Carmen | Whangārei, Northland

“I’ll talk about Open Arms, because before it became Open Arms, I started as a volunteer, and I thought, oh nah, this really isn’t for me. But, then I kept coming and then I was just so proud to give back to the community, help out our homeless, and I just love meeting people, helping them out the best way I can, giving them tours of our centre.

I’m proud of myself, because before I never used to do that, but now it’s just a walk in the park where I can just take people on tour who come into the centre, and make enquiries about it, because each, each volunteer gets a turn but I love it, and I’m proud of my job, even though it’s just volunteering. For me, it’s not about the money. It’s just about, giving back.

Mainly, it had a lot to do with my confidence having changed. I learned that, more or less, you’ve got to help yourself, if we can help others. A lot of people come to me, even some strangers that don’t even know you, because they feel like I’m an easy person to talk to, but I don’t advise them. I just give them my suggestions, and things like that, and they are really grateful for however we can help them out in the best way that we can. 

By trade, I’m a painter and decorator. I did the painting course at NorthTec. Did the level, went straight from Level 2 to a Level 4. My papa is the tutor for NorthTec painting, and there were job opportunities there which I got to do, and even though we were getting paid for the jobs, for me, it wasn’t about the money. But for the simple fact of getting the knowledge, the experience and skills that I have learned off my papa, and when I went into an actual painting job, what I was learned and taught, I can put it into action. Some of the employers, two of the employers were quite impressed, being a female, and knowing the experience and knowledge that I had, and I said, well if it wasn’t for my papa and for me joining the painting course, I wouldn’t have this knowledge and experience that I’ve got now. 

Something happened, so I ended up sacrificing my painting job, but my papa’s still painting, and he got a new painting crew, and they’re really awesome, and he’s trying to put his name out there and he also does the tutoring side of things, with the students, and every student that’s been through his course has, always ends up with a fulltime job in painting. 

The joy of just having a job for that short amount of time, I loved it, because I was working for my money and I didn’t have to worry about the benefit, and I found it a lot easier, because I might be having a baby, but I want to get back into the painting industry.

I’ve got three older children. Two girls and a boy. The only reason why I’m up here is my big girl, my mokos and son-in-law live in Kaikōhe. My baby stays in Palmerston North, and my son stays in Whanganui with his nan. This will be my fourth, and my partner’s really rapt. We’re both happy and excited because he’s also a volunteer here for Food Rescue. Just coming in and helping and giving back to the community, I just love it. 

Because both my partner and I want to move up to the Hokianga, and that’s where his dad is, that’s where his dad’s from. So, he wants to reconnect with his dad, and if it means bringing the baby out there, so be it, because it’s so beautiful there, the people are so lovely, and it’s a good environment.

I was born and bred in Whanganui. I was brought up by my grandparents. I went back to my parents when I was 17. Not a good experience, but because I was moving up and down the North and South Island. When I started having my children, it changed my whole life. It wasn’t just about me. Priorities. So, my kids came first. I persevered with each and every one of them. Despite them being ratbags and getting into trouble with the law and stuff, but I persevered with them, and my kids are like: Mum, everything we’ve done to you and said to you, you could have been a parent that says, oh screw youse, I’m going to stick you in CYFS, but you didn’t, you persevered with us, you put up with everything that we had done. They say, we didn’t actually realise until we got a bit older, but oh my gosh, we were that bad, we put you through this. But I haven’t seen my girls, my kids, or my mokos for a bit now. But both my and my partner’s main goals are that we’re both financially stable, hopefully to be in a house, have a job and just live happily. The best thing about having my children is, my two girls have kids and I’m proud to be a grandmother. I love my mokos. My two girls are pregnant again. My big girl’s six months, probably going on seven, and then my baby. Seeing my first moko, which is my oldest one, a little lady, it was just joy. Just to be holding my moko, and spending time with her, and everything else, and being there through each pregnancy with my big girl, I just love being a nan. For me, it’s not a disappointment. For me it’s joy. Happiness. Just to spend time with my moko, I love it, and I cherish every moment. I may get photos or they video call, but seeing them in person is a lot better.”