Six conferences begin the "wave" for Aotearoa
The “worldwide conferences” in New Zealand are now forging ahead vigorously, generating such comments from participants as:
The community made it a joyful and open experience with friends sharing in light of their own experience and from the heart.
The friends are already thinking about how they can extend the reach of this conference …
There were numerous conversations with friends where many direct questions were asked about the Faith.
Following are reports and photographs from conferences in:
Marlborough on 23 April
Kapiti on 30 April
Western Bay of Plenty, 30 April to 1 May
Wairarapa, 6-8 May
Rotorua, 6-8 May
Waimauku, 7-8 May
The featured photo above is from the Wairarapa conference.
For details of forthcoming conferences, please see https://conferences.bahai.org.nz/find-a-conference
Note: photos in this article can be enlarged by clicking on them.
Marlborough — 23 April
The Marlborough community held a one-day conference on Saturday 23 April at Marlborough Girls College. It was the first in a wave of conferences now taking place around Aotearoa New Zealand.
The community made it a joyful and open experience with friends sharing in light of their own experience and from the heart.
Te Ao Māori was incorporated seamlessly throughout the conference, particularly with whakawhanaungatanga as the first part of the conference — building relationships moved beyond ice breakers and into allowing people to say what was in their hearts and allowing meaningful connection.
One of the friends created a slideshow for the occasion, featuring photographs of Bahá’í Houses of Worship. The slideshow creator found these the perfect symbol for what the conferences are: a perfect melding of worship and service, in terms of the structure of a House of Worship and the structures envisioned to surround it. The series of images journeyed through the world. The themes of the conference also reinforced this with Bahá’u’lláh's vision for humanity and building vibrant communities.
The creative space was also very successful, with the group all contributing to a piece of art (to be completed) which also incorporated a whakatauki. Some of the accompanying photographs depict participants working on the artwork, and holding it up for display.
The friends are already thinking about how they can extend the reach of this conference now that they have experienced it already and also thinking about how to use home visits to invite friends and networks.
Translations of Māori words
Te Ao Māori — the Māori world view
Whakawhanaungatanga — process of establishing relationships, relating well to others
Whakatauki — proverb, significant saying
Kapiti-Porirua — 30 April - 1 May
This conference was held at Kapiti College Marae, Paraparaumu. A photo from the conference was published by Bahá’í World News Service in an article, “Global Conferences: Grassroots gatherings imbue communities with sense of common purpose”.
Western Bay of Plenty — 30 April - 1 May
A report from one of the friends who participated
Forty participants (32 Adults, 1 youth and 7 children) attended throughout the weekend. Te Puna Quarry Gallery and surrounding gardens were magical. Having both the indoor and outdoor spaces created a wonderful and tranquil environment for all and allowed the children to enjoy both the indoor and outdoor space.
Our conference began with a whakatau/welcome. Tikanga Māori was integrated throughout our gathering, through participation of local Māori friends, and the use of te reo, karakia, whakatauki, weaving and kowhaiwhai.
The use of the arts was a highlight of the programme. Along with weaving and kowhaiwhai, there was also dance, African drumming and cooperative games. The spiritual themes were woven into the activities. The art activities were enjoyed by all ages and cultures and for much of the time the children and adults were together. The children also participated in presenting a session on spiritual education.
There was an uplifting and spiritual atmosphere throughout the conference. Together we viewed a couple of videos including “Glimpses” and “The Exemplar” in a relaxed atmosphere in which we quietly finished off artworks.
There were numerous conversations with friends where many direct questions were asked about the Faith. One friend shared with us as he was saying farewell that this has stirred a spirit within him to investigate the Faith more fully.
One of the concluding sessions was led by a Tauranga Bahá’í friend, who invited participants to share any efforts they are involved with for the purpose of social transformation. This gave us the opportunity to learn about community activities and to foster greater collaboration.
Wairarapa — 6-8 May
Some 57 people participated over the two days of the Wairarapa conference at Te Kura Kaupapa Māori o Wairarapa in Masterton.
The Spiritual Assembly of Masterton welcomed all during the mihi whakatau — accompanied by waiata, prayers and sharing the vision of these conferences, happening in some 10,000 locations around the world, gathering all well-wishers of humanity. Spirits and souls were visibly uplifted and the bright autumn morning’s sun seemed to reflect the light lit within.
A few selected highlights:
Locally-developed slideshows were used to good effect for enhancing sessions about “Who is Bahá’u’lláh?” and “How Far We Have Come”.
Facilitators were very adept at encouraging participants to draw on personal experience and reality rather than discussing topics in the abstract.
One group had quite a lot of discussion about consultation. Various images were used such as viewing truth as a multifaceted jewel and the need to see it from all angles; the processes of going into consultation with an attitude of prayerfulness, respect, and detachment; and adherence to the formal guidance on consultation steps.
Children and junior youth had their own sessions running concurrently. As most children were quite young (3-6years old), some of the older children (10/11 year olds) joined the junior youth group. Having two days allowed the children to get to know each other.
The crafts were geared towards different ages so that everyone could participate. We continued sharing our crafts with everyone in the main hall giving the children a sense of being part of the whole conference.
On day one, the children shared a surprise for everyone outside — as the sun was setting, they lit sky lanterns letting their lights rise high into the evening sky, while they recited the quote they had memorised during the day – “So powerful is the light of unity that it can illuminate the whole earth.”
A kapa haka was learned, based on the Hidden Word, “Abandon not the everlasting beauty for a beauty that must die” / “Kaua e whakarēre nā te ātaahua mutungakore mō te ātaahua e mate”.
On day two, looking at “The educational endeavours of the training institute” the adults explored capacities that are being built by tracking each of the main sequence courses along the Path of Service — this was done with a big piece of paper and the actual books dotted along it.
Collective art sessions included completion of a mural about the youthful hero, Maui; the weaving of flax into beautiful flowers; and the creation of a korowai (cloak), in this case made of paper strips, adorned with virtues needed to make this world a better place.
The last session, on “Contributing to Social Transformation”, was opened by a local college student Sheryl Chand, one of the Race Unity speech award finalists from the previous year. She shared her speech evoking highly positive responses and lots of questions from all participants. A conversation started, to ensure a regular youth hui on race unity and other themes will be held going forward, ensuring the consciousness of humanity's oneness takes root in the Wairarapa.
During the last plenary when everyone had the opportunity to share insights, two of the older junior youth participants got up and even though they are usually quite shy, spoke with much confidence, expressing their gratitude to their animators. With the whole group joining in, the junior youth even dedicated a song to their animators. Visibly touched, they in turn shared a prayer sung in Te Reo Māori and Farsi.
Some statistics from Wairarapa conference
Overall attendance - 39 adults, 3 youth, 7 junior youth, 8 children
Including:
6 facilitators
3 childrens class teachers
2 junior youth animators
4 kitchen crew
4 art session facilitators (harakeke weaving, painting mural, and traditional flute)
1 MC
Rotorua — 6-8 May
Rotorua had several friends of the Faith attend in the morning session on the first day, including the President of the Multicultural Council, and the Police Race Relations Liaison. Both were active and enthusiastic participants in the session coving themes 1 and 2. The President of the Multicultural Council made a beautiful floral arrangement on the fly to help decorate the venue.
The afternoon session on the first day, covering themes 3 and 4, had a different group of friends present, who also enthusiastically joined in the small group activities.
For dinner and post dinner activities yet another group of friends of the Faith attended. Note that almost all the friends of the Faith who attended have not previously attended Bahá’í-specific activities.
Waimauku — 7-8 May
A believer in Waimauku hosted a conference as an individual initiative. It was held at her home on 7-8 May. She explained: “I hosted this because otherwise I would not have been able to participate in the invitation of our dear Universal House of Justice due to the changed scheduling of the NZ conferences [due to pandemic conditions] and prior travel commitments.”
The programme ran from 9.00am to 3.00pm both days. A total of 20 souls participated: 17 adults and 3 infants. Of these, 6 were “community of interest” friends and 3 of the Bahá’í friends were visitors from Hawaii.
