At Te Whare Karakia Nui o Taranaki (The Taranaki Cathedral), the annual Flowering of the Cross has become a powerful expression of resurrection hope and creation care. Using flax, flowers, and foliage gathered from the land, the community transforms a simple wooden cross into a vibrant sign of new life – reminding worshippers that Christ’s resurrection is not only for humanity, but for all creation.

Inspired by the Eco Church idea, tamariki at St Heliers Presbyterian journeyed through Advent by rebuilding a koru each week from river stones, flowers, shells and recycled treasures gathered from their homes and neighbourhoods. This hands-on ritual connected the Christmas story with the beauty of creation in Aotearoa, inviting teamwork, wonder and a deeper awareness of God’s presence among us.

Tied into Sunday’s Service of Creation service, was the introduction of Eco Awards presented by Tim and Anna Cox. The Eco Church awards are an acknowledgement of the actions by members of our parish towards environmental change and improvement.

Having joined in the Eco Church movement in 2023, St Mike’s are continuing to look for ways to support local whenua. As the recent Season of Creation kicked off, each member of the church whānau were invited to consider making a fresh pledge for creation: one act which they would personally commit to in response to the call to be kaitiaki of God’s world.

The annual Blessing of the Animals service at St. Peter's Anglican Church was delightfully chaotic. Human voices rose up in song alongside dog voices and cat voices.

Saint Columba’s Havelock North Environment Group (SCHNEG) has a long and impressive history, being created in the early 1990s and continues its valued work today, some 30 years later. We share some of their highlights over the years.