Nature's Evening Hat Trick

The setting sun put on an amazing display this evening - a rainbow, pink tinged snow and a brilliant sunset. 

Star Wars

Intergalactic guests from Outpost 42 of the 501st Legion were the stars at my Star Wars school holiday story time today. 

Te Reo Singalong

Great to catch up with Sharon & Alan when they stayed on Monday night and they put on a fun & energetic show for the little kids at Paraparaumu Library on Tuesday. 

Hall Family Reunion

Forty five descendents of my great-grandparents, George & Emily Hall, got together on 4 May 2019 to learn about our shared ancestry and enjoy getting to know the extended whanau. 

Chloe y su arpa

Chloe nos entretuvo con su arpa durante nuestro reunion del grupo español. ¡Que sonido tan lindo en mi casa hoy!

Zak Meets Jacinda

Zak met Prime Minister Jacinda Adern at the Taite Music Prize presentation this evening. 

I wonder what was going through his mind. I remember when he met All Black great Richie McCaw he wasn't impressed because the flag Richie gave him was a bit munted. OK, so he was only about 5 then. But what does a 14 year old boy think about meeting the Prime Minister? I'll have to ask him when he gets home.  

Terrorism in New Zealand

Terrorist attack in New Zealand. I never thought I would see those words in the same sentence. Not in this little country that has felt safe and isolated from such events in other parts of the world. But there is a new reality that has come at a huge cost to my country and the many innocent victims - nowhere in the world is safe.

The terrorist came from another place, not just another country but a psychological place of evil and extremism that I cannot begin to understand. The harm that one person wrought in a few minutes on a Friday afternoon is overwhelming in it's horror and sadness.

But one thing my fellow Kiwis have shown in the past week is that we can stand together, not just to condemn such an obviously despicable act, but to genuinely care about the people who were killed or injured. Eight million dollars has been donated in one week via the Victim Support Givealittle page. That's pretty amazing from a population of 4.8 million people. Jacinda Ardern gets a big tick from me for her strong, decisive and compassionate leadership at this time. 

From masses of flowers and practical assistance by people on the ground in Christchurch to the beautiful comments on our paper hearts and in the condolence book at the library it gives me hope. I feel hope that the racism we must acknowledge exists in New Zealand will be overcome by good people not looking the other way but showing by their words and deeds that we are so much better than that.