The Caritas Annual Report shows our work in 2012 through five strategic priorities identified during the year: addressing poverty at home and abroad, responding to emergencies, upholding the dignity and rights of indigenous peoples, promoting environmental justice, and connecting effectively with our Catholic community.
Public donations topped $3 million last year, including a record Lent total of more than $900,000. We are grateful for the government’s New Zealand Aid Programme which contributed almost $1 million towards Caritas development and relief programmes.
These contributions helped support long-term development and emergency relief across Asia, Africa and the Pacific, including ongoing earthquake recovery in Christchurch. New partnerships for development were forged with two dioceses in the Solomon Islands.
Within New Zealand we continued to advocate for our most vulnerable citizens, such as beneficiaries, young workers and refugees. Our relationship with Te Rūnanga o te Hāhi Katorika (National Māori Catholic Council) and work on indigenous issues is developing, while our work promoting justice, peace and Catholic social teaching in Catholic schools continues to be well-received.
