Convention - Election - Annual report
The 70th National Convention of the Bahá’ís of Aotearoa New Zealand brought together delegates, members of the National Spiritual Assembly, Counsellor Jeffrey Sabour and six of his Auxiliaries, and members of Regional Bahá’í Councils from across the country in a spirit of prayer, reflection, and unity. Held in Auckland over the weekend of 25–27 April at Te Whare Akoranga Bahá’í, the Convention created space to reflect on the past year and to look ahead to the second and “greater phase” of the Nine Year Plan which commences now.
The Counsellor’s opening address reminded the Convention that expansion and consolidation, social action and engagement in the discourses of society are all part of a single process aimed at releasing the society-building power of the Faith in ever greater measures, as all protagonists in the Plan (individuals, communities and institutions) move forward with clarity and conviction. The message of the Universal House of Justice to the Conference of the Counsellors on 31 December 2025 is like a lens through which to look at the Supreme Body’s earlier message about the Nine Year Plan to the Conference of the Counsellors on 30 December 2021. These messages are available on the Bahá’í Reference Library at bahai.org.
Counsellor Sabour went on to say that the key areas of strategic focus are teaching and enrolment, supporting the building of capacities of youth, and the significance of the third milestone clusters. When such clusters are strong with rich experience, they help other clusters to advance, and he made reference to paragraph three of the above-mentioned 31 December 2025 message, which mentions eight essential features needed for such strong third milestone clusters. We are learning what it means to have such “reservoirs” of knowledge, resources and assistance for adjoining clusters, with genuine friendship, empathy and loving understanding between these clusters.
Although we are up against formidable forces, through universal participation, systematic learning and disciplined action, social transformation can intensify.
Convention Message to the Universal House of Justice
An important element of the Convention was the preparation of the message from the Convention to the Universal House of Justice, prepared on behalf of the Convention by a four-member team of delegates. This message conveys much of the spirit of the gathering and the contributions and commitments made.
Election of the National Spiritual Assembly
The central and most sacred feature of the Convention was the annual election of the National Spiritual Assembly, conducted in a spirit of devotion, humility, and quiet reflection.
Following the election, the National Spiritual Assembly shared the following message with the Bahá’í community of New Zealand:
26 April 2026
To the New Zealand Bahá’í Community
Dear Bahá’í Friends,
The National Spiritual Assembly conveys its heartfelt loving Ridván greetings to you all. We take the opportunity to share the results of today's election—at the 70th New Zealand Bahá’í National Convention—of the National Spiritual Assembly for the coming term. All 57 delegates were able to cast their vote (four were postal ballots) and all ballots were valid. Of the 513 votes, only one was invalid. The nine elected members of the National Assembly remain the same as in the previous term.
The members elected, in the order of votes received, are as follows:
Mrs Judith (Huti) Watson, Mrs Siripan (Wan) Rivers, Mr Josef (Vahid) Qualls, Mr Kim Te'o, Mrs Audrey Aumua, Mrs Shiva Kolodner, Mr Nicholas (Nick) Moss, Mr Sosaia (Saia) Tu'itahi, Mrs Suzanne Mahon.
The National Spiritual Assembly was able to elect its officers this evening, with the following outcome:
Chair: Mr Vahid Qualls
Secretary: Mrs Suzanne Mahon
Treasurer: Mrs Wan Rivers
Vice-Chair: Mrs Huti Watson
We trust the friends will offer your prayers that the National Assembly may be divinely guided as it enters this new term of service, and this next and greater phase of the Nine Year Plan.
With loving Bahá’í greetings,
NATIONAL SPIRITUAL ASSEMBLY OF THE BAHÁ’ÍS OF NEW ZEALAND
Annual Report 182 B.E.
The National Annual Report, presented during the Convention, offers a comprehensive overview of the activities, progress, and developments of the Bahá’í community in New Zealand over the past year, 182 B.E.
An electronic copy of the report is available for download at the button below.
Physical copies of the Annual Report are available for those who wish to receive one. If you would like to obtain a copy, please contact the Bahá’í National Office (nationaloffice@bahai.org.nz) with your request and a copy will be mailed to you. You may wish to make a small additional donation to the National Fund to help cover the printing and postage costs, but this is left to individual discretion and receiving the report is not dependent on any payment.
