Heather

“Post-earthquakes I had a disconnect in my teaching, especially with the way we were  expected to teach writing under the national standards. Teaching suddenly became uncomfortable for me, and I had loved it. I’ve always been a hobby writer so I took a time out to do a Masters in Creative Writing and wrote a […]

Rachel

“I went ice skating one night with a friend of mine, I was studying at the time. And we went ice skating and I met this guy. First thing Jason said to me was ‘What size is your shoe?’ We’ve been married for 16 years, we have three children who are now teenagers. We’re now […]

Charles

“I moved to Christchurch in 1993. I was 14 years old, came over with pretty much the whole family. My father’s brother moved to New Zealand a long time ago, like, 50, 60 years ago. I’ve got two older brothers, they went straight into the workforce but I was lucky enough to get educated in […]

Mike (and Ben)

“I’m a resident of Governors Bay. I’ve been there for 31 years. It’s the only place we’ve lived since I met my wife and finished travelling when we were younger. We settled in there, raised a family, it’s been home ever since. Like most young Kiwis in their 20’s I didn’t spend much of that […]

Michael

“I live at Hohepa, since 2008. Independence and also leap options. Learning and exploring. Been doing people’s group? Been doing like the community gardens at Richmond. Yes. And adventure group. We do going walking, outing. Probably have a look at the ducks. And also having lunch. This is Bishop’s badge. Bishop Paul Martin. This one […]

Clark

“Every so often, mostly in the winter, I have storytelling nights. And I have mulled wine and a nice fire and candles, and select about 12 people – our friends. And we have a theme.  And you have to sit on a stool. It’s a storytelling stool. We announce our story with a title.  The […]

Jon

“No Whītī taku Papa, no Maniapoto taku Mama. Ko Jon Mahuika-Jeet taku ingoa.” “I’m a Maori Fijian-Indian guy who was brought up in Invercargill, in a place that was predominantly European. From a young age I was constantly thinking about my identity because I looked so different from everyone else. I was not European, I […]

Patricia

“Since I was about six they put me in dresses. I just didn’t want to get out of them, that’s all. Yes my cousins dressed me up and I enjoyed it. It’s interesting when you look back in life because as I say I’m 80 now. I’ve been in and out over the years. Sydney; […]

Antoinette

“I live in Westmorland, but I was telling my childhood story about growing up in Addington. My Nana lived around the corner; in those old days, that’s what happened. My dad built the house after the war. We’d walk every day to have lunch with Nana. I’m one of eight – I’m number four. When […]

Justice

“I grew up singing, songs being sung to me or with me. I guess coming from a kapa haka background, that was all I lived and breathed. What makes waiata and song so important for me is because it connects me back to my family and my whakapapa, but also helps me to connect to […]