Bahá'í New Zealand: Historical timeline

Margaret Stevenson accepted the Faith. She heard about the Faith through reading "The Christian Commonwealth".

Bahá'í Faith was first announced in New Zealand when Miss Dorothea Spinney, an English Bahá'í, stayed with Margaret Stevenson.

Second announcement of the Faith in New Zealand took place in 1923 when well travelled Bahá'í's from the United States, Mr & Mrs Hyde Dunn, visited New Zealand.

First Bahá'í Nineteen Day [spiritual] Feast was held at Margaret Stevenson's home in Parnell, Auckland. A photograph was sent to the Guardian of the Faith, Shoghi Effendi, of the individuals who attended this gathering, which was published in The Bahá'í World, Vol. II

First press release about Bahá'í Faith in New Zealand was published in the “Eden Gazette” about a Bahá'í Holy Day.

First Bahá'í pilgrimage from New Zealand to the Holy Land was made. Mrs Sarah Blundell, Miss Ethel Blundell and Miss Margaret Stevenson left Auckland by sea, accompanied by a then non-Bahá'í, Hugh Blundell.

First Bahá'í publication in New Zealand. Bahá'í magazine for Australasia named by the Guardian “Herald of the South” was published in Auckland. When the editor went overseas in 1934, publishing was transferred to Adelaide. This magazine was published until quite recently.

The first Bahá'í Assembly was elected in Auckland on 21 April 1926.

First combined New Zealand/Australian National Convention held in Sydney in April 1934. Nine delegates attended, three from Auckland, three from Sydney and three from Adelaide. Purpose of the Convention was to elect the first combined Spiritual Assembly for Australasia.

In August 1934 the Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá'ís of Auckland was the first New Zealand Assembly to incorporate. It was registered at the Supreme Court of New Zealand in Auckland as a Trust Board under the Religious, Charitable and Educational Trusts Act, 1908. Later, in 1949, the registered name was changed to "The Local Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá'ís of Auckland City".

The first Bahá'í burial (Sarah Blundell) took place at Hillsborough Cemetery in Auckland.

First letter sent to a New Zealand Prime Minister, Mr Michael Joseph Savage, about the Faith.

The first retreat or winter weekend was held in Browns Bay (now part of North Shore City). Today’s annual Bahá’í summer schools stemmed from these early retreats.

The first person of Maori descent to accept the Bahá’í Faith was Albert White, who was one quarter Maori.

A 22 acre property was purchased on Candia Road in Henderson and named the "Hyde Dunn Property" by Shoghi Effendi.

The first Persian Bahá'í, Manoochehr Ala’i, arrived as a student at Massey College in 1949. The formalities of immigration were arranged by the Auckland Bahá'í Assembly who signed the Deed of Covenant required by the New Zealand Customs and Immigration Departments.

The first visit by a Hand of the Cause of God took place in 1953. Mr Furutan visited and was accompanied by Mr Faizi from Bahrain (then not a Hand of the Cause).

The first Bahá'í National Centre property was purchased in 1954, a house in Parnell, Auckland. This property was later sold and a new three-storey Centre was built in Candia Road, Henderson, incorporating offices, meeting rooms, a library, an assembly hall and other facilities.

The first New Zealand National Convention (without the combination with Australia) was held in April 1957 at the then National Bahá'í Centre in Parnell. Nine delegates attended — three from Auckland and two each from Devonport, New Plymouth and Wellington. This Convention elected the first National Spiritual Assembly of New Zealand.

A four and a half acre property was purchased in Manukau as land for a temple site. This land was later sold and other properties acquired to replace it, first in Raglan and later next to the National Centre grounds in Henderson.

On 10 May 1961 the Justice Department of New Zealand recognised the right of Bahá'í officiators to perform a legal marriage service. The first approach to the department had been made in 1948. In 1961 the government recognised the right of any small group to perform marriages, including non-religious groups.

Ephraim Te Paa, a Kaumatua (Maori elder) from Ahipara accepted the Faith when Hand of the Cause of God, Dr Muhajir came to New Zealand in 1962. Ephraim Te Paa first heard of the Faith in June 1955, and again in 1958 when a distinguished Bahá'í, known as a Hand of the Cause of God, Enoch Olinga, visited the Ngaruawahia Marae.

First Bahá'í marriage was held at the Bahá'í Centre in Parnell on 30 January.

First radio broadcast in New Zealand about the Faith took place in August of this year. John Carr spoke on the Bahá'í Faith in a series of talks, “I Believe”. This was the first time the Faith had been mentioned on the radio as previous policy permitted only "mainstream" Christianity to be broadcast.

The books, The Proclamation of Bahá'u'lláh and The Hidden Words, and a pamphlet, “Loyalty to Government”, were presented in person to Prime Minister Keith Holyoake and the Leader of the Opposition, Norman Kirk.