Earlier this year, St Paul’s held a service of lament for creation – a moving experience of prayers, song, and symbolic action. Together, the congregation expressed sorrow for ecological loss, gratitude for what remains, and hope for renewal. Placing leaves at the foot of trees became an act of surrender and prayer, reminding us that God receives our grief and restores our hope. Communal lament, as St Paul’s demonstrated, is not just possible – it is essential. It forms us spiritually, sustains our action, and reminds us that caring for creation is part of loving what God loves.

Churches around Aotearoa have been celebrating Matariki in meaningful ways. In Masterton, The Tribe Church marked the season with a special evening of remembrance, stargazing, and connection — embracing the wonder of creation and God’s love under the night sky.

It was super exciting to pilot a brand-new day camp during the July school holidays in Ōtautahi Christchurch! Designed for children aged 8–12, this hands-on, nature-based programme invited our young explorers to connect deeply with God’s creation and discover what it means to care for it. With plenty of time for fun, friendship, and meaningful discovery, the programme offered a rich way for children to grow in faith and care for the environment.

Young people from churches in Christchurch and Auckland have come together through the Good News Project 2025 to restore local ecosystems and explore the links between faith, climate justice, and food insecurity as part of World Vision’s 40 Hour Challenge. Coordinated by A Rocha’s Eco Church team with support from conservation project partners, the project empowers youth to be good news for creation through hands-on conservation and gospel-inspired action.

In May, Sustainability Champions from the Anglican Diocese of Auckland gathered at St Mary’s by the Sea to reflect on climate grief and Christian hope with Andrew Shamy, and explore practical church responses to the climate crisis. The day included the Climate Fresk workshop and Eco Church action planner, inspiring connection and action across communities.

At St Andrew’s Presbyterian Church in Hamilton, a recent study group using Water from A Rocha’s Rich Living series became a springboard for deeper engagement with creation care. Organised by the Social & Ecumenical Action Committee, the group explored biblical reflections on water alongside local and global issues—from Hamilton’s water infrastructure to access challenges in Uganda. What began as weekly conversations around scripture and sustainability led to practical outcomes: supporting a bio-sand water filter for a Ugandan community, hosting a climate-friendly morning tea, and a growing commitment to become an Eco Church.

On 8 March 2025, members of the Kāpiti Anglican Parish set out on a unique local pilgrimage—tracing the Wharemauku Stream from its quiet headwaters to its mouth at the sea. Along the way, we paused to reflect, test water quality, and learn about the stream’s ecological and cultural significance. This journey deepened our sense of place and strengthened our connection with the whenua and wai that flow through our parish and community. Through learning about the history of the stream and its importance to the Puketapu hapū of Te Āti Awa, we also engaged with mātauranga Māori—acknowledging the depth of indigenous knowledge tied to this landscape.

In January, Pastor Paul Cossey from Motueka Baptist Church discovered WorkRide, a benefit programme designed to make e-bikes more affordable. WorkRide enables employers (including self-employed individuals) to cover the cost of a bike upfront, with employees repaying it through a salary sacrifice arrangement. The programme, which has IRD approval, removes many of the financial and administrative barriers that prevent workplaces from offering this benefit. Thanks to WorkRide, Paul was able to get an e-bike much sooner than expected, and with a significant saving on the overall cost. Now, Paul regularly turns up to visits and meetings on his bike, hi-vis and all!

We’re excited to welcome Diana Johnston to the Eco Church team as our new Christchurch-based Regional Coordinator! In her new role, Diana will be focusing particularly on churches based in the Christchurch region - supporting, encouraging, and equipping them as they explore what it means to care for creation as part of their discipleship and mission.

All Saints Anglican Church in Taradale, Napier has made space for a community recycling centre in their building. Taking advantage of being in a central and accessible place in their suburb, All Saints has partnered with Sustainable HB (Hawkes Bay) to create a recycling centre that is well organised, with well-labelled shelves and crates and even explanations of what happens to the materials that are collected!

As an expression of their commitment to care for the environment, the St Columba Havelock North Eco Group (SCHNEG) have launched an awareness and advocacy campaign focused on reducing the use of single-use plastics. The campaign invites eco churches to work together to promote awareness regarding soft plastics and responsible practices in recycling. This initiative not only helps protect the planet but also fosters a spirit of unity and responsibility — reminding everyone that caring for creation is a shared mission. Read on as the SCHNEG team outlines the issue and invites churches to join with them to take action.

St Paul's Symonds Street is on a journey to reduce the number of disposable cups they use on Sundays. One Sunday parishioners were presented with a string of disposable cups that stretched about 30 meters in length to help create awareness about the amount of waste that was being generated by using disposable cups.