Vivienne | Manurewa
“I used to, until last year I was working at the university so it was, it’s a very inclusive society to work, and I’m just a little sad that I don’t have that position to be able to outreach to the families that belong to the university.
I am really pleased in that, although I’m not doing anything specific, because I’m not quite sure where to even start, but I’m really pleased that we have someone like Jacinda Adern who’s been able to speak so clearly and passionately about integration and how people are united and because she’s in a position to do something about it. I think we’re extremely lucky from that point of view. My day-to-day life doesn’t have a lot to do with a lot of people just at the moment.
Oh do, do just stay there. You’re welcome. You should be here. The diversity of New Zealand is one of the great things about New Zealand. We need everybody, and immigrants, people, fifth generation New Zealanders, we’re all, we just make a good mix, and I like living here, and I hope they do, too.
I think there’s, there’s a greater awareness. There are two young girls who were assaulted and abused merely because they had their scarves. Now, that’s totally unnecessary and I think it, well in the past I have, too but I will be more aware that there are people who are perhaps not being treated well, and if I can help, I shall.
I grew up on a farm north of Auckland. I went to a school where the children were not encouraged to speak Māori, although there was a large Māori content at the school. By the time we left secondary school, of course, they were encouraged to do so, which was great. I’ve lived in farms all my life. I’ve done nursing, administration. I’ve been on school committees. Just tried to be involved in the community as much as possible, because it always pays to give back, I think. If you’re in a community, you need to be part of it. At the moment the only community stuff I’m doing, I’m reading to children at the local school, which is a lot of fun, and they’re a lot of fun.”
