Waimakariri migrant family plants trees to give back to community

Nicole Mathewson Reporter from Northern Outlook

From local democracy reporter David Hill:

Life in North Canterbury is a world away from growing up in post-revolution Iran.

Rohiyeh Faramarzi and her family have lived in Woodend for 20 years and wanted to give back to their adopted community by planting trees.

Working with the Waimakariri District Council’s greenspace team, Faramarzi was able to develop a planting project that led to a tree planting day at Rangiora’s Dudley Park last Saturday, August 27.

“With the support of the Waimakariri District Council, we have been able to create an ongoing dialogue about how we can contribute bycreating spaces in our parks where people and families can come and gather.”

Faramarzi fled her home country to escape her family’s persecution due to their Baha’i Faith.

“The persecution of the Baha’is affected the way Baha'i families and my family went about their lives.

“After the Iranian revolution, persecution intensified and Baha'is no longer had any civil rights or freedoms.

“Baha'is were arrested on false charges, land was confiscated, businesses were closed, and young Baha'is were banned from entering university.”

She moved to India where she met her husband, Shahriar Faramarzi, and after the birth of their first child they decided to move ‘‘toa smaller, quieter and more peaceful country’’.

In New Zealand, the couple’s two daughters have studied at university, completing law and engineering degrees – something Faramarzi was unable to do in Iran.

Their Baha’i Faith has always been important to them and teaches the importance of serving “communities to uplift them and make them better”.

Last year the couple decided to do something to mark 100 years since the passing of Abdu’l-Baha, the eldest son of Bahá'u'lláh, the founder of the Baha’i Faith.

Faramarzi said she was inspired to think about the natural environment, leading to the tree planting project.

“Planting trees really comes from a desire to uplift and beautify our shared surroundings. Our environment reminds us how connected we are as a human family.

“We all benefit from a healthy, safe environment and we also have a responsibility to contribute to it.”