Jenny – Part 1

When I was a child, I just knew that we were in this community. Because of the Chinese habit of giving honorifics to all the adults, I thought everyone who was Chinese was a family member, and that was a very comfortable feeling. When I went to school at the age of five I spoke […]

Karen

I was going through chemo. I went under that tree when I was feeling ill, it was just so peaceful. It was a silver birch, and they tendril all the way to the ground. I sat under there – it was like a treehouse on the ground. It was therapeutic. It was quiet, down the […]

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 […]

Wadi

I’m from Malaysia, I’ve been here since July 2024. I’m currently studying. for a Bachelor of Commerce, accounting, it’s an undergraduate program. I’m under a scholarship from the Government of Malaysia. It’s like a fast track for my studies here, I’m really enjoying it so far. I like living in the moment. Maybe having a […]

Kirsty

I came to New Zealand in 2014 to help with the earthquake rebuild, not knowing anybody. In 2015 one of my colleagues suggested I join NAWIC (National Association of Women in Construction), because you get to meet other women in construction, and because there weren’t many female Quantity Surveyors at the time. Four or five […]

Warren

I got into biking six years ago, maybe seven, for stress reasons. I had a fun time at school with the earthquakes and the trauma kids. There was a bubble of kids that came through very, very broken, and then there was another bubble that came through immediately after. We had sort of six, seven […]

Ofusina – Part 2

When I came out with bipolar, of course, I was stigmatized; but it blew away. And then everybody started asking me to do talks on mental health. You wouldn’t believe how many mothers have children that are depressed, and close to giving up their lives. So, I’m hoping that my story will urge them to […]

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 […]