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“Conversations”

Our next gathering:

"Refined  Breathing"

Monday, 31st August

5.15p.m.

At the Steiner Centre,  

401 Whitehead Road, Hastings

Soup and bread,  followed by a talk by Herman Veluwenkamp

All Welcome

We have invited Herman to share his experiences, research and practice relating to Refined Breathing. 

“For Rudolf Steiner", says Herman, “ Refined  Breathing is the recognition that ordinary breathing and thinking are not separate processes but one continuous activity, with the breath carrying cosmic substance in through the senses, and thought forming as its higher stage.  Becoming aware of this connection, of oneself as “a thinker and a breather, marks a further step in the ongoing evolution of human consciousness.”

Herman tells us - “I’ve always had an interest in technology, which led me to an engineering degree.  But I had deeper questions that weren’t being addressed there, so I started reading alternative texts.  These led me through various authors and eventually to Rudolf Steiner, whose work was the most cohesive and comprehensive, so that’s where I’ve focused most of my attention.  I still have a particular interest in the work of Victor Schauberger, John Keely, George Gurdjieff, Walter Russell and others. I’m also involved with MysTech, a US-based Anthroposophical nonprofit endeavour that works to promote Steiner’s work in this area.

Herman has told us that Rudolf Steiner spoke often about the breath, including its evolution from ancient times;  breathing and thinking; the meeting of the human being and the cosmos in breathing; the breathing of the earth; our breathing and its relation to the wisdom of the future.

We anticipate that this evening will bring us up to date in this aspect of the modern world,  and explore how Rudolf Steiner’s indications can help us develop a conscious and enlightened awareness of our breathing and thinking. 

Diana and Bernie

The online study group for this, and other related topics, will commence the second week of September.  You may find further details at http: mystech.org/courses/

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Tania Diedericks Graduation Performance

7pm Sunday 20th September
The Steiner Centre (corner of Whitehead Rd and Nelson st).

All are welcome to Tania's graduation in Creative Speech. Come and enjoy a rich evening of poetry, story and music: old ballads; a charming Irish folk tale; Milton's 'Paradise Lost'; through to modern poets exploring themes of inner struggle to enlightenment. Music will enhance the evening.
Enjoy a rich tapestry of the English language brought to life by Tania.
Koha is invited.

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Mirra Arens Memorial

Mirra Arens was close to, and a part of, the Taikura Steiner School community for many years.  After attending Taruna with Carl Hoffmann in 1984, she joined the Rudolf Steiner School Hasting to take a class from Grade 6 to Grade 8.  She was involved as a Class teacher for three more cohorts of children, eventually retiring in 2011.

On Saturday 22 August, in the Memorial Meeting for her arranged by Rosie Simpson in the Manuhiri Marae in the school, many people spoke of their gratitude for what they received from Mirra, as pupils and as colleagues; admiration for her dedication to the role of class teacher despite being a solo-mum, her beautiful blackboard drawings, the birthday circles and personal verses learned and recited by every child, her crafted writing of notes for both pupils and colleagues.  Despite this, she remained a really private person, and it appears that no one got really close, personally, to Mirra, who died from lung cancer in June this year.

Those present felt that perhaps her destiny moment was being called to be the Class Teacher of the group of children around the AIDS-suffering child, Eve van Grafhorst, who received an AIDS-infected blood transfusion as a baby.  Eve entered the Kindergarten first with Ingrid Gude and then was part of Mirra's second Class.  Eve died partway through at the age of 11, in 1993.

However, in the parent community, there was much uncertainty about this as not much was known about AIDS at this time and rumours of all sorts were rife - that one could contract AIDS by simply breathing the same air as someone with HIV (which was not true).  There were some parents who declared that they would withdraw their children if Eve was accepted into the school.  There was another group who assured us they would leave the school if the school did not have the courage and humanity to accept her. 

Dr Richard Meech, the pediatrician treating Eve and the anthroposophical Leader of the Medical Section at the Goetheanum, Dr. Michaela Glocker, (visiting New Zealand), both spoke to the school, clarifying the actual risks and supporting Eve’s acceptance. 

In one very full meeting of parents with the College of Teachers, a parent with nursing experience stood and spoke: “We have this totally back-to-front!  It is not our children who are at risk from Eve!  She has AIDS, that is  auto-immune-deficiency-syndrome – she is at risk from any child who comes to school with a runny nose, or an illness which she might catch!”  It was like a shaft of LIGHT, of sanity, that lit up the room.  For me: a most profound moment. After this, the school, teachers and parents were able to make a united resolve to proceed with Eve’s enrolment.

Eve was the first child in the world (we believe), publicly known to be suffering from AIDS (at a time when AIDS was greatly feared worldwide) to be openly accepted into a school class.  This brought intense scrutiny from the international press – ably fielded by David Simpson – which the school did not allow to affect or infiltrate the class process.  Mirra guided those children in this experience of life and the threshold of death in a most profound way.

May our warmest thanks go with you, Mirra.

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AHB Committee Minutes: 13  August 2026

Present: John Jackson, Gerrit Raichle, Robin Bacchus, Sophie Lankovsky

Welcome to the new Committee member and Secretary: Sophie Lankovsky
Any conflict of interest relating to agenda items needs to be declared at every
meeting. Sophie to buy a booklet to use as a register of any declared conflict of
interest, once the agenda is sent out.
Sophie to file minutes, correspondence and AGM documents in respective
folders.
Roadside display cabinet improvements are in progress. Needs a touch of
artistic input. John has ideas. Proposal for the next meeting. Dispose of the old
one.
Book purchases of titles suggested by members are in process for HB branch
library.
Correspondence: letter from library, to be filed.
It will be Robin’s last year on the Committee; new treasurer needed.
IRD question re tax deductibility of financial contributions. Option to stop
discounted room rentals for members if this arrangement precludes all
members from receiving a tax refund on their financial contribution (material
benefit). An accountant could help with clarification of any issues with the IRD.
To keep up with costs of running the Centre, it was suggested to
increase room rentals once a year by a small amount. Discounts are available when hirers book longer sessions and term-long sequences paid in advance.  To be revisited at next
meeting.
A suggestion at the AGM to co-opt members onto the Committee
for shorter periods was not accepted by the committee since it was felt that it would not
be conducive to a functional meeting when people join only for a short time.
However, the Committee will actively approach HB members seeking to co-opt them
for longer periods.
The Committee invited the Trust to clarify the roles of Trust and Committee in
regard to the property and also to the administration of the Brian Butler
legacy.

The Trust operates at a Governance level; the Committee at a management level.
The Trust is the legal owner of the real property; the Committee looks after its wellbeing, physically (R&M), emotionally (meeting place) and spiritually (Education, Study, Festivals, etc.).

The Trust is also the guardian of the constitution and will, from now on, take on
the task of sending the annual report to the authorities. Robin to help with the
transition.
The AGM mandated a more active use of Brian Butler’s legacy for
Spiritual/Cultural Events rather than letting the money decrease in value in the
bank account since the buying power of it has been significantly reduced by
high inflation over the last few years.
As the Committee plans events etc., the trust will be informed of the amounts
needed and this will then be transferred from the Trust account into the
operational account.
Maintenance: Smoke alarm needs new batteries. John to bring purchase
options for a tall ladder to safely reach the ceiling of the main room to next
meeting.
New room rental: A weekly men’s support group takes place on Tuesday nights
at 6:30 pm.

Gerrit Raichle

AHB Chair

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TANEKAHA SUPPORT GROUP 

Tuesdays 6:30 pm 

8 Weekly Art Expression Sessions 

Being creative and expressing your emotions is healing. When you let go of 'ego' and just become comfortable with your own 'presence', you become yourself more and more, every day.

Paul Tipene 

paultipene@outlook.com 

0225196046

Contact me for further details 

Thank you, Paul Tipene 

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Anthroposophic Meditation Week
Connecting to the Angelic World and to Christ
New Zealand

December 14 to 19, 2026, Mon-Sat
in the Āio Wīra Retreat Centre
8 Aio Wira Road, Waitākere,
www.aiowira.org.nz , 20 km from Auckland
Course leaders: Agnes Hardorp, Thomas Mayer
Times: Arrival day 6 pm - 9.30 pm,
seminar day 9 am - approx. 9.00 pm,
departure day 9 am - 2 pm
Course fee: 850 NZD, reduction possible
Accommodation: Between 350 and 650 NZD.
Meals: 325 NZD

To register: meditation333@protonmail.com
www. anthroposophical-meditation.info  

See POSTER

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Change of Address

Diana and I have moved to 611 Avenue Road West, St Leonards, Hastings.

Robin Bacchus