International Financial Collaboration

Each year, on behalf of the friends in New Zealand, and under the guidance of the Universal House of Justice, the National Spiritual Assembly contributes approximately NZ$20,000 to one of its sister communities in another part of the world. Last year it was Cameroon in Africa. This year, the New Zealand Bahá'í community has had the privilege of assisting the Caroline Islands with the renovation of their Bahá'í Centre.

The International Financial Collaboration Goals Programme was established by the Universal House of Justice more than 20 years ago. Once a new global plan, such as the current Five Year Plan, commences, the Universal House of Justice asks selected National Spiritual Assemblies to assess how much they can contribute to assist other national communities during the Plan. Based on these estimates the Universal House of Justice calls upon each participating National Spiritual Assembly at certain times during the Plan to provide financial assistance when specific needs come to its attention. 

In referring to this programme in a letter to the National Spiritual Assembly dated 14 February 2017 the Universal House of Justice stated that “It is hoped that the international financial collaboration goals of this Plan will continue to be a means to realize ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s wish “to behold the friends of east and west in close embrace; to see all the members of human society gathered with love in a single great assemblage”.   

In thanking the New Zealand Bahá'í community, the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá'ís of the Caroline Islands stated: “We wish to thank you again for your generous and valuable assistance to our community in renovating our National Bahá'í Center and the caretakers' quarters. We cannot thank you enough and express our gratitude.”