How can churches help tackle some of the biggest challenges facing their communities? The Kaurihohore/Kamo Co-operating Parish brought together local experts, community organisations and residents for a six-week series exploring issues such as child poverty, housing, addiction, crime and Māori wellbeing. Through honest conversations and a shared commitment to justice, participants identified practical ways to strengthen connections and create positive change across Whangārei.

From two damp, disused rooms beneath Cashmere Presbyterian Church, The Book Cellar has grown into a beloved neighbourhood second-hand bookshop and gathering place. Founded by Kathleen after a chance experience volunteering at another church's bookshop, and backed from the start by minister Hamish's enthusiastic support, this community-powered project transformed unused space into somewhere people linger over coffee and conversation as much as books. Having just marked its first anniversary with a bustling book sale that raised $600, The Book Cellar shows how a borrowed idea, a working bee, and a community willing to say yes can turn two forgotten rooms into a place of genuine connection.

From a converted building on the edge of Saint Kentigern College, The Shed has grown into a vital food distribution hub supporting Auckland families through hardship. Established during the 2020 lockdown by the Saint Kentigern community, The Shed works alongside trusted social workers and partner schools to deliver food parcels with dignity and privacy at the heart of every delivery. With 70 boxes now distributed each week and hundreds of thousands of dollars in food and support provided since its founding, this student- and family-powered initiative continues to prove that even a small space can hold extraordinary generosity.

Good Grief South Collective is transforming the way our community experiences loss. Founded from personal tragedy and powered by compassion, this South Auckland movement is creating safe spaces where people can share their stories, honour loved ones and find strength in connection. Through creative events, workshops, retreats and community partnerships, Good Grief reminds us that healing does not have to happen alone. By replacing silence with conversation and isolation with belonging, they are helping grief become a journey shared, with dignity, hope and heart.

From a mission project planted in the heart of Ōpōtiki, Oasis is emerging as a fresh expression of church focused on relationships, prayer, and community engagement. Led by Jared and Jess Suisted, Oasis seeks to create welcoming spaces where people can encounter God, grow in faith, and find practical and spiritual support for life's journey. With hundreds of local connections already formed and the recent opening of Oasis House as a community mission hub, this growing faith community is helping reimagine what church can look like in today's world.

The Rev Dr Peter Clarkson Matheson (1938–2025) was a respected theologian, historian, poet, and peace activist whose life was shaped by a deep commitment to justice, reconciliation, and faith. From leading anti-nuclear protests and advocating for environmental action to pioneering scholarship on the Reformation and fostering communities of hospitality and inclusion, Peter combined intellectual rigour with compassionate activism. This tribute reflects on his remarkable journey across academia, church leadership, and public life, and the enduring legacy of a man who believed in the power of words, hope, and faith to transform the world.