Tina | Blenheim, Marlborough 

“I’m trying to define what’s different. I suppose my last connection would have been about five minutes ago where I went to see a friend at her house, and then two other people came into the house, and we decided to go together to the park, in the middle of winter, and sit and have lunch together. That’s probably my last connection. 

Today I learned that I had to listen, because one of the people I was with feels that people don’t listen to her, and I think today we did sit and listen, and I actually made a conscious effort to listen. I also learned that the people I was with do some very nice, kind things for other people and for people in the community. That’s what I learned today.

It’s very important to celebrate diversity. I think it helps the community to have diversity, and I think it should always be celebrated. In fact, today we were talking to my friend Corinne. She was talking about going to a Swiss night, where they all get together and celebrate. They’re all in New Zealand, but they’re not all just from Switzerland. Other people come, but they eat Swiss food and do things like that. So, I think we can all learn from different people.

I grew up in England, and moved all around England really, and then I moved to New Zealand when I was about 22. So, I’ve lived here for a while, and just been in Blenheim.”