Past Events
Here are some of A Rocha Aotearoa New Zealand’s past key events:
Here are some of A Rocha Aotearoa New Zealand’s past key events:
This was an event of A Rocha Christchurch hosted by Creation Care, Grace Vineyard on 17 Aug 2019 at Grace Vineyard Beach Campus. It was an evening to explore ways to integrate faith, theology and lifestyle, and how we can inspire motivation and action towards living more creation conscious lives.
Speakers and Workshops:
// Scottie Young (Grace Vineyard) on why we care
// Carolyn Robertson and Paul Heglin on changing the way we live
// Simon Kingham (UC Geography Professor) on 'environmental justice'
// Silvia Purdie (Cashmere Presbyterian) on Jesus and the vineyard.
Please click on the image to view some of the resources available from the event.
Forum, worship and dinner - A forum on curating worship events with an environmental theme. It will be a practical time learning some prayer, music, poetry & activity resources that you can take to your own churches to help people engage creatively with environment & faith issues.
Monday 4 March 2019, 6.30pm
The Village Presbyterian Church, Bryndwr, 365A Ilam Rd
Sharing worship resources, music and song, prayer and poetry.
"Leading God’s people to God’s heart for the whole world"
An event of A Rocha Christchurch local group.
-- Artwork: "Hands of God" by Tony Walter --
- How does caring for creation enrich our lives?
- How can the church respond to the crucial issues of our time?
- What does the Bible teach about the earth?
- How can our daily choices and actions be most effective to protect and restore the environment?
At A Rocha Aotearoa New Zealand we believe that our daily lifestyle decisions as individuals, communities and congregations can have a positive impact in mitigating climate change, improving the health of ecosystems, and enhancing the lives of others.
Over the weekend of 28th-30th September, A Rocha Aotearoa New Zealand, along with:
- Cashmere Presbyterian Church
- Grace Vineyard Church
- South West Baptist Church
hosted an inter-church public event.
The weekend was designed to inspire, mobilise and equip individuals and communities of faith:
- Friday 28 September, 7.30pm: A dynamic creative worship evening at South West Baptist Church featuring Steve Graham.
- Saturday 29 September, 9am - 8pm: A mix of practical workshops, panels, prayer, walks, meals and networking at Cashmere Presbyterian Church - with an emphasis on what Christians can do to make a difference.
- Sunday 30 September: Sunday services at participating churches focused on creation care and sustainable living.
Please click on the image to view some of the resources available from the event.
About the Book:
We live in an ecological age. Science in the last few hundred years has given us a picture of nature as blind to the future and mechanical in its workings, even while ecology and physics have made us aware of our interconnectedness and dependency upon the web of life. As we witness a possible sixth great mass-extinction, there is increasing awareness too of the fragility of life on this planet. In such a context, what is the nature of Christian hope? St Paul declares that all of creation “will be set free from its bondage to decay and will obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God.” How are we to imagine this “freedom” when death and decay are essential to biological life as we currently experience it, and when the scientific predictions for life are bleak at best? This book explores these questions, reflecting on how our traditions shape our imagination of the future, and considering how a theology of hope may sustain Christians engaged in conservation initiatives. The essays in this volume are partly in dialogue with the ground-breaking work of Celia Deane-Drummond, and are set in the context of global and local (Aotearoa New Zealand) ecological challenges.
About the Film: Albatross
ALBATROSS is a powerful visual journey into the heart of an astonishingly symbolic environmental tragedy. On one of the remotest islands on our planet, tens of thousands of baby albatrosses lie dead on the ground, their bodies filled with plastic. Returning to the island over several years, our team witnessed the cycles of life and death of these birds as a multi-layered metaphor for our times. This story is framed in the vividly gorgeous language of state-of-the-art high-definition digital cinematography, surrounded by millions of live birds in one of the world’s most beautiful natural sanctuaries. The viewer will experience stunning juxtapositions of beauty and horror, destruction and renewal, grief and joy, birth and death, coming out the other side with their heart broken open and their worldview shifted. Stepping outside the stylistic templates of traditional environmental or documentary films, ALBATROSS takes viewers on a guided tour into the depths of their own spirits, delivering a profound message of reverence and love that is already reaching an audience of millions of people around the world.
In the face of climate change, how do the teachings of Jesus to love our neighbour and to care for the earth shape our response in New Zealand? As communities of faith, we can stand up for a more compassionate and responsible future.
Come and learn about the Zero Carbon Act, the opportunity we have to transition to a zero carbon society by 2050, and ways that you can be a part of the change!
Youth climate organisation Generation Zero created a blueprint for a Zero Carbon Act, a proposed law to get New Zealand on track to zero carbon emissions by 2050, based on the successful UK Climate Change Act. The new government has committed to adopting the Act, but now it's up to us to that they follow through and that it gets cross-party support.
Getting to zero carbon by 2050 is an ambitious goal that our country will be working towards together. This gathering will explore the role of Christians in this transition, including:
- what a Christian response to climate change can look like
- the impacts of climate change on our neighbors in Asia-Pacific
- an introduction to the Zero Carbon Act and what we need to do to get it across the line
- ways to share the message of creation care with your church community, and to take action yourself.
In 1967, historian Lynn White laid the blame for contemporary environmental ills at the doorstep of Christianity. In the fifty years since, the world's ecological ills have magnified. Yet there are many faith adherents deeply engaged in responding to contemporary environmental issues. In addition, within the conservation sector there is growing awareness that questions of spirituality and values are essential to motivating long-term behavioural change. This seminar provided an opportunity to hear from Christian theologians/ethicists/conservationists involved in the theory and practice of ecological care and conservation.
Fifty years ago, historian Lynn White laid the blame for the ecological crisis at the feet of “the most anthropocentric religion the world has seen” – Christianity. For decades this accusation has been repeated and reiterated everywhere from universit classrooms and research labs to coffee shops and pubs. Half a century later, does this charge still stand? More importantly, how has Christian faith and practice changed in the past half century? Most important of all, what are Christians doing right now about the future of creation? At this conference we reflected on the White thesis even as we move beyond blame and explore ongoing Christian responses to the ecological crisis of our contemporary world.
Click on the circle link to see the conference program and to download the audio recordings of the conference plenaries and the public lecture by Jonathan Boston.
A Rocha folks from around the country gathered in Wellington to celebrate 10 years of A Rocha in Aotearoa NZ. We listened to stories from each other over the last decade and also gave thanks for the many people who have been involved in A Rocha over the years.
E3 is a partnership between Scripture Union NZ, Adventure Specialities and A Rocha Aotearoa NZ. E3 Wilderness believes that wilderness experiences help us to develop our faith, character and appreciation of God's creation around us.
The E3 Wilderness Expeditions are programs for Year 12-13 school students / school leavers that provides them with an amazing context for developing leadership skills, ecological awareness and growing in faith. For many, E3 is truly transformative.
Click on the circle link to read news about this event.
In 1983, Peter and Miranda Harris established A Rocha, a Christian field study centre in in Portugal as an expressions of care of God's earth. Since then, A Rocha has grown into a global network of national conservation organizations in over 20 countries.
Co-founder of A Rocha, Peter Harris, delivered a public lecture at Centre for Theology and Public Issues, University of Otago, Dunedin.
To download an audio or video recording of the lecture, please click on the link.
A celebration of conservation, life and hope featuring indie artists, Mark Laurent and Brenda Liddiard; and Peter Harris, co-founder of A Rocha.
How can the local church make care of God's good creation an integral aspect of their communal life and worship?
A conversation with Peter and Miranda Harris and Dr Andrew Shepherd.
For whom: All currently involved in A Rocha or interested in knowing more about A Rocha.
To do what: A chance to share stories about what A Rocha is doing around Aotearoa New Zealand; to enjoy exploring Raglan/Whaingaroa; and to reflect upon the theme of ‘shalom’ (peace/wholeness) with guest speakers Rod & Bev Wilson.
Theological and ethical reflections on nature, technology and being fully human. A talk by Dr Rod Wilson, Dr Andrew Shepherd and Dr Nicola Hoggard-Creegan.
Pokemon, Principalities and Prayers: Searching for Reality in an Augmented World. A public lecture with Dr Andrew Shepherd.
Laidlaw College's Christchurch Campus would like to invite you to come and hear Dr Andrew Shepherd on Thursday 8 September.
A conference offering Theological & Ethical reflection on conservation with world renowned eco-theologian, Professor Celia Deane-Drummond. How does hope motivate, sustain and shape the nature of Christian endeavour in conservation? Click on the circle to find out more about this event.
E3 is a partnership between Scripture Union NZ, Adventure Specialities and A Rocha Aotearoa NZ. E3 Wilderness believes that wilderness experiences help us to develop our faith, character and appreciation of God's creation around us.
The E3 Wilderness Expeditions are programs for Year 12-13 school students / school leavers that provides them with an amazing context for developing leadership skills, ecological awareness and growing in faith. For many, E3 is truly transformative.
Click on the circle link to read news about the E3 Wilderness Expeditions in 2015.
National Conference 2012: Stories of community conservation and ecological restoration. Sharing our hopes and experiences of lament and love, justice and joy, from our backyards, neighbourhoods, forests, oceans, and even the kitchen sink!
A Rocha Aotearoa New Zealand's first national conference was held in Raglan during the Queen's Birthday weekend, 2008, and aimed to “inspire and empower Christians to care for the earth.” Keynote speakers included Peter Harris (founder of A Rocha), Marie Connett-Porceddu (the current CEO), Anglican Archbishop David Moxon and Stephen Pattemore of the New Zealand Bible Society. The conference also featured practical workshops, panel discussions and educational field-trips, including tree planting, guided walks on Mt. Karioi, and visits to two of Raglan’s high profile environmental initiatives; the Xtreme Waste Recycling Center and Whaingaroa Harbour Care.
