Parisa

“I moved to New Zealand in 2001. My parents chose Christchurch to live in as a city because I am disabled and chch city is flat, I’m able to live here quite easily. I like the people in Christchurch, so kind, always. I used to live in a big country and big city, Tehran, Iran. […]

Elizabet

I am originally from Bolivia.  I met my husband here when he was working with Latin American people. When I arrived I could only speak very little English. I was prepared mentally for everything new, new language, new people, new culture. I was very open about what I was about to learn.  My husband was […]

Rosie

“I’m an intentional creativity artist.  Intentional creativity is like my navigation system. It’s a step into the unknown. For me it’s about having a way, navigating both the inner and the outer journey of life. Because when you create with intention; and that can be anything like doing the garden, planting plants or vegetables or […]

Bart

“When I moved down here from Blenheim, that was a bit of a hard time leaving my friends, my home and moving down here. Leaving everything behind to start something new. Since we had the 2011 earthquakes and that’s when I started high school, I was like ‘what a way to start the year!’, and […]

Sanjeewa

“I came to NZ in 2018 for my higher studies in Business Management. Previously I was living in Dubai and Saudi for almost 15 years, so it was a big change for me to come NZ. As you know, working in Saudi, it’s highly busy. I was holding a top retail management position for a […]

Cori

“I was a child raised by books. I grew up with Heidi and Little Women, King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table, myths of Greek and Roman gods, Enid Blyton, Nancy Drew, and the lives of the saints. I was a sickly, insecure child and a pretty unattractive one, so, I guess it’s […]

Josh

“Many of my life choices has taught me what whānau – or what unconditional love – means.  Although we are not together, she is whānau. Our whole story I would do all over again; I don’t regret anything. We met young, we married, we had children. When I met her I was openly, but not […]

COVID CASE CHCH#1

“Ok … well, it’s been a weird few weeks! Following an international work trip my family and I spent life in full quarantine for a week before the lock down started. Yep – I am case NZ#18 / CHCH#1. I am now fully recovered but my husband remains at the other end of the house […]

Graham and Perrine

We found Halswell to be an absolute haven. Our boundary was with the reserve and our gardens merged together. I think the potential that was in the reserve hit me and our neighbours encouraged us to proceed.

Robinne

“The day before lockdown my husband and I sold our house. The new house is still being built, so the family moved into the shed on the new property. So we began lockdown in a new community, living in cramped, cold quarters. I started my pandemic poems—written with a Sharpie on scraps of building wrap […]