Arohanui: Letters from Shoghi Effendi to New Zealand
Pages 1-iii
 

Preface
Dedicated to the memory of Shoghi Effendi in commemoration of the twenty-fifth anniversary of the formation of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá'ís of New Zealand.
 
1

"AROHANUI"

 
2

The word "Arohanui" is a Maori word and, as with many Polynesian words, there is no direct translation into English. The literal meaning is "big love", or "much love" or "great love". And, like most words in most languages, it has several meanings. In naming this book, "Arohanui: Letters from Shoghi Effendi to New Zealand", "Arohanui" is used in its more expressive meaning, "enfolding love", or "that love which binds a community together", or "that love which creates bonds of mutual trust and loyalty", or "that love which builds and carries forward culture or civilization".