Today is our first day of a new life. Based at Pēnu Marae, Makarika, we’re 10km south of Ruatoria.

It’s been in the mix for many years – Tarsh and I decided years ago that it was important to us to give our kids the opportunity to grow up on ‘the Coast’ around native speakers of Te Reo and the many activities around life on the marae and in the hapū.

We have permission and plans to build a home on the Totaranui block over the fence from Pēnu pa. Our address is 6434 Waiapu Rd if you want to find us on Google maps or send us a package full of treats.

We’ve been involved with the pa and hapū for the last ten years, so we’ll continue involvement with these entities and look at other opportunities for supporting the economic, cultural, environmental and social development of our whānau and the wider local community.

I’ll continue doing contracting work for a few local and national organisations, Tarsh will be leading Te Parekereke Mokopuna o Hiruharama, a local early childhood education service that is getting licensed in the new year. The kids will be attending Te Waiu o Ngati Porou, the local kura kaupapa / wharekura.

We just sold our seven bedroom, four bathroom home of ten years in Gisborne to a good friend who is very happy.

So this Day Zero of our new life on the Coast!