Lyn Patterson had her first official appearance as mayor of Masterton on Sunday , the unveiling of a plaque to celebrate 100 years of the Baha'i faith in Wairarapa.
A small gathering came together at Henley Lake, around a Ginkgo Biloba tree, planted in 1990 by Knight of Baha'u'llah, Gertrude Blum, a member of the faith, to take part in the ceremony.
Member of the Local Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of Masterton, Patrick McKenna, welcomed people and gave a speech on behalf of all Baha'is in New Zealand.
Mr McKenna said Mrs Patterson had been "very gracious" in attending the unveiling.
He then invited Henley Lake Trust chairman Tom Ward to unveil the plaque, which read "to commemorate the centenary of the Baha'i faith in New Zealand, this plaque was laid on 20 October, 2013".
