Six Year 12 and 13 students delivered powerful and riveting speeches around the theme ‘Awhihia te Rito -Nurture the Young’, at this year’s Race Unity Speech Awards national finals.
Campaign to honour women’s sacrifice sees outpouring of support
UPDATED 16 June 2023: Actions are being taken throughout Aotearoa by communities and individuals in support of the campaign marking 40 years since 10 Bahá’í women were hanged in Shiraz, Iran, and honouring the broader struggle for gender equality in that country.
Campaign honours martyrs and the struggle of Iranian women
The Bahá’í Office of Public Affairs shares information about the #OurStoryIsOne Campaign, starting in June, and the office explains how the friends in Aotearoa might contribute to it.
Event celebrates Race Unity Speech Awards milestone
An endeavour to combat prejudice in Aotearoa, initiated by the Bahá’í community, celebrates more than two decades of growing influence.
Others' in Their Own Land - Film Screening and Panel Discussion
A special film screening of the documentary 'Others' in Their Own Land is taking place in Wellington on 29 September, with a panel discussion of Iranian human rights advocates. The Office of Public Affairs urges the friends to attend and invite contacts who work or live in the Wellington region.
Race Unity Hui foster hope amongst youth
Youth participants in these hui find their resilience strengthened through conversations about race, identity, diversity and unity.
How we can help to defend the targets of hate
A panel discussion on 13 September will look at the situation of the Bahá’ís of Iran and how a climate of propaganda, disinformation, and hatred can be addressed effectively.
Countering hate speech against the friends in Iran
State-sponsored hate speech and disinformation against the Bahá'í community in Iran is on the rise. This article explains how the friends in Aotearoa can assist in combating the problem.
Kia kotahi te hoe — Paddle as one
This year’s Race Unity Speech Awards and Hui demonstrated that the annual event continues to increase its influence on social discourse.
Muslim leaders and government officials denounce Iran's persecution of Bahá'ís
Muslim communities, government officials, and parliamentarians worldwide have joined a growing outcry at the unjust confiscation of properties owned by Bahá'ís in the farming village of Ivel, north Iran.
Speakers hold fast to their vision of race unity
Extraordinary circumstances forced the Race Unity Speech Awards to go online this year. Participants responded with resolute hopes for the future of Aotearoa.
Race Unity Award speeches to be live-streamed 11-17 May
In the week from 11-17 May, Race Unity Speech Award semi-finalists and finalists are set to share their insights and demonstrate their eloquence to an appreciative online audience.
Speakers explore significance of the bicentenary
Listen to captivating speeches by Dame Robin White and Member of Parliament Priyanca Radhakrishnan at the national bicentenary celebration in Wellington.
Youth Diversity Forum welcomes Bahá’í input
80 diverse youth leaders from around the country gathered together to consult about the future of race relations in Aotearoa.
The Báb is honoured at Parliament Buildings
A national celebration event for the bicentenary of the Birth of the Báb occurred with great success on the evening of 22 October.
Prime Minister invites insights from race unity speakers
Gisborne Race Unity Speech Award participants joined other youth and two local Baha’is in a breakfast meeting hosted by Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern recently.
BWNS: Encouraged by Prime Minister Ardern, New Zealand’s youth press to end racism
For nearly two decades, New Zealand’s Baha’is have been promoting a discourse on race unity through an annual process that brings together high school students from across the country.
Message from New Zealand Prime Minister for the Race Unity Speech Awards and Hui
Prime Minister Rt Hon Jacinda Ardern: "Following the tragic events in Christchurch, this year's Race Unity Speech Awards and Hui hold even greater significance. We need to think deeply and carefully about our country's rich and precious diversity, and what we need to do to remain an inclusive, multicultural country. ... I wish you all the best for this year's Race Unity Speech Awards and Hui, and I am sure the event will inspire thoughtful, open and positive discussion."
Wellington Race Unity Hui and Speech Awards
The Wellington Race Unity Hui brought together high school students, young professionals, university students and youth representatives of multicultural councils to discuss how we can build race unity in Aotearoa.
Race Unity Hui and Speech Awards
The annual Race Unity Speech Awards were initiated by the New Zealand Bahá’í Community in 2001 in support of Race Relations Day (21 March). The speech topic this year is “Speaking for Justice, Working for Unity”. At the national level, a Race Unity Hui is being run in conjunction with the National Finals of the Speech Awards on 11 May 2019 in Auckland.