What does community mean to you?
Raya | Te Whanganui-a-Tara
Raya shares how her friends have become her chosen whānau, intentionally showing up for each other through life’s challenges and connecting through the simple, meaningful act of sharing kai together.
“My friends are the most important part of my life. Sometimes because people talk so much about how family is your blood and everything – obviously family’s still important to me – but I think my friends are the people who have supported me and got me through a lot of sh*t.
And it’s only thanks to my friends that I’m okay, you know what I mean? I think it’s really good to have people around you that know you and look after you. And I’d say that’s what community is.
I think it’s something that I realised after I left high school. Your bestest friends are the people that are most important to you and that are actually going to put in time because the other people just fade away. In high school you see everyone every day. But when you’re at university and when you have a lot of things going on it actually takes quite a lot of effort to fit people into your schedule.
And I think that’s what means a lot to you when somebody that you love is like, ‘Hey, I want to see you. Let’s catch up.’ And then you both have to consult calendars. And then every single day doesn’t line up, but then eventually you figure it out and then you can hang out. It takes quite a lot of energy but if somebody is worth it to you, then you do put in that time.
One of my favourite things to do is cook a meal for people. So I love making a really nice meal. My grandma and my mum really instilled making really beautiful food. So I’d make Greek salads and focaccia. We just had pizza, we’re making dumplings. I feel like that’s a really great way to bring people together.
I love making other people feel good. I love giving people things. I love feeding people with the kai that I make them. I love spending time with people and making my favourite people happy. So I think, yeah, I try to give back.”
