Edwina - This is Aotearoa

Pura | Taupō, Waikato

“One thing I’ll always be grateful for, is when Kimmy came into our lives, and helped my mother, which helped us, because we weren’t exactly perfect people. I guess with her and what we went through with her, helped us become the person I am today, which I am very grateful for.

Because I’m happier, and do a lot of things that I wouldn’t do, I’m more out there. I have a voice now, when I wouldn’t speak, or anything, that’s something I’ll always be grateful for. I’m grateful for my education. I’m grateful for people by me that didn’t get to finish school. So, I’ll finish school for us. So, that’s what I’m grateful for. I’m grateful for a lot of things. I’m grateful to be alive today. I’m grateful for having strong people stand beside me when I’m low and when I need help. There’s always going to be someone there. The funny thing is, till now, I didn’t really think about it. I’ve always known that they’re there, but I just realised that they’re always going to be there, and that’s something I’m really grateful for.

What I’ve learned is that it’s not always going to be bad. There’s going to be good times and bad times, and that you’re going to get through it. You might think there’s no-one there, but there’s always going to be people that want to help you and I’m a helper now. So, I like helping my friends, with a lot of background stuff. I learned that other people are going through the same things, so it’s just good to be nice to them, because you never know what anyone’s going through, and you don’t know what they’re struggling with at home or in school. I want to be a social worker. I just want to help people, really. I’ve just learned a lot of things that can get people through it. There’s a plan. There’s always going to be a plan. Thankfully, because there’s always people that could be going through the same thing you’re going through. Just be nice as you can, even if, and try not to hold it in too much. There’s always going to be someone there that will listen, sit down and listen with you. The world’s not against you.

I grew up in Tūrangi. It’s worse than it was, but Tūrangi is gang-affiliated. You know? There’s drugs. A lot of violence going on there, and just not good stuff, yeah. But there’s going to be some good times and some bad times.”

** Youthline provides free support for young people. If you or someone you know needs help contact 0800 376 633 or free text 234 **

What, if anything, have you done differently after visiting this site?

Hen

Hen

Hen | Hokitika, West Coast - "I’m the fifth generation. I wouldn’t say we own it, but we are like kaitiaki. Just having the river there and having all the stone there, it just kind of cemented us as people. It’s made us who we are."
Jay

Jay

Jay | Whanganui, Manawatū-Whanganui - "II’m really grateful to have been a part of that whole journey from a 14 year old where our people peacefully reclaimed that land. To now where the partnerships between local iwi, local government and Central Government are well enough that we can actually sit down in that space and kōrero, and share and be able to pass on some of the important knowledge about that place."
Karney

Karney

Karney | Aramoho, Manawatū-Whanganui - "II’m really grateful to have been a part of that whole journey from a 14 year old where our people peacefully reclaimed that land. To now where the partnerships between local iwi, local government and Central Government are well enough that we can actually sit down in that space and kōrero, and share and be able to pass on some of the important knowledge about that place."
Jecheala

Jecheala

Jecheala | Mt Roskill, Auckland - "I think being able to share the Māori culture, the indigenous culture of New Zealand and having people appreciate it, just as much as I do, was very enlightening and heart-warming for me. It teaches me that there is a willingness to share cultures here in New Zealand not just for people learning Māori, but for me, learning other cultures."
Tes

Tes

Tes | Tauhara, Waikato - "I know it sounds really funny, but I’m grateful for the time where I lost my home, I lost my children, I lost my family connections, and I’m grateful for the many experiences, the many painful experiences that brought me to a place where I had the opportunity to learn about myself."
Anaru

Anaru

Anaru | Māngere, Auckland - "For me, it was finding out what I really wanted to do with my life, and so when I returned back home, I didn’t know what I was going to do. I managed to enrol into an art and design course, in Manukau, and I realise that this is what I really wanted to do."
Brendon

Brendon

Brendon | Nukuhau, Waikato - "It was really encouraging to be able to see young people like these two men actually passing it forward, reflecting back the mahi, the work that we do out in the local community. For me, that was really encouraging to know that the fight’s worth fighting for."
Exodyss and Tez

Exodyss and Tez

Exodyss and Tez | Henderson, Auckland - "It’s good, because most friends, they leave you, and stuff like that. So, I’m grateful that we’re best friends, and so close."
Jamie

Jamie

Jamie | Hokitika, West Coast - "Tāua passed away, and it was a wee bit hard for me and my family and whānau, but I have a brother up in Auckland, and he’d always cheer me up, and I was just real grateful for him, for those couple of weeks"
Jas

Jas

Jas | Gonville, Manawatū-Whanganui - "I recently, just this year, lost my husband, and I’ve been really, really grateful for the support of friends and family but most particularly of his hapu, his extended family at Kaiwhaiki."

Pura | Taupō, Waikato

“One thing I’ll always be grateful for, is when Kimmy came into our lives, and helped my mother, which helped us, because we weren’t exactly perfect people. I guess with her and what we went through with her, helped us become the person I am today, which I am very grateful for.

What, if anything, have you done differently after visiting this site?

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