Ofusina – Part 1

Christianity, it’s always been with me. It’s always been instilled with me all my life. I grew up wanting to work for God in any way I can. I always prayed to him to use me, although I don’t have much to offer. Then all of a sudden I was married, and the man I […]

Mina

I’ve written music. I just haven’t thrown it up. I’m actually advertising myself, but at the same time just playing music on the streets, and just playing just like, you know, Ed Sheeran, bit of Elton John, bit of John Lennon. They’re sentimental to me, because they mean, they mean feelings to me, you know, […]

Sabry

I’m originally from Egypt. My wife is Filipino, she got a job offer as a nurse. Then I decided to come to visit. So I visited, but I never went back. I just like the environment, like the people. We came here, maybe, in 2005. I come from an Arabic background, so of course, the […]

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 […]

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 […]

Annabel

“Christchurch feels like home because it is! it’s the only place I’ve really known. It’s where my immediate family, who brought me up, are. My adoptive family. And so it does feel like home for me. I always knew I was Māori, but didn’t know what the whakapapa was until I was 19. In terms […]

Sabrina

“I came here for studying the marketing. I searched online and I found that New Zealand is a very beautiful country and the colleges are friendly. And I think that the education is very suitable for me and especially suitable for my children. So I chose here.  Both my husband and I are studying. It’s […]

Chantelle (Tui)

“I te taha o tōku koroua; Ko Hikurangi te maunga Ko Waiapu te awa Ko Horouta te waka Ko Ōhako te marae Ko Ngāti Ruapani te hapu Ko Ngāti Porou te iwi I te taha o tōku kuia; Ko Makeo te maunga Ko Waiaua te awa Ko Mataatua te waka Ko Waiaua te marae Ko […]

A.K. part two

“She just started at school last week, you know? It’s a really big change and challenge for us as parents because she never been to school.  For almost four years they were stuck in Sri Lanka. It was a bit tough for them. They were in a restricted area, they were really stuck at the […]

A.K. part one

I have reached so many stages in my life. I work full time in a retail store and I got couple of days off duty, So during that time, I spend my valuable time with community and volunteering work. Funny thing is, Some people see me at my workplace. Then suddenly they see me in […]