Stewart | Mount Maunganui, Bay of Plenty

“I think home’s not just about the wife and I, but the whole family, all the grandchildren, your friends, it’s a safe place. So, that’s what I call home. 

Christmasses, birthdays, anniversaries, whatever. It doesn’t really have to have an excuse. It’s just the grandkids come around whenever they want, because home’s home, and no matter what goes wrong, the door’s always open. So, I think that’s a big thing for home.

Born in Palmerston North. I was panel beating in Palmerston North. That was my trade. Moved from Palmerston North to Fielding. Paula and I started up our own panel beating business and tow service here, and moved from Fielding to The Mount, and we’ve been up here 30-odd years now. Bought a home up here and I was panel beating up here, and then I got onto the wharf, which was a bit of luck. That pushed us ahead a fair bit, and we’re still in the same house 29 years later. We’re still there. I don’t think we’ll ever move from here. All the family are around here, so yeah, pretty important. 

I value family. Without them, you’ve got a pretty empty sort of life. And my wife. Sometimes things get, you know, as everyone does, but you work your way through things, and as what we’re doing right now, retired. I’m coming up 70, so it’s time for a bit of kick-back, and it’s quite nice.”