A wonderful place

Suzy McCabe, 36, is a volunteer at Birkenhead Playcentre. She lives in Hillcrest with her husband and two daughters.

How long have you lived here and where are you from?

I have lived on the North Shore for 26 years. I originally moved here with my family from Hong Kong in 1990.

Describe your neighbourhood.

It is a peaceful little gem with plenty of native trees and bird life. There is a great community of young families around and I am thankful to have developed such a fantastic network of parents and friends through volunteering at Birkenhead Playcentre.

What is your earliest memory of the Shore? Spending time at Castor Bay beach with my granny.

What are the greatest advantages to living here?

Easy access to so many beautiful beaches, parks and bush walks. It is a wonderful place to bring up young children. It is also home to many fantastic restaurants and eateries.

Where is your favourite North Shore beach and why?

Takapuna 10 years ago (can I say that?). Probably a toss up between Milford and Cheltenham depending on the wind and the tide.

Who is the person you admire the most and why?

The Dalai Lama for obvious reasons. Namely, his selfless promotion for peace and compassion and his deep respect for Mother Nature.

What do you like least about the Shore and how can we fix it?

It just seems so busy everywhere these days. I

‘‘It is a peaceful little gem with plenty of native trees and bird life.’’

guess we need to be clever about how we cater for a growing population.

Where is the best place to have a meal? Yaruki in Browns Bay or the Engine Room in Northcote Point.

What are you doing this weekend? Catching up with friends, odd jobs and hopefully a market, beach walk or cafe lunch somewhere in between.