Koni | Mt Wellington
“It’s made me feel like I need to make my family more aware of things that happen in the world and the types of people that are out there like for example, terrorism and terrorists and things like that.
Just making them aware that it’s out there, but also trying to explain to them, to my children especially, how not to, I guess, let it affect them too negatively, I guess, in terms of fear. Not letting it stop their achievements and their goals and what they want to do, and what they want to become, growing up. Just to really appreciate each other and respect each other, no matter where they come from, what they do, what they believe. Still, be strong to your own personal beliefs, but also be respectful of others.
While we, well I know I, will never be able to fully grasp or understand the hurt and pain that the Muslim community is going through, I am deeply; I feel deeply, deepened sorrow for what’s happened for them, for their families and how it’s affected them, and really disheartened and disappointed about how this has all come about, and how it’s singling out a certain race or belief. I guess and that it shouldn’t have happened, and that I hope from this people will be more understanding and will accept I guess people’s own personal choices and beliefs and understand that we all have our own freedom of choice to believe whatever we want, but that doesn’t mean we have to act out as it was in Christchurch.
At the moment I am working on my business. So, I am the founder of Konimaq, It is a Pasifika inspired make-up and product service, and I’m working on building up a brand, specifically catering to Polynesian flair or Pasifika flair, Pacific tones, and shapes, so that’s what I’m working on at the moment.
I was born in the Cook Islands, in Rarotonga. So, my family comes from the Cook Islands with roots in, from Scotland and Tahiti as well. While I was born there, I was brought up mainly here in New Zealand until my teens when I moved back to Rarotonga, and then moved back here in New Zealand in my early mid-20s.”
