Mon 31 Mar 2014 In: New Zealand Daily News View at Wayback View at NDHA
World Vision New Zealand is making it clear it does not discriminate on the basis of sexuality or gender when hiring staff. It’s speaking out after the US branch of the charity announced it would hire employees who are in same-sex marriages, then changed its mind and reversed the policy following backlash from evangelical supporters. World Vision New Zealand says its position is simple. “We work under New Zealand legislation and we do not discriminate on the basis of gender or sexual orientation. World Vision New Zealand hires on merit and in accordance with New Zealand legislation.” The group says it does expect staff to be aligned with its organisational values. “We are a faith-based organisation but we are not a church. We have a singular focus: the transformation of children’s lives.” World Vision is a federated organisation, and each country has its own separate board and leadership and its own constitution. “Each country naturally also works within its own political and cultural context. World Vision United States’ decisions have no impact on any of World Vision New Zealand’s hiring practices,” the New Zealand branch says. “We serve all vulnerable children and value them as people irrespective of race, religion, sexuality, gender or ethnicity.”
Credit: GayNZ.com Daily News staff
First published: Monday, 31st March 2014 - 10:45am