NIKKI Gundry’s first visit to New Zealand has been tied to her faith.
After the borders reopened, Mrs Gundry, and her family, were determined to travel from their Tennessee home to visit her son, Devon, who is living in Queenstown. Their timing lined up perfectly, allowing them to attend a series Baha’i faith community conferences throughout New Zealand, and after taking part in Queenstown’s three-weeks-ago, Mrs Gundry’s family travelled to Oamaru for Saturday’s conference.
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t 30 people attended the conference, opened by Waitaki Mayor Gary Kircher at Pembroke School, with people travelling from throughout Waitaki, Otago and from Christchurch for the event. More than 10,000 conferences have been held world-wide and 40 have been held in New Zealand in the past month.
All conferences were based on Baha’i faith creating united and vibrant communities.
Workshops were held in Oamaru based on Baha’u’llah’s vision for humanity, vibrant communities, education, social transformation, and there were activities, including making a korowai (Maori cloak) with virtues and phrases.
Mrs Gundry said the day was about sharing the vision. It was important to hear the needs of residents to make their community a better place to live.
"Everyone in the community is welcome to join us in this process," she said.
The Queenstown conference had been "wonderful" and she loved her first experience in Oamaru.
There were similarities and differences between New Zealand and American conferences, but they all noted a "sense of despair" especially among the youth.
"Collective wellbeing is literally at an all time low. Now is the time that all the world has to unite."
