Shane | Tokomaru Bay, Gisborne
“I work as a paramedic for St John up in Ruatōria. The thing that influenced how I got here, was just wanting to further my career and be better at my job and help people more. It was a big step for us to move out here to the East Cape, to a remote place where we didn’t have any friends or family, but it’s been a good experience.
The people I work for are really good. This is a good little community and the experience has been very good for my kids. Just learning about another part of New Zealand, probably a place we would have never been. I think there’s lots of little hidden gems around New Zealand that people just haven’t seen yet. So, this is definitely one of them.
I’ve always sort of been interested in that sort of work, I guess. I used to be a raft guide, so I was always working with people, and there are moments when we help people, when they get hurt and things. I just thought, it’s a challenging career, and also you’re helping people. So, you’re out there doing good in your community, and that’s always a good thing. I just don’t think I could have done a nine to five job. This job here, you’re always doing different things, and meeting new people, and there are challenges. So, there’s a lot of good positive things we do and so that’s a great way to see the place.
My wife Helga, we met overseas. She’s from Croatia, and so we met when I was traveling in Africa. She has been a big influence on my life. We got together and she helped change the way we do things and work together and I guess she’s helped me to become a better person. Without her help, I wouldn’t be where I am now. With her encouragement and just being there to support me through this. It’s been quite a career change, and I’m glad she’s there with me.
What has she taught me? A lot of things, to be more kind, more patient. To look at other people’s views, take my time with things. I’m definitely more compassionate for people. More understanding. She’s a very empathetic person, and those things have worked for me, as well. I guess we’re kind of opposites, but that’s what makes us work together as a couple.
Born in Porirua, grew up in a place called Belmont, which is just near Lower Hutt. Moved to Hastings where I was nine or 10, and high school didn’t work too well for me, and when I was 18 or 19, I got a taste of the outdoors, and from there, that kind of shaped things. I ended up living in the South Island for a few years, and became a raft guide. Working as a raft guide got me travelling overseas, in Australia. I spent some time in Nepal. I spent a few years living in Africa. Worked throughout Europe and it was when I was living in Africa I met Helga. We travelled back to Europe, to Croatia where she’s from and did some work down there on the coast. It’s a beautiful country, awesome people, but eventually, Aotearoa called back. So, we came back to New Zealand and we’ve had a couple of kids, and here we are. Considering where we are right now, New Zealand is a pretty good place to be, we love living here. The only challenge of course, is her family is halfway around the world.
It’s important to be around people who are positive. There’s always going to be someone that points out things where you need to improve and work on, but there are ways to do that. I work at one of my kids (schools) and she has a learning disability, and there are ways to encourage someone and help them move forward and build, and there’s ways to tear them down, and that negativity never works for anyone, you know? Be kind. That’s the big thing that we’re going through right now, and that’s what we need. Positive people in your life. Be positive to others. Do good things, and things will happen to you.”
