Noeleen van de Lisdonk

PAYROLL ADMINISTRATOR I’m Maori so I’m tangata whenua. I converted to Islam about 38 years ago. I married a Muslim man, and while there was no real pressure to embrace the faith, I found the essence of Islam was pretty much equal to what I had always felt as a young girl. I’ve always been a spiritual person and it sort of connected the dots.

When I got divorced, I was wearing a hijab, and I couldn't find a job. I had to make the decision to take my hijab off. For a Muslim woman to have to do that, it's disempowering. You struggle with your iman, your faith. It's another barrier for a Muslim woman in the workforce, and it shouldn’t be.

Gradually, I made the decision wear my hijab again, and I have to say my current workmates were very welcoming about that, and asked what took me so long. For a long time, I wore more traditional clothing. But part of the process of self-empowerment for me was finding a style that I was more comfortable in.

Now, I wear conservative clothing, maybe long sleeves or long dresses, but I play with my headgear. For my hijab, I wear more of a turban style, an African look. People look at me on the street, but it's not normally in a negative way, it's curiosity.

I’m still on a journey to find myself and part of that is going back to my roots, so moko kauae (female facial tattoo) has been of interest to me. My whanau from Ngati Porou had my own moko kauae designed. I can’t ink my body as a Muslim, but I have found a medium, berry ink, that suits me. I put it on for more of a cultural identity — for a special occasion or just because the urge is there for me to wear it.

You have to find the strength to take on the challenges that you may face because you wear hijab. It's an issue for Muslim women in general, because we are easily identified, so when something negative has happened around the globe, it's us who are targeted. But when people to tell me to go back to where you come from, I don’t feel embarrassed or ashamed.

I'm lucky enough to be indigenous to this country, that gives me extra strength.