My history

I have lived in Levin for nearly seven years. We moved back to New Zealand after my family returned during Covid after a six-year adventure. I have had a varied career, that has given me a wide range of experiences.

I first arrived in New Zealand in 2005 to work for the Wellington City Council, having lived in the UK, France and Australia. I loved creating events for the public including yearly pantomimes and the Summer City family event- ‘Enchanted Tales’, in the Botanic Gardens. I also created children’s events for the Spring Festival.

I became Assistant Director for The Peace Foundation, an NGO aimed at promoting conflict resolution, cohesive communities and better understanding and relationships between people, after working with the Wilderness Society.

I worked in the National Gallery of Victoria in Melbourne and the Immigration Museum and for various councils.

I then worked in Wellington Emergency Management, holding workshops for businesses to aid in emergency preparedness. It is here where I was lucky enough to meet an amazing team, where we came up with the Tsunami Blue line project- those blue wave lines you see on your roads to help you calculate the maximum extent of a Tsunami’s run up. The project won international awards for its innovative approach to public awareness and tsunami preparedness, including awards from the International Association for Emergency Managers (IAEM) Oceania and the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction.

Around this time, I began working with Neighbourhood Support, organising street get-togethers and community BBQs to strengthen local connections. The goal was simple but vital -in an emergency, we would know who was vulnerable and who lived where. We understood that when the “big one” hit, it could be three days before emergency services reach victims, so we wanted our streets to be ready and capable to look after each other. I was also heavily involved with our kaumātua, our elderly. Working with police, I presented safety at home workshops that included self-defence tactics. I was lucky enough to be presented with the New Zealander of the Year, local hero award for my work in community.

While living in Island Bay, I was the coordinator for the 9-day Island Bay Festival. I continued to work in TV and film, starring in the Secret life of us, The Insiders Guide to Love, Karaoke High and other productions. and continued my long 35-year career as a storyteller for children- ‘Fairy Trina’, which turned into a TVNZ and ABC production called ‘Storytree’.

Here in Levin, I took some time out to raise my three boys, the twins are now in their last year of school. I studied to become a fitness instructor and then specialized in senior fitness where I worked in a Paraparaumu fitness center as an instructor, and then for the Horowhenua Council before starting out on my own. I started my own business bringing professional, accredited and affordable classes to Levin and Foxton. I have also been a school board member and co-chair.

My studies include: International Politics and Sociology at University and Acting at various schools including in France and Australia. I have recently completed my first Te Reo Māori course, sign language and continued to branch out in my fitness career.

I have worked extensively with central government, meeting with representatives from most ministries and organizing community forums with them to promote social cohesion and community engagement. My most recent meeting was with the Minister for Ethnic Communities a few weeks ago.