, became president, was chosen as Jaycee of the Year for South Africa and represented his country at a world congress in Amsterdam. He gave up an international marketing franchise and his country to settle in New Zealand and be with his grandchildren.
Anne Marie Thom (office manager) joined
NZ Catholic in 2000 as accounts and database management clerk after returning from Tonga where she had been a volunteer for the Catholic Overseas Volunteer Service, teaching English and religious education, and administering a library, at a Catholic business college. She had earlier worked in a sole-charge office administration position in Whitianga.
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News services
International reports come from a variety of news services. Among them are:
CNS: The Catholic News Service is a major source of Catholic news in the English-speaking world. It is used by about 240 newspapers, broadcasters and other news outlets in over 35 countries. Created in 1920 by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, it is an editorially independent and financially self-sustaining division of the bishops. conference.
CWN: Catholic World News is an independent Catholic news service, also based in the US, dedicated to providing world news from a distinctively Catholic perspective. It has been providing Catholic news on the Internet since 1996. Its editor is veteran newsman Philip Lawler, who also editor emeritus of Catholic World Report magazine.
Zenit: This Rome-based agency provides coverage of events, documents and issues emanating from or concerning the Catholic Church, especially relating to the Pope and the Vatican. Its articles . in English, Spanish, French, German and Portuguese . are reproduced in hundreds of publications worldwide, as well as by radio and television stations.
VIS: The Vatican Information Service comes from the Holy See Press Office. It provides information (in English, Italian, Spanish and French) about the pastoral activities of the Holy Father, pontifical documents and the work of the congregations of the Holy See.
Fides: This is the news agency of the Vatican Congregation for the Evangelisation of Peoples (still popularly known as "Propaganda Fidei"). It gives particular attention to covering the missionary activity of the Catholic Church.
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Feedback
Over a four-year period, each time a subscription to
NZ Catholic newspaper became due, the subscriber was sent a form inviting comments on the paper and suggestions for topics it should cover. Here are some comments received:
"Grate [sic] paper, couldn.t do without it."
"An excellent publication . I appreciate the news, comment and articles from the international scene in particular."
"Ronald Rolheiser.s column is fantastic and a major reason I buy your magazine."
"I have enjoyed NZ Catholic very much . am cancelling because I.m receiving 5 religious publications and they.re not all being read."
"NZ Catholic is good . perhaps a little expensive for us older folks."
"It is a lovely paper. I look for it every fortnight. It is a big help for Catholics in this pagan world!"
"We like NZC for its balanced, sound and comprehensive coverage of news, information and other features of interest to Catholics."
"I think your gang of people are doing wonderfully well."
"NZ Catholic is the only magazine we receive . so that says something about its scope and content!"
"Just such an interesting publication."
"I am very proud of NZ Catholic and congratulate you on a splendid paper."
"It is a magnificent newspaper and tells the truth."
"Very balanced and not afraid to print the good and bad image."
"NZ Catholic informs me, feeds me, gives balanced views and is very readable. I often quote from it, in conversations."
"A magnificent paper. Full marks for such a wonderful fortnightly paper which is consistently of high value."
"We enjoy the broad cover and the real Catholic focus."
"It keeps me up to date as a Catholic."
"I really enjoy my fortnightly fix."
"We enjoy the great mix of articles we have in the NZ Catholic."
"Enjoy its arrival and read it thoroughly."
"There is a good balance of information, news and inspirational articles."
"Love the NZ Catholic . best paper in town!"
"Good informative paper . at times even inspirational."
"As far as we are concerned it is a 100% perfect paper."
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Statement of purpose
1. To communicate the Good News of the Gospel, and provide a Catholic perspective on current and relevant issues, by informing and educating New Zealand Catholics about what is happening in the Church and society, both nationally and internationally, with the aim of fostering an informed Catholic community.
2. To do this in ways which:
(a) Respect the teaching authority of the Church and express our own Catholic ethos in relations with staff, subscribers, advertisers and the society in which we live.
(b) Maintain the highest professional and ethical standards.
(c) Reflect national character in content and achieve national circulation.
(d) Make use of up-to-date means of communications, such as an effective website.
(e) Reach an increasing number of New Zealand Catholics by means of an appropriate marketing strategy.
(f) Ensure the future viability of the
NZ Catholic operation.
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Journalism scholarship
The
NZ Catholic Journalism Scholarship was launched in 2000 and is financed by donations from subscribers to the newspaper. Its purpose is to encourage young Catholics to consider journalism as a career.
The scholarship, worth up to $4500, covers fees for the first year of a tertiary journalism course. Successful applicants are also expected to undertake some sort of faith formation course during the scholarship year, the fees for which are also covered.
Scholars to date are:
2005 -
Karlene van Opdorp, Lower Hutt
2004 -
Rebecca Edwards, Lower Hutt
2003 -
Madeleine Baker, Palmerston North
2002 -
Jenna Dunne, Invercargill
2001 -
Eveline Jenkin, Auckland
2000 -
Angela Pyke, Christchurch
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Awards
Since it began in 1996,
NZ Catholic newspaper has received 49 awards for religious journalism from the Australasian Catholic Press Association (ACPA) and Australasian Religious Press Association (ARPA). They are:
2005
ACPA
Best newspaper layout and design
Best newspaper feature
Best newspaper feature (highly commended)
ARPA
Best humorous item
Best news item (highly commended)
2004
ACPA
Best newspaper feature
Best newspaper layout and design
Best feature story (highly commended)
ARPA
Gutenberg Award for overall excellence in Christian newspaper and magazine publishing
Best editorial
Best humorous item (highly commended)
2003
ACPA
Bishop Phillip Kennedy Memorial Award (best newspaper)
Best news story (highly commended)
ARPA
Best news story (highly commended)
Best feature story (highly commended)
2002
ACPA
Bishop Phillip Kennedy Memorial Award (best newspaper)
Best newspaper feature
Best advertisement designed in-house
Best feature story (highly commended)
Best news story (highly commended)
Best editorial (highly commended)
Best newspaper layout and design (highly commended)
ARPA
Feature showing most originality (highly commended)
Best newspaper layout and design (highly commended)
2001
ACPA
Best newspaper feature
Best original photograph
Best newspaper layout and design
Best feature story (highly commended)
Best newspaper front page (highly commended)
ARPA
Best devotional article applying faith to life
Feature showing most originality (highly commended)
2000
ACPA
Best newspaper feature
Best piece of education coverage (highly commended)
Best newspaper layout and design
ARPA
Best editorial (highly commended)
Best story on social justice (highly commended)
1999
ACPA
Best newspaper layout and design
Best feature story
Best news story (highly commended)
1998
ACPA
Best feature (highly commended)
Best social justice story (highly commended)
Best editorial (highly commended)
ARPA
Best newspaper layout and design (highly commended)
Best news story (highly commended)
1997
ACPA
Bishop Phillip Kennedy Memorial Award (best newspaper)
Most improved publication (highly commended)
ARPA
Best newspaper layout and design
Best newspaper front page
Most improved newspaper
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