The Catholic Church in New Zealand will follow guidelines from the Vatican banning the scattering of ashes.

Strict new Vatican guidelines forbid a list of increasingly popular means of commemorating loved ones.

Two women from high-profile fractured relationships have found solace with Destiny Church.

COMMENT: It might have a stronger dollar and a bit more sun, but by more important measures, the Australia of 2016 is embarrassing.

A father who lost a battle against Bible teaching in his daughter's school now says the school is pursuing him for costs.

A Hokitika minister has been elected Bishop of Te Waipounamu in the Anglican Maori Church.

COMMENT: The burqa isn't some post-feminist freedom from a bad hair day. It's a mistake we made to get here.

Exorcisms and spiritual deliverance are on the rise in New Zealand, even among those who aren't Christian, some deliverance ministers say.

I have been invited to a number of special celebrations over the years but it was only recently I had the opportunity to attend a bar mitzvah.

Watch NZH Focus: Liam Malone storms ahead to win his second gold of the Paralympics in the the Men's 400m T44 in Rio. Prince Charles honours thousands of soldiers from New Zealand and other Pacific islands killed 100 years at Battle of the Somme. And Hillary Clinton returns to the campaign trail after a bout of pneumonia that side-lined her for three days.

COMMENT: Burkinis be damned is the one-sided debate raging here in France. Comeback king Nicolas Sarkozy has promised voters he'll ban the burkini.

Watch NZH focus - Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton was unwell and seen "fainting" at a ceremony to mark the 15th anniversary of 9/11. At least 90 people are dead after airstrikes continued to rain in north-western Syria. And hundreds of firefighters are battling to contain wildfires on the northern Greek island of Thassos.

British laws and traditions such as Christmas are under threat and must be vigorously upheld to stop ethnic segregation dividing society, according to a review.

Mother Teresa of Calcutta will be canonised a Catholic saint on Sunday in Rome, but commemorations in Auckland will involve people of many faiths.

Churches should have a 'bouncer' on the door throughout services to improve security an expert warns small parish churches are more at risk of attack.

Irreplaceable century-old vestments have been stolen from a Wellington church.

Britain's intelligence agencies have said a terrorist attack in the UK is "highly likely" following attacks in other parts of Europe.

A Muslim woman's employment hopes were dashed when a prospective manager told her not to bother applying for a jewellery store job because of her scarf.

An Auckland church has given Kiwis a chance to put their burning queries about life's mysteries to the big man upstairs.

COMMENT: Persecuting religious state gives it power to inspire acts in its name.

COMMENT: I write this as a Muslim even though being a Muslim does not define me.

In the same way, people in 100 years will live with the consequences of the decisions we make now.

She's 17, gay, and was being held against her will. But after her extended family got involved, Sarah was released.

Ahmadi Muslim convert Lee Eastham, 34, has been abstaining from food every Monday and Thursday as a "practice run" for his first Ramadan fast.

One if the most widely translated works in history has been given a very 21st-century update.

The first parts of what will be New Zealand's largest musical instrument have arrived at Auckland's Holy Trinity Cathedral.

Dearly beloved: there's a petition to challenge the dress code for this year's school ball at St Dominic's Catholic College, a girls' high school in West Auckland.

A study reveals a link between attending religious services and a longer life expectancy.

A challenge to religious instruction in state schools on the grounds of direct discrimination could not be legally defended by the Ministry of Education, documents say.