Aaron Hendry

Guest writer

Aaron Hendry is a youth development worker in Auckland, where he lives with his wife and new born son. A theology graduate of Laidlaw College, he writes about the intersection of theology and social justice at whenlambsaresilent.wordpress.com / facebook.com/whenlambsaresilent

Getty Images/Archi Banal

When calls for justice are drowned out by demands for revenge

Insisting on harsh retribution doesn't just dehumanise perpetrators of crime – it ignores all evidence about what works to reduce reoffending.

By Aaron Hendry | 30th May, 2022

Image: Tina Tiller

For queer Christians, the conversion therapy ban is only the first step

The ban on conversion therapy has passed. The struggle for justice for our rainbow whānau has not.

By Aaron Hendry | 16th February, 2022

I was vaccine hesitant, now I’m double jabbed. Here’s why

I was vaccine hesitant, now I’m double jabbed. Here’s why

Having children and some empathetic conversations changed everything.

By Aaron Hendry | 15th October, 2021

Pedestrians walk past a person rough sleeping on High Street in central Auckland in October 2020 (Photo: Lynn Grieveson/Getty Images

Youth homelessness is a crisis – stop the finger-pointing and fix it

The conditions people live in were unacceptable when National was in power. They are no more acceptable under Labour.

By Aaron Hendry | 29th April, 2021

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Without access to emergency housing, our young homeless are left out in the cold

Finding yourself homeless is terrible at any age – but it's even worse for those under 18, who are routinely turned away by emergency housing providers.

By Aaron Hendry | 28th July, 2020

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This first responders protection bill is about vengeance, not justice

A minimum six month sentence for intentionally injurious assaults on prison officers or first responders does nothing to address the reasons why such crimes take place.

By Aaron Hendry | 10th March, 2020

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Attempts to pit NZ religions against each other are doomed to fail

Literal fake news is fuelling attempts to divide New Zealand's religious communities, writes Aaron Hendry.

By Aaron Hendry | 21st March, 2019

From left: Labour’s Marja Lubeck and Duncan Webb with Opposition Leader Simon Bridges, Orion and Charlene Kraatskow, and National’s Erica Stanford and Mark Mitchell at Parliament. Photo: RNZ / Jonathan Mitchell

Punishing Rouxle Le Roux is about revenge, not justice

If you're among those calling for a harsher penalty for the hit-and-run killer of Nathan Kraatskow, fine. But at least be honest about what you're after, writes Aaron Hendry.

By Aaron Hendry | 24th December, 2018

An earlier Christian protest at Parliament (Photo by Marty Melville/Getty Images)

Hey Christians, Jesus wouldn’t be protesting the parliamentary prayer

He had better things to do, and so do you, writes Aaron Hendry.

By Aaron Hendry | 31st October, 2018

Brian Tamaki, leader of the Destiny Church speaks at his Enough is Enough protest against the Civil Union Bill in Parliament grounds, Wellington. (Photo: Ross Setford/Getty Images)

Man down: how homophobia remains rife within Christian circles

From Destiny Church and Israel Folau, to splinter groups opposing the Anglican Church's acceptance of same-sex marriages, bigotry against New Zealand's LGBTQ community is still well and truly alive.

By Aaron Hendry | 10th September, 2018