Justice against Racialism NZ
Written 2020
New Zealand’s largest news company, known as Stuff, today apologised for not always fairly representing tangata whenua.
It said after an internal investigation it had found it had been racist, contributing to stigma, marginalisation and stereotypes against Māori.
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The currency of relationships
Two weeks ago I received a text message, “Dave my daughter has run away, I don’t know what to do, can you help?” Whenever I get a message like this my heart sinks.
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Youth Find their Voice in Protest
Written 2013
It’s Monday night and everyone’s just had a hot feed of homemade bacon and egg pie (thanks Denise). 14 young Warriors of Change adults sit in our lounge, listening enthusiastically to Peter, an ex-P drug user, dealer and criminal. Peter is now a Drug and Alcohol Educator and Counsellor and he talks about his experience of the drug world. He’s a brilliant presenter and keeps us all engaged on how drugs affect the mind, body and spirit of a person. We discover that there is a ‘legal high’, a drug that is legal, it’s synthetically made, but the damage to our kids is devastating. For some of us, drugs has played a major role in a past life, for others drugs and alcohol dependence affects someone close in our family or neighbourhood. This is a personal story of our young people finding their voice, using their voice, to lead their community into ONE voice – the voice of protest.
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Loss of Innocence
Written 2019
Here is a long reflection of my thoughts about Christchurch … I hope it helps us all,
Blessings, Dave
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Unintended Consequences
Written 2018
Gaining wealth at the cost of the poor.
Dave Tims explains why he believes New Zealanders need to wake up to an economic system ingrained in our society, and why Christians should be taking a stand for the common good.
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Hungry Children
Hungry Children Luke 18:15-17
‘People brought babies to Jesus, hoping he might touch them. When the disciples saw this, they shooed them away. Jesus called them back. “Leave these children alone. Don’t get between them and me. These children are the kingdom’s pride and joy. Mark this: Unless you accept God’s kingdom in the simplicity of a child, you’ll never get in.” ‘
(The Message Bible)
Last weekend, Denise and I were working in the garden, mowing lawns, pulling out weeds. It was a great spring day, warm weather, blossoms everywhere, and a reminder of God’s creative wonders.
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Justice Speaks Out
We are sitting with Joanna Noris, editor of The Press and Fairfax Newspaper, who published the cartoons below. She has been challenged and invited to hear from our young adults, about how harmful the messages are to the people whom these cartoons are targeted at; how the stereotype racist views are unacceptable in modern NZ. Joanna has agreed to fly up from Christchurch, to sit in our lounge and listen. It’s a unique opportunity for our Young Adults to speak into an area of injustice, to find their voice and express their views and to challenge something that is wrong.
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Partnership, a Treaty & a Kingdom
Must mornings I enjoy walking through the streets in our neighbourhood. I try and walk between 7:30-8:30 am. This is when parents and kids are walking to school. I love being able to chat with kids that attend our Kids Club (Soufpac) and with parents that I know. Its a joy being part of a tight knit community (that usually only happens in small cities or in rural areas).
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The joy of Loving in a Neo-liberalism World
“Every time we make the decision to love someone, we open ourselves to great suffering, because those we most love cause us not only great joy but also great pain. The greatest pain comes from leaving. When the child leaves home, when the husband or wife leaves for a long period of time or for good, when the beloved friend departs to another country or dies … the pain of the leaving can tear us apart. Still, if we want to avoid the suffering of leaving, we will never experience the joy of loving. And love is stronger than fear, life stronger than death, hope stronger than despair. We have to trust that the risk of loving is always worth taking.” Henri Nouwen
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A Personal Note
Since returning home from our sabbatical in March, the work in the neighbourhood has changed dramatically. The $6 million development of our Sports and Neighbourhood Centre is almost complete, with an opening of the new building planned for Saturday 27th August.
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Employment births Dignity
It was a hot humid morning – 12 locals gathered by the stream – all keen on doing half a days work on the trees we had planted last month. After 3 hours we were exhausted, but proud – proud to be active, proud to be Randwick. “Dave, can we do this again,” asked a friend.
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Its not what you know, its who you know
We are in a really exciting space at the moment – our new building is only weeks away from opening and we are busy planning for the opening event.
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Media and journal
Hi friend
Hope you are well.
TV1 just released a story on Seven Sharp. Its a beautiful, but also tragic story, of our work in Randwick.
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