NZ Interfaith Group

NZ Interfaith Group

Quick Launch
View All Site Content

Sites

National Youth Interfaith Movement

Forums

National Forums 2011 Images

National Forums 2011 Papers

Previous Forums

Documents

Statement on Religious Diversity

Internet Sites and Resources

Resources

The NZ Interfaith Group welcomes you in the spirit of understanding and cooperation between all of the faiths in Aotearoa New Zealand.

The NZ Interfaith Group has evolved from a variety of interfaith groups that have been active in different parts of New Zealand over the past 20 years. Members of many faiths are represented in these various groups, that have come together in an annual forum for the past few years.

For more information about this site, please contact Paddy Payne: 04-472-2021 (w); 04-472-2027 (f); info@interfaith.org.nz (e); PO Box 5428, Wellington (p).

2012 National Interfaith Forum - Hamilton

News

Register now for Regional Interfaith Forum in Hamilton on Sunday 9 June by	1/05/2013 9:23 p.m.


Hamilton Malayalees combine Easter with Vishu by	1/05/2013 9:23 p.m.


Ahmadiyya Muslim Jubilee celebrations (1987-2012) by	1/05/2013 9:23 p.m.


Hamilton student secures Race Unity Speech Award by	1/05/2013 9:23 p.m.


Te Korowai Whakapono: Religious Diversity Network News - April 2013 by	1/05/2013 9:23 p.m.


Hamilton City Council embraces interfaith prayers at City Council meetings by	11/04/2013 11:25 p.m.


iChoose, Innovative Anti Bullying Programme launched in Auckland Schools by Paddy	30/03/2013 8:49 a.m.


Establishment of the Dunedin Interfaith Council by Paddy	30/03/2013 8:49 a.m.


Te Korowai Whakapono: Religious Diversity Network News - March 2013 by Paddy	30/03/2013 8:49 a.m.


Baha’i Faith’s Centenary Year by Paddy	28/02/2013 11:04 p.m.

(More Announcements...)


Add new announcement

Events

9/06/2013 12:00 a.m.		Regional Interfaith Forum - Hamilton In lieu of a 2013 National Interfaith Forum, the Waikato Interfaith Council would like to announce the date of Sunday 9 June 2013 for a Regional Interfaith Forum to be held in Hamilton. As the next National Interfaith Forum is planned to be held in Dunedin...
27/08/2013 12:00 a.m.		“The Role of Youth in the Community” - Islam Awareness Week (27 August to 1 September) Islam Awareness Week (IAW) will be held from 27August-1 September 2013. The theme for this year is “The Role of Youth in the Community.” Islam Awareness Week is a week of information and activities organised by the Federation of Islamic Association of...
21/03/2014 1:00 a.m.		Race Relations Day - National Race Relations Day in New Zealand marks the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination. Activitities are organised throughout the country by ethnic groups, local councils, workplaces, schools, faith communities and media. Many multi-ethnic...
27/06/2014 12:00 a.m.		National Interfaith Forum - Dunedin Further details will be announced later in 2013
21/03/2015 1:00 a.m.		Race Relations Day - National Race Relations Day in New Zealand marks the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination. Activitities are organised throughout the country by ethnic groups, local councils, workplaces, schools, faith communities and media. Many multi-ethnic...


Add new event

Contact details for regional groups

Auckland Inter-faith Council
Pres: Mrs Ruth Cleaver, mcleaver @ xtra.co.nz
Vice Pres: Mr Gul Zaman, zaman @ orcon.net.nz

Waikato Interfaith Council
Sec: Mr Todd Nachowitz, wifconz @ gmail.com
http://wifco.wikispaces.com

Wellington Inter-Faith Council
Pres: Mr David Zwartz, zwartz @ actrix.gen.nz, 04-475-7622, 027-475-7722
Sec: Mrs Eileen Mueller, nzmueller @ clear.net.nz, 027-479-9731

Christchurch Interfaith Council

Pres: Derek McCullough, units @ clear.net.nz
Sec: Ina de Paauw-Fontein, ina @ depaauw.co.nz
www.christchurchinterfaith.org.nz

Dunedin Abrahamic Interfaith Group

Chair: Rev. Greg Hughson, see their website for email address

Sec: Mrs Mai Tamimi, mai_t73 @ yahoo.com

www.dunedininterfaith.net.nz

Internet Sites and Resources

	Aotearoa New Zealand Interfaith Network	The Aotearoa New Zealand Interfaith Network is part of the New Zealand Diversity Action Programme and is a mailing list that brings together faith communities, interfaith groups, government agencies, academics and individuals interested in interfaith ...
	BBC Multifaith Calendar	An excellent multifaith calendar that allows you to look at festivals and holy days by religion or by month, with detailed info given about most dates
	BBC Religion & Ethics	The BBC's site on religion and ethics with information areas on Atheism, Bahá'í, Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Islam, Jainism, Judaism, Mormonism, Paganism, Rastafari, Shinto, Sikhism, Taoism, Unitarianism, Zoroastrianism
	BeliefNet	We are a multi-faith e-community designed to help you meet your own religious and spiritual needs -- in an interesting, captivating and engaging way ...
	Center for Interreligious Understanding	Through educational programs and policy leadership, the CIU brings people of all faiths together to learn about our history, our shared values and why we must live and work together toward a society of justice and peace ...
	Centre for Faith and the Media	The Centre for Faith and the Media is an independent, non-profit organization to inform, advise and help media and the general public achieve a stronger understanding of spiritual history, practices and values in Canadian society.
	Council for a Parliament of the World's Religions	The mission of the Council for a Parliament of the World's Religions is to cultivate harmony among the world's religious and spiritual communities and foster their engagement with the world and its other guiding institutions ...
	Council of Christians and Jews	The Council of Christians and Jews brings together Christian and Jewish Communities in a common effort to overcome the evils of prejudice, intolerance and discrimination between people of different of religions and ethnicity.
	Dunedin Abrahamic Students Interfaith Group	Dunedin Abrahamic Students Interfaith Group
	Dunedin Abrahamic Interfaith Group	Our group was formed here in Dunedin in the aftermath of the events of September 11th 2001 out of spontaneous expressions of solidarity and goodwill between leaders of our three faiths, the police and the Dunedin City Council.
	http://www.optimalunity.org	Optimal Unity is a call for humanity to look beyond history, beyond the righteousness of the past and see into the future a move towards unity in the commonality of all faiths.
	Interfaith Encounter Association	The Interfaith Encounter Association is dedicated to promoting peace in the Middle East through interfaith dialogue and cross-cultural study ...
	Interfaith resources	A list of some of the many organisations throughout the world which are involved in inter-religious activities ...
	Interfaith Youth Core	Our interfaith leaders are building a movement of young people from all faiths and traditions who are working together to change the world
	Interfaithing	Interfaithing is an interfaith social network community with daily interfaith news, videos, positive news, and a large interfaith resource. Our objective is to unite and grow the global interfaith community...
	Interfaithnet Asia Pacific	Interfaithnet is a group of Interfaith Ministers who graduated from interfaith seminaries in the USA, UK and Canada and who are practising as congregational ministers, chaplains, celebrants, spiritual counsellors and healers, pastoral carers, social ...
	International Association for Religious Freedom	The International Association for Religious Freedom is a registered charity based in the United Kingdom which has the aim of working for freedom of religion and belief at a global level ...
	International Council of Christians and Jews	The ICCJ serves as the umbrella organisation of 38 national Jewish-Christian dialogue organisations world-wide.
	Internationally recognised Values Education Program	Living Values Education Program (LVEP) is a comprehensive values education program. This innovative global character education program offers a wide variety of experiential values activities and practical methodologies to educators, facilitators, parents
	Interreligious and International Federation for World Peace	The IIFWP (Interreligious and International Federation for World Peace) was founded in the hope of building a world in which peoples, cultures, races, religions, and nationalities could live together in harmony, mutual respect, cooperation ...
	Jews, Christians, and Muslims working together	3faiths.org is a blog dedicated to telling the stories about positive interactions between the three abrahamic faiths: Judaism, Christianity and Islam.
	MultiFaithNet	MultiFaithNet is a self-access research, learning, information and dialogue tool, providing updated access to global electronic resources and interactions useful for study of world religious traditions and communities and the practice of inter-faith ...
	New Zealand Sikh Society (Wellington)	The New Zealand Sikh Society (Wellington) Inc. was Incorporated on 24 June 1991. The main objective of the society is to preach the teachings of Sikhism, to provide religious services and ceremonies, to foster a better understanding among the people of NZ
	PBS Religion and Ethics	Since its debut in 1997, RELIGION & ETHICS NEWSWEEKLY has set itself apart from the mainstream media by providing distinctive, cutting-edge news coverage and analysis of national and international events in the ever-changing religious world.
	Peace Next	Peace Next is the official social network of the Council for a Parliament of the World's Religions
	Regional Interfaith Network (RIN)	The Regional Interfaith Network (RIN) website was established in Melbourne, Australia in December 2010 following a unanimous recommendation made at the 5th Regional Interfaith Dialogue held in Perth, 2009
	Religions for Peace	Religions for Peace is the largest international coalition of representatives from the world's great religions dedicated to promoting peace
	REonline	Religious Education Online. REonline is a family of websites, with www.reonline.org.uk at its centre. Great resources for education of children of all ages.
	Spiritual "non-secular" Discussion Forum	Spiritual / Gnostic / Mystic Discussion Forum for all sincere seekers of Ultimate Truth
	The Inter Faith Network of UK	The Inter Faith Network for the UK works to build good relations between the different religious communities in the UK at both national and local levels ...
	The Interfaith Alliance	The Interfaith Alliance and The Interfaith Alliance Foundation - the national non-partisan advocacy voice of the interfaith movement. Our 150,000 members are from more than 70 faith traditions and people of good will ...
	The Revealer	A daily review of Religion and the Press.
	The Sacred Site	Radha Sahar's site that has information on many of the world's faiths ...
	United Religions Initiative	United Religions Initiative started in 2000 after the signing of a Charter for a United Religions Initiative focused on promoting grass-roots changemakers across the religious, cultural and geographic boundaries of the world
	Waikato Interfaith Council	Web site for the Waikato Interfaith Council.
	World Congress of Faiths	The World Congress of Faiths publishes the leading journal on interfaith matters Interreligious Insight. It arranges a variety of conferences, meetings, retreats, visits and group travel ...
	World Faiths Development Dialogue	Its aim is to facilitate a dialogue on poverty and development among people from different religions and between them and the international development institutions.
	World Interfaith Harmony Week	The World Interfaith Harmony Week is a worldwide week of interfaith harmony. The World Interfaith Harmony Week will fall on the first week of February of every year and aims to promote harmony between all people regardless of their faith.


Add new link

Multifaith Calendar

Date

Title

19 May

Pentecost (Western)

Christianity (Western) - Pentecost (also known as Whitsunday in some churches) is the commemoration of the coming of the Holy Spirit upon the disciples of Jesus following his ascension (Acts 2:1-11). It comes fifty days after Easter (Western).

21 May

World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development (UN)

22 May

International Day for Biological Diversity (UN)

23 May

Declaration of the Báb

Bahá'í Faith - Declaration of the Báb commemorates the day in 1844 on which he announced his identity as the Báb, or Gate, the herald of the new age.

25 May

Wesak

Buddhism - Wesak is the most important day of the year for Buddhists. Coming on the full moon, it marks the triple celebration of the Buddha's Birth, Enlightenment and Final Demise.

26 May

Trinity Sunday (Westerm)

Trinity Sunday (Western) is a celebration of the Christian understanding of God in Three Persons (Father, Son, Holy Spirit). It comes one week after Pentecost

29 May

Ascension of Bahá'u'lláh

Bahá'í Faith - Ascension of Bahá'u'lláh marks the anniversary of the death of the founder of the Bahá'í Faith. Bahá'ís suspend work on this day.

29 May

International Day of UN Peacekeepers (UN)

31 May

World No Tobacco Day (WHO)

4 Jun

International Day of Innocent Child Victims of Aggression (UN)

5 Jun

Mi'rāj al-Nabiy (begins in the evening)

Islam - Mi'rāj al-Nabiy commemorates the ascension (al-Mi'rāj) of the Prophet to heaven. Muslims interpret the event literally and symbolically. The festival begins in the evening.

5 Jun

Núr (Light)

Bahá'í Faith - Núr (Light), the 5th month of the Bahá'í year.

5 Jun

World Environment Day (UN)

8 Jun

World Oceans Day (UN)

13 Jun

Ascension (Eastern)

Christianity (Eastern) - Ascension is the anniversary of Jesus' ascension into heaven and enthronement as universal sovereign. It comes forty days after Easter.

16 Jun

Martyrdom of Guru Arjan Dev Ji

Sikhism - Martyrdom of Guru Arjan Dev Ji (1563-1606). Arjan was the first Sikh Martyr and the fifth Guru. He built the Harimandir (Temple of God) in which Sikhs could meet for worship, in the town of Amritsar (Pool of Nectar). To emphasise that the Sikh way was open to all, regardless of caste, he constructed the temple with doors facing all four directions. Sikhs remember Arjan for contributing to and compiling the Sikh Scriptures.

17 Jun

World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought (UN)

20 Jun

Alban Arthan / Winter Solstice / Te Maruroa o te Takurua

Wicca - The Winter Solstice ceremony of the Druid tradition is known as Alban Arthuan - "The Light of Arthur. Here Arthur is equated with the Sun-God who dies and is reborn at the Winter Solstice.

For the ancient Maori the new year began on the first new moon after the rising of Matariki (the Pleiades) in the eastern sky at dawn. The saying Matariki kainga kore (homeless Matariki) refers to the constant travel of this constellation which disappears from the sky to rest only once a year, on the waning moon of May. Matariki reappears in the tail of the Milky Way during the waning moon of June, which brings the start of the new year close to Winter Solstice.

Ra was said to have two wives, both daughters of Tangaroa. He spent half the year with Hine-Takarua, the Winter Woman in the south far out on the ocean. At the Maruaroa of winter, he was said to begin his return to his other wife, Hine-raumati, the Summer Woman who dwells on land.

20 Jun

World Refugee Day (UN)

23 Jun

Nisf Sha'ban (begins in the evening)

Islam - Nisf Sha'ban, the 15th day or middle (Nisf) of the eight month (Sha'ban), is the Night of Repentance in preparation for Ramadan. It begins in the evening.

23 Jun

Pentecost (Eastern)

Christianity (Eastern) - Pentecost is the commemoration of the coming of the Holy Spirit upon the disciples of Jesus following his ascension (Acts 2:1-11). It comes fifty days after Easter.

23 Jun

Poson

Buddhism - Poson celebrates the anniversary of the arrival of the Arahant Mahinda, son of King Asoka, who first brought Buddhism to Sri Lanka. Poson is characterised by day-long processions and ceremonies at Mihintale which is now the site of a great Buddhist temple at Ambasthale Dagoba.

UN Years and Decades

Title

There are no items to show in this view of the "Multifaith Calendar" list.

Resources

Final report of the New Zealand Delegation from the Asia Pacific Regional Interfaith Dialogue, Phnom Penh, Cambodia, April 2008 by Paddy	25/09/2008 12:09 a.m.


Understanding the Three Abrahamic Faiths: Judaism, Christianity and Islam by Paddy	8/06/2008 9:42 p.m.


Add new announcement