Allan

They stuffed the whale. The council had the plans; it could’ve been lifted out in one piece. But they basically demolished it and just made another one the same. I don’t quite know why.

Pauline and Bernie

“I was brought up on a farm. I’ve never been without animals; I’ve had every animal under the sun. I just love them. Chaos – he’s a Border Collie/Jack Russell cross. Halo; she was our rottie – we just picked up her ashes today and we’re going to scatter them somewhere here. We are getting […]

Lisa

“Just before I turned 17 I started work in a butcher’s shop. I had wanted to become a joiner because I enjoyed making things with my hands, but got told that not only was I not strong enough, but that a woman’s place was in the office not in the workshop! I am not an […]

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 […]

Adam

“I’ve always loved movies. I grew up watching re-runs of Star Trek with Dad. If I was good I would get to stay up and watch the new episode. I was about 6 or 7, I remember one episode which scared the crap out of me! But, I never told because it was a two-parter […]

John

“Well I’ve always been interested in tourism but I had to retire before I got involved. I was in sales for a number of years but I started my working life on the railways, as a fireman making black smoke. When I was due to retire I came across the kiosk in Cathedral Square of […]

Sachiko

“I come from a large family, I am the eldest of six and a mama to three beautiful tamariki. I am of Māori and Japanese descent with both sides of my culture strongly influencing who I am. I left school at a young age and became a mama to my eldest daughter when I was […]

Blair

“We moved out to New Brighton when I was about 3 years old. When I was young I had asthma, so my parents decided to move out here because there’s a lot less smog by the beach and it was better for my health. I used to bike to school and back, it was a […]

Hannah

“I spend a lot of time at home crafting, and doing bits and pieces here and there. I’m a stay at home mum so I need something to fill in the time between looking after the children and I really like creating different pieces of art that people can enjoy. I’m passionate about anything crafty […]

Natalie (part two)

“Brenna would have turned 20 in April. Thomas would be 27 today. They both had the joy of eating, they both loved food. When this joy left them, we really had to question ourselves and make hard decisions for our children and not for us. I was adamant that I didn’t want either of them […]