Touchstone

September 2026

Welcome to the September edition of Touchstone.

It has been a while since I last wrote a Touchstone editorial. I was on annual leave for most of July, which meant there was no August edition. Leaving Ōtautahi in the depths of winter and swapping cold grey days and long dark nights for the more tropical temperatures and extended daylight hours of Sydney and Southeast Asia was an unexpected treat. In the weeks since my return, catastrophic flooding in Nepal, flash floods in the Grand Canyon, and extreme weather events across Europe, Asia, and the Americas — including earthquakes, heatwaves and wildfires — have been stark reminders that climate change is affecting more people all over the world.

As the election nears, communities will have the opportunity to meet local politicians and candidates and ask how their policies will help mitigate the effects of climate change, as well as address the many economic, environmental, and resource issues that affect the health, welfare, lifestyle, and wellbeing of our population. The Interchurch Bioethics Council (ICBC) has prepared resources to help people consider seven key election issues that will shape our future and have profound consequences for Aotearoa.

Paul Spoonley, a Senior Fellow at Koi Tū: The Centre for Informed Futures and former chair of Metropolis International, the largest global network of immigration specialists, recently delivered a Spirited Conversations presentation at Aldersgate in Ōtautahi. He explored our country’s immigration history and the challenges and opportunities inherent in the superdiverse Aotearoa we inhabit. We share a summary of that presentation.

Wesley College has been in the news in recent years because of issues relating to failings in the care of students, staffing concerns, and ageing boarding facilities. Principal Dr Brian Evans acknowledges the challenges of the past and shares a story of renewal, hope, and achievement as the College looks to the future.

MCNZ President Te Aroha Rountree has been engaging with and celebrating alongside Christian communities in Aotearoa, the Pacific, and South America over recent months. Her reports from the Kingdom of Tonga, El Salvador, and Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland speak of fellowship, worship, faith, prayer, cultural exchange, and a shared commitment to Christ and mission in a world where there is much to address and much to celebrate.

I encourage you to dive into the latest Touchstone.