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Once again, Resene and NZ Gardener are on the hunt for New Zealand’s best shed! Send in the photos and the stories behind your man caves, she sheds, clever upcycled spaces, potty potting sheds and colourful chicken coops. The Resene Shed of the Year 2026 winner receives $1000 Resene ColorShop … View moreOnce again, Resene and NZ Gardener are on the hunt for New Zealand’s best shed! Send in the photos and the stories behind your man caves, she sheds, clever upcycled spaces, potty potting sheds and colourful chicken coops. The Resene Shed of the Year 2026 winner receives $1000 Resene ColorShop voucher, a $908 large Vegepod Starter Pack and a one-year subscription to NZ Gardener. To enter, tell us in writing (no more than 500 words) why your garden shed is New Zealand’s best, and send up to five high-quality photos by email to mailbox@nzgardener.co.nz. Entries close February 23, 2026.
Visit our exciting new Showhome at 3 Springwater Drive, Awa Park, Feilding!
G.J. Gardner Homes are acknowledged for their innovative design concepts. Our designers are continually coming up with fresh ideas and creative living plans. Here’s your chance to view some of their latest ideas … View moreVisit our exciting new Showhome at 3 Springwater Drive, Awa Park, Feilding!
G.J. Gardner Homes are acknowledged for their innovative design concepts. Our designers are continually coming up with fresh ideas and creative living plans. Here’s your chance to view some of their latest ideas incorporated into this stunning showhome.
If you’re thinking of building and are looking for ideas and inspiration, make this your first step!
2 for 1 ticket offer
Get all those new year jobs sorted with a visit to the Show! It’s all about idea’s, inspiration and exclusive show specials at the Rotorua Home and Garden Show on from the 20th - 22nd of February at Energy Events Centre. Join the fun with our 2 for 1 Adult Ticket Offer… View more2 for 1 ticket offer
Get all those new year jobs sorted with a visit to the Show! It’s all about idea’s, inspiration and exclusive show specials at the Rotorua Home and Garden Show on from the 20th - 22nd of February at Energy Events Centre. Join the fun with our 2 for 1 Adult Ticket Offer
There’ll be a huge variety Home and Garden Exhibitors, featuring everything from Kitchens, Artists, Builders, Landscaping, Heating, Spas, Flooring, Heatlh & Well-being and more! Add to that good food, great coffee and you have the perfect day out. Get your to-do list ready and we'll see you at the Show.
Save the date in your diaries: 20 - 22 February
Fri & Sat 10 – 5, Sun 10 – 4
Energy Events Centre, Rotorua
Adults $6
Gold Card Friday $3
Under 16 free
Neighbourhood locals are invited to the Auckland Seniors & Travel Expo, a relaxed and welcoming event bringing lifestyle, leisure, and travel together under one roof. Meet 50+ exhibitors showcasing travel ideas, retirement living, mobility solutions, health services, finance, and local clubs. … View moreNeighbourhood locals are invited to the Auckland Seniors & Travel Expo, a relaxed and welcoming event bringing lifestyle, leisure, and travel together under one roof. Meet 50+ exhibitors showcasing travel ideas, retirement living, mobility solutions, health services, finance, and local clubs. Enjoy live music from Kulios, café seating, door prizes, and be in to win a Luxury Beachfront Escape for Two to Rarotonga.
North Harbour Stadium
28 February & 1 March
10:00am – 3:00pm
$10 entry
Neighbourhood locals are invited to the Auckland Seniors & Travel Expo, a relaxed and welcoming event bringing lifestyle, leisure, and travel together under one roof. Meet 50+ exhibitors showcasing travel ideas, retirement living, mobility solutions, health services, finance, and local clubs. … View moreNeighbourhood locals are invited to the Auckland Seniors & Travel Expo, a relaxed and welcoming event bringing lifestyle, leisure, and travel together under one roof. Meet 50+ exhibitors showcasing travel ideas, retirement living, mobility solutions, health services, finance, and local clubs. Enjoy live music from Kulios, café seating, door prizes, and be in to win a Luxury Beachfront Escape for Two to Rarotonga.
The sun through the skylight, a tui singing in the garden and a fresh batch of scones on the kitchen bench... that’s what ‘A Better Everyday’ feels like at Waiapu Village. Just minutes from Havelock North Village, Waiapu is a smaller village where you’re never just a number.
To discover… View moreThe sun through the skylight, a tui singing in the garden and a fresh batch of scones on the kitchen bench... that’s what ‘A Better Everyday’ feels like at Waiapu Village. Just minutes from Havelock North Village, Waiapu is a smaller village where you’re never just a number.
To discover how good life can be at Waiapu Village, visit our Open Home or call Jude on 027 215 8156 for a tour. We can’t wait to show you around!
The Reserve Bank has shared some pretty blunt advice: there’s no such thing as a “safe” job anymore 🛟😑
Robots are stepping into repetitive roles in factories, plants and warehouses. AI is taking care of the admin tasks that once filled many mid-level office jobs.
We want to know: … View moreThe Reserve Bank has shared some pretty blunt advice: there’s no such thing as a “safe” job anymore 🛟😑
Robots are stepping into repetitive roles in factories, plants and warehouses. AI is taking care of the admin tasks that once filled many mid-level office jobs.
We want to know: As the world evolves, what skills do you think give a CV the ultimate edge in a robot-filled workplace?
Want to read more? The Press has you covered!
Sweet yellow watermelons for Sale. Directly from the farm. Small, medium or big. Price differs according to weight. Welcome to have a look and Pick up from 191 Penrose Road, between 10am to 8pm. Cash payment and street parking are preferred. Thank you.😊
Hi all my lovely human bought a new plate. I gave him some purr felt cat advice and told him that plate needs to be used by a Queen. So he wisely gave it to me
Hi neighbours!
At Graham’s Painters we bring 40+ years of experience, a friendly team of over 20+ full-time professionals, and a “get-it-done” attitude to every job big or small.
We specialise in interior/exterior painting, roof painting, house washing, decking, fencing, wallpapering, … View moreHi neighbours!
At Graham’s Painters we bring 40+ years of experience, a friendly team of over 20+ full-time professionals, and a “get-it-done” attitude to every job big or small.
We specialise in interior/exterior painting, roof painting, house washing, decking, fencing, wallpapering, and cedar weatherboards. We’re tidy, punctual, and perfect for busy families, non-DIYers, and retirees.
Discounts available for SuperGold Card holders
Serving all of Wellington, Hutt Valley & up to Plimmerton.
Message us today for a free quote, we’d love to help bring your home to life!
Waverley and Surrounding areas - Sunday 22 February - 9AM to 5PM
Transpower, the owner and operator of the national grid, is carrying out important maintenance at the Waverley substation and its connecting lines
For this work to be completed safely and as quickly as possible, the substation … View moreWaverley and Surrounding areas - Sunday 22 February - 9AM to 5PM
Transpower, the owner and operator of the national grid, is carrying out important maintenance at the Waverley substation and its connecting lines
For this work to be completed safely and as quickly as possible, the substation will need to be turned off on Sunday 22 February.
We understand there is never a good time to be without power and apologise for any inconvenience this may cause.
The map shows the areas likely to be affected. For useful tips to help you prepare, please click here.
If you have any questions, please contact us at communications@transpower.co.nz or phone 04 590 7000. You can also contact your power retailer.
Make a hearty dish. Take just half a minute. Add four parts of kestrel. Then just add one. What have you made?
(Trev from Silverdale kindly provided this head-scratcher ... thanks, Trev!)
Do you think you know the answer? Simply 'Like' this post and we'll post the answer in the… View moreMake a hearty dish. Take just half a minute. Add four parts of kestrel. Then just add one. What have you made?
(Trev from Silverdale kindly provided this head-scratcher ... thanks, Trev!)
Do you think you know the answer? Simply 'Like' this post and we'll post the answer in the comments below at 2pm on the day!
Want to stop seeing these in your newsfeed? No worries! Simply head here and click once on the Following button.
From 22 to 26 February, we will be replacing a bridge joint on SH1 Redoubt Road overbridge. Work will take place at night time (9pm to 5am) and there will be a full one- way closure with lane restrictions on the other side.
Please expect delays when travelling through the area.
Click here for … View moreFrom 22 to 26 February, we will be replacing a bridge joint on SH1 Redoubt Road overbridge. Work will take place at night time (9pm to 5am) and there will be a full one- way closure with lane restrictions on the other side.
Please expect delays when travelling through the area.
Click here for the Email alert sign up form
The Post recently shared an opinion piece on the Harbour Crossing and why a more democratic approach might be needed 🚗🚲👟
While most decisions sit within the political arena, many organisations—like NZTA—manage long-term projects that go beyond party lines. Politics can sometimes … View moreThe Post recently shared an opinion piece on the Harbour Crossing and why a more democratic approach might be needed 🚗🚲👟
While most decisions sit within the political arena, many organisations—like NZTA—manage long-term projects that go beyond party lines. Politics can sometimes disrupt progress, and the next Harbour Crossing is a big decision that will affect all Aucklanders.
We’d love your thoughts: Should near-complete, shovel-ready designs be shared with the public, or should the community have a hand in shaping the designs from the start?
Glaucoma Awareness Month will turn awareness into action. Our goal: empower more New Zealanders to have an eye health check and raise vital funds to support the work needed to prevent avoidable blindness.
Donate what you feel to get a Gift of Sight pack today. The pack lets families see vision … View moreGlaucoma Awareness Month will turn awareness into action. Our goal: empower more New Zealanders to have an eye health check and raise vital funds to support the work needed to prevent avoidable blindness.
Donate what you feel to get a Gift of Sight pack today. The pack lets families see vision loss firsthand with glaucoma simulation glasses and educational materials. It also prompts action with a voucher for a half-priced eye health check at Matthews Eyecare, OPSM or Specsavers, valid during March 2026.
Early detection saves sight, independence, and the lives people love. Make a donation of your choosing today.
"What's A Machin Stamp?" is perfect for you, whether you're a beginner collector, dipping your toes into the hobby, someone seeking a new interest, or a seasoned enthusiast. You'll get a brief insight into the fascinating world of Machin stamps, issued by Great Britain from… View more"What's A Machin Stamp?" is perfect for you, whether you're a beginner collector, dipping your toes into the hobby, someone seeking a new interest, or a seasoned enthusiast. You'll get a brief insight into the fascinating world of Machin stamps, issued by Great Britain from 1967 to 2022. These stamps capture nearly every innovation in British stamp printing, leading to countless variations to collect.
Where does the name "Machin" come from? What are the terms like NVI, elliptical perforation, self-adhesive formats, and booklet panes? It's an ideal way to build your knowledge without being overwhelmed, and you can bring along your questions for direct answers.
Before the talk, browse member's sales tables to pick up stamps or supplies. After, enjoy afternoon tea to chat and connect with fellow enthusiasts. Visitors welcome.
Know someone in your community who is driving positive change?
Westfield is inviting you to nominate your local hero online.
The successful hero for each New Zealand Westfield destination will be awarded a $20,000 grant for the organisation or group they represent, and each finalist will … View moreKnow someone in your community who is driving positive change?
Westfield is inviting you to nominate your local hero online.
The successful hero for each New Zealand Westfield destination will be awarded a $20,000 grant for the organisation or group they represent, and each finalist will receive a $5,000 grant for their organisation or group.
Find out more about the program and nominate your Local Hero now
We are bringing you the latest list of recalled products from across the country. Make sure you aren't using these at home!
Click on the blue text to learn more about that particular product and why it was recalled.
Food and household item recalls:
⚠️Cereulide toxin risk in … View moreWe are bringing you the latest list of recalled products from across the country. Make sure you aren't using these at home!
Click on the blue text to learn more about that particular product and why it was recalled.
Food and household item recalls:
⚠️Cereulide toxin risk in Nestlé brand Alfamino Infant Formula (0-12 months) recalled due to the possible presence of the toxin cereulide
Nestlé Milo Dipped Snack Bars
BC Hot Water Bottles sold at Bargain Chemist
Product Recalls: Infant care and clothing
Nature Baby Sleeping Gown
Product Recalls: Toys
Sensory Game Controller - sold at Kmart
Product Recalls: Cosmetics
Outside Beauty & Skincare SPF 50+ Mineral Primer (2 batches)
Anessa and Shiseido Anessa sunscreens sold only at Daikoku
Biore and Kao Biore sunscreens sold only at Daikoku
Kose Sunscreens sold only at Daikoku
Mentholatum sunscreens sold only at Daikoku
Pigeon sunscreens sold only at Daikoku
Rohto sunscreens sold only at Daikoku
Product Recalls: Electronics
Harvest Right Freeze Dryer HRFDSBKP-PP sold at Costco
Product Recalls: Other
Michelin X Multi Z and X Line Energy Z, size: 355/50R22.5, load/speed index:156K
UPDATED GASGAS Motorcycles: GASGAS Cross Country and Motocross model motorcycles with BRAKTEC brake system. New VINS added
Check the New Zealand Transport Agency's handy vehicle recall list here.
See past months' recalls. Stay safe, neighbours!
2 for 1 ticket offer
It’s all about idea’s, inspiration and exclusive show specials at the Otago Home and Garden Show on from the 27th of February to 1st March at Edgar Centre, Dunedin. Join the fun with our 2 for 1 Adult Ticket Offer
There are so many fabulous reasons to visit the … View more2 for 1 ticket offer
It’s all about idea’s, inspiration and exclusive show specials at the Otago Home and Garden Show on from the 27th of February to 1st March at Edgar Centre, Dunedin. Join the fun with our 2 for 1 Adult Ticket Offer
There are so many fabulous reasons to visit the show with a huge range of Home and Garden Exhibitors, featuring everything from Builders, Renovators, Homewares, Flooring, Heating and Cooling, Saunas, Outdoor Products, Furnishings, Plants, Artisan Goods, Lifestyle Products and more! All you need under one roof for that next project at home, bring along your plans, questions and ideas! Take a break from the shopping and enjoy great food, coffee! Grab your discounted 2 for 1 ticket offer today and enjoy the Show with a friend.
Save the date in your diaries and connect with local businesses from the 27th of February to 1st March at the Otago Home & Garden Show
Fri & Sat 10 – 5, Sun 10 – 4
Edgar Centre, Dunedin
Adults $5
Gold Card Friday $2.50
Under 16 free
As reported in the Post, there’s a $30 million funding gap in financial mentoring. This has led to services closing and mentors stepping in unpaid just to keep helping people in need 🪙💰🪙
One proposed solution? Small levies on industries that profit from financial hardship — like … View moreAs reported in the Post, there’s a $30 million funding gap in financial mentoring. This has led to services closing and mentors stepping in unpaid just to keep helping people in need 🪙💰🪙
One proposed solution? Small levies on industries that profit from financial hardship — like banks, casinos, and similar companies.
So we want to hear what you think:
Should the government ask these industries to contribute?
Neighbourhood locals are invited to the Auckland Seniors & Travel Expo, a relaxed and welcoming event bringing lifestyle, leisure, and travel together under one roof. Meet 50+ exhibitors showcasing travel ideas, retirement living, mobility solutions, health services, finance, and local clubs. … View moreNeighbourhood locals are invited to the Auckland Seniors & Travel Expo, a relaxed and welcoming event bringing lifestyle, leisure, and travel together under one roof. Meet 50+ exhibitors showcasing travel ideas, retirement living, mobility solutions, health services, finance, and local clubs. Enjoy live music from Kulios, café seating, door prizes, and be in to win a Luxury Beachfront Escape for Two to Rarotonga.
North Harbour Stadium
28 February & 1 March
10:00am – 3:00pm
$10 entry
A Valentine’s-inspired wedding dress show at Ryman Healthcare’s Logan Campbell Village is providing the perfect opportunity for residents to share memories of their romantic day.
But for Emma Muller, it has also turned into an opportunity to celebrate her late daughter Nicola, who died 19 … View moreA Valentine’s-inspired wedding dress show at Ryman Healthcare’s Logan Campbell Village is providing the perfect opportunity for residents to share memories of their romantic day.
But for Emma Muller, it has also turned into an opportunity to celebrate her late daughter Nicola, who died 19 years ago at the age of 37.
Neighbourhood locals are invited to the Auckland Seniors & Travel Expo, a relaxed and welcoming event bringing lifestyle, leisure, and travel together under one roof. Meet 50+ exhibitors showcasing travel ideas, retirement living, mobility solutions, health services, finance, and local clubs. … View moreNeighbourhood locals are invited to the Auckland Seniors & Travel Expo, a relaxed and welcoming event bringing lifestyle, leisure, and travel together under one roof. Meet 50+ exhibitors showcasing travel ideas, retirement living, mobility solutions, health services, finance, and local clubs. Enjoy live music from Kulios, café seating, door prizes, and be in to win a Luxury Beachfront Escape for Two to Rarotonga.
North Harbour Stadium
28 February & 1 March
10:00am – 3:00pm
$10 entry
From 9 to 17 February, stop/go traffic management will be in place on SH2 between McPherson Road and Dimmock Road on multiple nights between 9pm and 5am (Sundays to Thursdays).
During the day, all lanes will be open, but speed restrictions will apply to allow the chipseal to set and to protect … View moreFrom 9 to 17 February, stop/go traffic management will be in place on SH2 between McPherson Road and Dimmock Road on multiple nights between 9pm and 5am (Sundays to Thursdays).
During the day, all lanes will be open, but speed restrictions will apply to allow the chipseal to set and to protect vehicles travelling over the newly laid surface.
There may be delays to your journey when travelling through the area. This is weather dependent so check NZTA Journey Planner before you travel.
2 for 1 ticket offer
It’s all about idea’s, inspiration and exclusive show specials at the Southern Lakes Home and Garden Show on from the 6th to 8th of March at Queenstown Events Centre. Join the fun with our 2 for 1 Adult Ticket Offer
There are so many fabulous reasons to visit the … View more2 for 1 ticket offer
It’s all about idea’s, inspiration and exclusive show specials at the Southern Lakes Home and Garden Show on from the 6th to 8th of March at Queenstown Events Centre. Join the fun with our 2 for 1 Adult Ticket Offer
There are so many fabulous reasons to visit the show with a huge range of Home and Garden Exhibitors, featuring everything from Builders, Renovators, Spas, Homewares, Flooring, Heating and Cooling, Saunas, Outdoor Products, Furnishings, Plants, Artisan Goods, Lifestyle Products and more! All you need under one roof for that next project at home, bring along your plans, questions and ideas! Take a break from the shopping and enjoy great food, coffee! Grab your discounted 2 for 1 ticket offer today and enjoy the Show with a friend.
Save the date in your diaries and connect with local businesses from the 6th to 8th of March at the Southern Lakes Home & Garden Show
Fri & Sat 10 – 5, Sun 10 – 4
Queenstown Events Centre
Adults $5
Gold Card Friday $2.50
Under 16 free
Why work, mental health, public service, and respect demand a deeper understanding of sympathy and empathy as we embody the body of Christ and bear witness to others?
At first glance, the debate surrounding working from home versus working in the office appears to centre on efficiency, … View moreWhy work, mental health, public service, and respect demand a deeper understanding of sympathy and empathy as we embody the body of Christ and bear witness to others?
At first glance, the debate surrounding working from home versus working in the office appears to centre on efficiency, accountability, and organisational performance. Yet, such a framing remains insufficient. At a deeper level, this debate reveals something far more searching about how society understands work, how it speaks about those who serve within complex systems, and how readily empathy is extended when suffering is not immediately visible.
Too often, public discourse proceeds as though all workers experience labour in identical ways, as though personal circumstances are uniform, and as though human resilience is inexhaustible. In opposition to this, Scripture resists such flattening of experience. More precisely, humanity is portrayed as embodied and relational, entrusted with meaningful labour rather than labour that overwhelms or diminishes dignity, as stated in Genesis 2:15.1 From this standpoint, when work is discussed without attentiveness to context, power, and vulnerability, harm inevitably follows.
For many individuals, working from home has enabled continued participation in employment that might otherwise have become unsustainable. Of particular note, reduced commuting demands, increased flexibility, and greater capacity to attend to health and caregiving responsibilities have allowed people to remain engaged rather than excluded. Viewed in this way, remote work has not constituted indulgence but survival. On this basis, the biblical call to bear one another’s burdens is not theoretical but profoundly practical, as stated in Galatians 6:2.
Set against this, it must also be recognised that working in the office continues to carry relational and communal significance. It is worth noting that physical presence allows trust to emerge through ordinary interaction, mentoring to develop organically, and concern to be perceived before distress escalates into crisis. Within such settings, the workplace may function as a site of shared responsibility rather than surveillance. In parallel, Scripture affirms this relational vision, reminding communities that formation occurs not merely through shared task but through shared life, as stated in Acts 2:42 – 47.
At this point, a more confronting question arises. Put plainly, how readily are judgments formed about experiences never personally encountered? By extension, how frequently are circumstances interpreted through one’s own lens rather than approached with a willingness to understand another’s? At this juncture, the wisdom tradition speaks directly into this tendency, urging restraint in speech and attentiveness in listening, as stated in James 1:19. Absent such restraint, debates about work move beyond disagreement and begin to wound those already carrying exhaustion, grief, or quiet struggle.
In answer to this, traditions that prioritise listening and discernment offer a necessary corrective. Notably, the New Zealand National Baptist Hui of 2024 and 2025, convened in accordance with commitments to collective reflection and shared responsibility, were grounded in the conviction that wisdom emerges through attentive presence, humility, and openness to diverse perspectives. Practically speaking, these gatherings prioritised shared discernment and prayerful listening, thereby modelling a form of community that resists efficiency as its primary value. Within this framework, difference was approached with care rather than suspicion, and herein lies a challenge to contemporary workplaces and public discourse alike. Taken together, such an approach affirms that understanding is formed relationally rather than transactionally. In turn, these hui offer a compelling example of how communities may be shaped by humility, restraint, and mutual regard rather than assumption or control.2
With this in mind, the manner in which public servants are spoken about demands particular care. Over recent years, many within the public service have endured sustained pressure, heightened scrutiny, and a marked erosion of respect from members of the public. In effect, such roles require absorbing frustration and hostility directed at systems over which individual employees hold limited control, while simultaneously maintaining professionalism, neutrality, and restraint. As a result, these conditions impose an undue and unnecessary emotional burden upon those whose labour exists for the benefit of the wider community.
Beyond this, public servants operate within constraints rarely visible from the outside. Specifically, legislative frameworks, political direction, confidentiality obligations, and persistently high workloads shape daily practice, often amid limited resources and minimal margin for error. Importantly, evidence from the Public Service Commission confirms that significant proportions of public servants experience ongoing work-related stress and mental health strain. On that note, these findings are not abstractions. Rather, they represent people who continue to serve faithfully while carrying responsibility for outcomes that affect the well-being of communities and the nation as a whole.
Within this reality, assumptions that working in the public service is easy require gentle but honest correction. For those who hold such views, placing oneself within these roles would offer a sobering and necessary perspective, as only lived experience reveals the intensity of the work, the constraints under which it is performed, and the moral weight such responsibilities carry. In that light, public servants do not merely complete tasks. Instead, such roles require acting ethically and professionally at all times, upholding the Privacy Act and a wide range of government legislation, the scope of which varies according to department and sector. Moreover, many public servants are sworn under a secrecy oath, binding them to protect sensitive information, internal processes, and the public trust, even in the face of misunderstanding or criticism. Furthermore, ethical integrity is consistently required, including the declaration of any actual, potential, or perceived conflicts of interest, such as when family members are employed within the public service, and this obligation must be upheld with full professionalism at all times.
In fulfilling these obligations, responsibility is borne for people, information, and decisions that shape the life of communities and the country, often under considerable pressure and with limited freedom to respond publicly. Within these constraints, public servants are frequently able to disclose the stress arising from their roles only to a trusted counsellor, bound by confidentiality and professional care, and not within their own family.
Alongside these demands, another reality remains largely unspoken. Namely, confidentiality and non-disclosure requirements frequently prevent public servants from speaking openly about workplace experiences. As a consequence, inaccurate narratives are often left unchallenged. Silence, however, is easily misinterpreted. Here again, Scripture cautions against such misjudgement, reminding readers not to assess one another by outward appearance alone, as stated in 1 Samuel 16:7.
Nor, importantly, does the impact of public service necessarily conclude when employment ends. Instead, transitioning out of such roles can prove difficult, as skills developed within complex public systems are not always readily recognised elsewhere. At the same time, many former public servants continue to live with the mental health consequences of prolonged stress, including burnout and anxiety, while carrying the fear of being questioned about why employment ceased or has not resumed. In such moments, even casually posed enquiries may reopen wounds that remain unresolved.
Consequently, a persistent cultural assumption endures that working for the government is easy or insulated from harm. To maintain such a view, however, is to overlook the intensity, constraint, and moral responsibility inherent in public service. On the other hand, such assumptions often fail to recognise the degree of trust and honesty upon which public service depends, without realising that public servants can be trusted to act with integrity, including where such individuals serve wholeheartedly in their ministry roles voluntarily as well, even when their work is misunderstood or unseen. In reality, these roles uphold systems that sustain education, health, justice, social support, and democratic trust. Through such labour, communities are shaped, the vulnerable are protected, and society is enabled to function.
In light of the above, the present conversation demands more than opinion. Rather, it calls for inward examination and outward care. Specifically, it calls for sympathy that acknowledges suffering, empathy that seeks understanding, and love demonstrated not merely through words but through restraint, reflection, and action. Equally, it calls for resistance to boundaries that isolate, exclude, or silence, particularly when such barriers deepen loneliness rather than foster community.
Finally, the question is not whether working from home or working in the office is preferable. Instead, the more pressing question concerns how one chooses to speak, judge, and respond. Most importantly, if life appears easy from a distance, then perhaps the invitation is to step into another’s shoes rather than to speak from afar. Nevertheless, such a posture requires humility, attentiveness to inward thought, and love enacted through outward expression.
Let’s allow this discomfort to form us, for such unease often marks the beginning of greater understanding and demands sympathy, empathy, and support, calling us decisively towards unity and shared responsibility
Thank - you.
Atua (God) Bless.
** Please check out the article below, which I have published on Substack: substack.com... .
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