3 A national framework for assessing risk1 The Climate Change Response (Zero Carbon) Amendment The national adaptation plan will build on the actions Act 2019 sets a framework for effective adaptation2 across New Zealand is already taking to respond to the impacts New Zealand, consisting of: of climate change. With input from iwi/hapū/Māori, local • a National Climate Change Risk Assessment, every government, key stakeholders and the general public, six years the plan will: • a national adaptation plan, produced two years after each • define the Government’s objectives for adapting to risk assessment climate change, and how it will meet these • monitoring implementation of the national adaptation • respond to the most significant risks identified in the plan, to ensure accountability. risk assessment. Figure 1: How climate change is projected to impact New Zealand (See page 3 for more information on climate change impacts) COVID – A SYMPTOM OF GLOBAL HE HĪKOI WHAKAPONO “HERE I AM, ENVIRONMENTAL CRISIS A JOURNEY OF FAITH SEND ME” ISAIAH 6:8 A WAKE-UP CALL PAGE 15 PUNGAREHU AND OPUNAKE PARISH PAGES 10–11 MISSION SUNDAY 18 OCTOBER PAGE 5 1 The potential, when the outcome is uncertain, for adverse consequences on lives, livelihoods, health, ecosystems and species, economic, social and cultural assets, services (including environmental) and infrastructure. Risk results from the interaction of vulnerability, exposure and hazard. 2 Adaptation is an adjustment to actual or expected climate change and its effects. OCTOBER 2020 ISSUE 387 A Gathering of the Barrett Clan Famous All Black brothers – Beauden, Scott and Jordie Barrett – joined their extended family in Pungarehu in coastal Taranaki, for the Baptism of Charlotte. Charlotte is the daughter of Kane and his wife Amy Barrett. Held at the Barrett family’s local parish church, St Martin de Tours in Pungarehu, Fr Vui Huong from New Plymouth, baptised Charlotte with her whole family, local parishioners and friends there in support. Kane is the eldest of Kevin (Smiley) and Robyn Barrett’s family of eight children – along with brothers Beauden, Scott, Jordie and Blake and sisters Jenna, Zara and Ella. The Barretts are dairy farmers in Pungarehu. Photo: Annette Scullion/WelCom The Catholic parish of St Martin de Tours, Pungarehu, and Our Lady Star of the Sea and St Joseph’s School, Opunake, are featured this month in our series, He Hīkoi Whakapono: A Journey of Faith, pp 10 and 11. Bishops’ Election Statement: ‘Time to re-evaluate priorities’ a consistent ethic of life – te kahu-o-te-ora Mike Fitzsimons the basic human needs of food, clothing, The bishops caution against focusing on housing, education and healthcare. We look economic issues at the expense of human and – that connects the sacredness of human life for a country that addresses the issue of the environmental wellbeing. Economics must with the sacredness of all creation. In their 2020 Election Statement – widening gap between those families who remain at the service of supporting whānau The bishops make clear that it is not their Whakapuaki Pōti, published in Te Reo Māori ‘have’ and those who ‘have not’. and society, say the bishops. role to tell Catholics who to vote for. and English, The Catholic Bishops of New ‘We applaud those businesses, which ‘We are called to assist in forming Zealand challenge New Zealanders to look “Rather than thinking about look to the wellbeing of their staff and their consciences in the light of the Gospel, not to beyond old debates and everyday politics to what will benefit each of us families, which offer just, family-oriented replace them. It is our role to guide people ask what kind of society we want Aotearoa working conditions and job security, and to look to the wellbeing of everyone in our New Zealand to be. personally regarding the election which actively embrace attitudes of social political decision-making – especially the The experience of the unfolding Covid-19 and referendum choices we face, responsibility such as the living wage. We most vulnerable – as well as the wellbeing of pandemic and economic crisis have taught we ask you to pray and discern hope for a nation that values the contribution our planet. us many lessons and given us a chance to re- that everyone makes to the wellbeing of our ‘Rather than thinking about what will evaluate our priorities, say the bishops. what will protect the poor and society – a worker in a supermarket, a cleaner, benefit each of us personally regarding the ‘It has brought out the best in us as we vulnerable and what will uphold a delivery worker, or a rubbish collector, are election and referendum choices we face, we united to become “a team of five million” to the dignity of creation …” essential for the wellbeing of our society and ask you to pray and discern what will protect protect those most vulnerable to the virus due should all be recognised accordingly. We the poor and vulnerable and what will uphold to their age or state of health. Protecting life, ‘We seek political leaders who will strive to live in ways that will preserve and the dignity of creation so that we create a especially the lives of those most vulnerable – seriously consider the health of all whānau enhance the wellbeing of the environment connected future for all, without discarding from the beginning to the end of life – should and address the worrying levels of family that sustains us and that we are called to be any of us.’ be a cornerstone for our nation now and into breakdown, depression, addictions, family caretakers of.’ The bishops’ statement also includes the future. Life through all its stages must be violence and suicide. We seek policies that Several times the bishops’ statement guidance on the two referendum questions treated as a sacred taonga, a sacred treasure.’ focus on alleviating the stresses within references Pope Francis’ Encyclical on our care related to euthanasia and recreational The family is the foundation of society and families, stresses that all too often begin with of the earth, Laudato si’. The Pope’s encyclical cannabis. (See page 4.) our first community, say the bishops. financial struggles. If our whānau are safe urges us to recognise the inter-connectedness The full version of the Bishops’ 2020 ‘We hope and work for a nation that looks to and strong then we will also have safe, strong that exists between God, humanity and the Election Statement is available online at: ensure the sanctity and wellbeing of whānau; communities: “Ehara taku toa I te toa takitahi, whole of creation. An approach based on this tinyurl.com/Bishops-Election-Statement that ensures families have time to spend with engari he toa takitini – our strength is not that ‘integral ecology’ challenges us to broaden or catholic.org.nz/assets/Uploads/Election- each other; that supports all families to access of an individual, but that of many”.’ our focus of concern and points us towards Statement-2020-web.pdf 2 WHIRINGA-Ā-NUKU 2020 NAUMAI He Tirohanga | Insights From the editor Like the Good Samaritan, it is a Annette Scullion Choice, recently published by privilege to accompany the dying New Zealand journalist Caralise However, it is still very timely with love, and listen to their words As WelCom goes to print, we Trayes. It seeks to answer the for us in New Zealand that a new with our hearts as well as our ears, are just a few weeks away from question: ‘End of life suffering: Is document from the Congregation and sit fully present at their side, we the 2020 General Election on assisted dying the answer?’ for the Doctrine of the Faith, know that their lives really matter, Saturday 17 October, which also Rather than providing ‘her’ Samaritanus bonus – The good including the living that happens in has two referendums. Advance answer, Caralise interviews, in Samaritan, offers new thoughts on their final days, hours and minutes. voting starts Saturday 3 October. a series of chapters, the views of the care of people at the end of life. Time spent with a dying person The two referendums invite us various New Zealand commentators It reminds us that true human benefits those who remain at their to vote on: whether the recreational and thinkers, all with a specific compassion is caused not by side. It can create family time which use of cannabis should become personal or professional interest shortening a person’s life, by is unique. Sometimes it heals rifts. legal; and whether the End of Life in the issue; from David Seymour, causing death, but ‘in embracing Sometimes unspoken words can Choice Act 2019 should come into Mary Panko and Jack Havill, who the sick, in supporting them in finally be said. force, giving people with a terminal support legalising assisted death + John A Cardinal Dew their difficulties, in offering them Samaritanus bonus reminds illness the option of requesting to the likes of Dr Sinead Donnelly, affection, attention and the means us that ‘human life is the primary assisted dying. Professor Rod McLeod and Claire Archbishop of Wellington to alleviate the suffering’. common good of society’. If we take While on paper, the Freeman who are opposed. Archdiocese Many of us look to palliative care someone’s life before God’s time, we referendum voting process The book also canvasses three Apostolic Administrator of to assist people at the end of their will miss out on some very intimate involves simply ticking a ‘yes’ or a religious responses to the question Palmerston North Diocese lives. But as essential as palliative and special moments. Euthanasia ‘no’ box, the consequences of each from Dr Mustafa Farouk, QSM, care is to help people overcome pain or assisted suicide will rob us of are far reaching.