Ali

When I first came to Christchurch here in 1989, all around here was an absolute hubbub. Right where we’re standing used to be a fruit shop with a dance studio upstairs, and where those cars are there used to be a driveway. And the Bargain Me, that was actually called Super Value. I used to […]

Evelyn & Jordan

Originally, we came from Colombia, but we moved to Ecuador for about three years, and then we came from Ecuador to New Zealand in 2018. We moved to Nelson first. I used to work with a big immigration organization. They offered a job here and an opportunity for my daughters and my son. I couldn’t […]

Kate

I like sports, swimming, running, but it’s climbing that’s shaped my life. Climbing is, I reckon, one of the ultimate forms of play. I didn’t start climbing until I was 16 and did a course at the YMCA, but my mum said I was always climbing trees. When I was younger, it was more about […]

Aman

I moved here as a student initially, so I’ve done my post graduate diploma in Business Management here. In India, I did a Bachelor’s in Commerce. The whole time in New Zealand, it’s always been on my mind to start something of my own. I wanted to start a business. I’m very lucky that I […]

Jamila

I was born in Afghanistan, I moved to Pakistan when I was a one year old as a refugee with my family. I grew up in Pakistan and finished my school there. I learned English, I did computer classes, learned sewing and also I did makeup classes. I moved back to Afghanistan to continue my […]

Naenae – Part 2

I have epilepsy, I get tattoos mainly when I’ve gotten past something, like a really bad seizure or whatever. Those there, the time, the last few minutes of my partner’s living time with me. I have Alice in Wonderland syndrome, all of that’s Alice in Wonderland. I’m a human doing, not just a human being, […]

Naenae – Part 1

My childhood was really difficult because I didn’t know exactly who I was as a person. It was the early 90’s, I decided I liked a girl, I got beaten up for that. My Dad’s white and of that generation. My Mum is Maori, we never talked about Maori heritage. When I found out about […]

Hana

“I’ve been involved in Te Ahu Pātiki (Conservation Park) since before its inception, but I’ve only been formally on the board since 2022. The founding board members wanted me to go on for quite a while, but my life was pretty busy; I didn’t feel like I could give it what it needed. I represent […]

Joe (Dark Ballad)

“It’s my own obsessed brain. I’ve got a to-do list of what I want to do in a week, but there’s 50 things on each day that obviously can’t all be done. Because I’m always thinking about these things, the moment is not really lived in at all. I was always pretty neurotic like that, […]

Vanessa

“Giggly girt! Giggly girt!” “See I got my hair cut on Friday. I’ve got my hair band to keep it up. See? Like this I keep it up. Biscuit Blair – she’s my favourite woman. And you. And that cheeky lady over there. My last name is Rule. I’ll write it down for you, you […]