Celebrating Te Whare Akoranga Bahá'í
In a spirit of unity, joy, and heartfelt celebration, many friends and invited guests, including a number of dedicated individuals who have diligently served at the Hyde Dunn property over the years, came together to enjoy an open day event at the recently completed Bahá'í Centre for Learning, Te Whare Akoranga Bahá'í.
On Sunday 17 December, at 2:30 pm, a karanga beckoned friends to gather. A welcome onto the national Bahá'í property at 180 Candia Road, Henderson was offered in te Reo, followed by waiata and prayers beautifully sung by a talented group of Bahá'í youth.
Vahid Qualls, chair of the National Spiritual Assembly, spoke on behalf of the national institution, acknowledging all present, and the countless hours of dedicated service many souls have given to the property and the original building that was erected in 1988 as the National Haziratu’l-Quds. He delivered a brief introductory talk, highlighting the profound significance and history of the property and the purpose behind the redevelopment of the building. As the formal programme drew to a close, a final prayer was offered and filled the space with a sense of unity and purpose.
Following the formal programme, an invitation was extended to everyone to partake in afternoon tea, hosted by the National Spiritual Assembly, and graciously served by a wonderful team of helpers. This provided an opportunity for attendees to explore and acquaint themselves with the newly developed Bahá'í Centre for Learning. Conversations and laughter flowed as many friends came together to celebrate this uplifting occasion.
Below is a small selection of photos that capture something of the spirit of the occasion. Thumbnails can be selected to view the images in a larger size. The National Spiritual Assembly lovingly thanks all who contributed their time and energy to making this a special occasion.
Photographs have been supplied by Roshan Reyhani.
