University of Otago Centre for Theology and Public Issues

27/07/2026

Dr Greg Marcar, research affiliate of the Centre for Theology and Public Issues, writes on Babel and the pursuit of peace and justice, in conversation with Pope Leo:

Out of recognition and respect for our finitude as human beings, Magnifica Humanitas calls for human beings to exercise social justice by working within the “fields that we know” to remove obstacles to peace for those who have been uprooted and forced to seek refuge in unfamiliar fields.

14/06/2026

The Centre for Theology and Public Issues is pleased to be hosting a series of in-person discussion evenings in Dunedin using materials from Common Grace for ‘Thriving in this Land’, https://www.commongrace.nz/thriving

You are warmly invited to:

The Climate, 7:00–9:00 pm Monday 22 June 2026

The Treaty, 7:00–8:30 pm Monday 29 June 2026

The Cost of Living, 7:00–8:30 pm Monday 13 July 2026

Venue: Burns Room 5, Arts Building, 95 Albany St, Dunedin

These three sessions include video, guided discussion, and printed resources, hosted by Prof David Tombs.

The sessions are designed for churches and small groups, and anyone is welcome who wants to learn more. We hope the sessions might encourage church leaders to host their own Thriving in this Land group.

To register please email [email protected] and indicate which of the sessions you plan to attend. We encourage you to attend all three sessions if possible.

Attendance is free but all participants are encouraged to make a personal donation of $10 direct to Common Grace for each session attended. Free parking should be available in the Arts Building car park (subject to availability) or nearby.

THRIVING IN THIS LAND Imagining the flourishing of Aotearoa A free workshop resource for churches and faith communities to follow Jesus in the big questions facing New Zealand right now. The Treaty | The Climate | The Cost of Living Register as a host WHY THIS, WHY NOW? Following Jesus beyond the he...

04/03/2026

More information below 👇

05/06/2025

This lecture was hosted by the Centre for Theology and Public Issues on 22 May 2025 at the University of Otago. Professor Megan Best is a bioethicist and pal...

12/05/2025

Dr Greg Marcar, research affiliate of the Centre for Theology and Public Issues, writes about the new pope: https://newsroom.co.nz/2025/05/13/in-a-divided-world-new-pope-signals-a-turn-towards-unity-and-communion/

Comment from the University of Otago: Pope Leo XIV's moral and pastoral concern has consistently been on the unity of the Christian church, and the obligation to help any human being in need

09/05/2025

The Theology Programme and Centre for Theology and Public Issues are delighted to be hosting Prof Megan Best for a public lecture on "Assisted Dying: Navigating the Shifting Landscapes."

Thursday 22 May, 5:15pm-6:30pm
Archway 2
Livestream: www.otago.ac.nz/streaming/channel2
All welcome!

Megan Best is a bioethicist and palliative care physician working at the Institute of Ethics and Society at the University of Notre Dame Australia. She has published extensively in the area of spirituality in healthcare. Her research on the spiritual care of patients has influenced the development of training for healthcare professionals internationally.

30/04/2025

Dr Greg Marcar, research affiliate at Otago's Centre for Theology and Public Issues, writes of Pope Francis’s deep concern for the plight of refugees and immigrant communities:

From Otago University - Opinion: For Pope Francis, it was the experience of migrants like his own grandparents that most captured the human condition.

26/11/2020

In October 2020, Fratelli tutti, Pope Francis’s new encyclical was released. This 287-paragraph document provides a Catholic perspective on a variety of questions from human dignity and political integration from the lack of public trust and peacemaking to the death penalty and fake news. Talk Abo...

06/09/2020

Kio ora koutou,

Due to the continuing level 2 restrictions the panel on End of Life Issues will not meet in Archway 4, but will be available by Zoom.

Details below. We look forward to seeing you. Please note this is a Zoom webinar, and so your microphone and video camera will be set to off. Don’t worry, this is not a technical fault, and you don’t need to do anything or change your settings, it is the default setting.

Panel discussion: The Panel discussion: The End of Life Choice Act 2019 Referendum

Panellists

Dr Jessica Young, Dunedin School of Medicine

Dr Simon Walker, Bioethics Centre

Prof David Tombs, Centre for Theology and Public Issues
When: Tuesday, 8 September 2020 at 5:15 PM – 6:30 PM.

Zoom Webinar link - https://otago.zoom.us/j/91376946441?pwd=c01zWkJJQmgyeXlLZ2lucnpDR1pEZz09

Password: 061755

We look forward to seeing you there!

Zoom is the leader in modern enterprise video communications, with an easy, reliable cloud platform for video and audio conferencing, chat, and webinars across mobile, desktop, and room systems. Zoom Rooms is the original software-based conference room solution used around the world in board, confer...

13/08/2020

Kia ora tatou,

All are welcome to join us today for:

‘Transforming the economy post COVID-19: Principles and policies for a just transition to a sustainable future’. Prof Jonathan Boston, School of Government, Victoria University of Wellington.

Public lecture, Thursday 13 August, 5.15pm-6.30pm.

Due to COVID level changes, this lecture will now take place on Zoom and not in person in Archway 3. We look forward to seeing you on Zoom if you can join us. Further information below.

Zoom: Meeting ID: 994 6273 2797

Password: 431969

Join from PC, Mac, iOS or Android:

Zoom is the leader in modern enterprise video communications, with an easy, reliable cloud platform for video and audio conferencing, chat, and webinars across mobile, desktop, and room systems. Zoom Rooms is the original software-based conference room solution used around the world in board, confer...