‘People should respect elders’
Rebecca Brown, 25, teacher aid, lives in Clendon Park
How long have you lived here and where are you originally from?
I moved to Clendon Park in January 2016 after marrying my husband Simeon. Before that I lived in Sydney, which is where I grew up. My parents are originally from Lebanon.
Give me three words that come to mind when I say ‘South Auckland’ and why did you choose these three?
Family, misunderstood, and generous. I think the most important value to South Aucklanders is family and that’s admirable. Misunderstood because of the general perception of South Auckland and the reality of living here [which aren’t the same]. Generous because in general people in South Auckland look out for each other and are willing to lend a hand when they can.
Where’s the best place to buy dinner in the South?
I like to cook at home mostly, but when my husband and I want a break I love to grab fish ‘n’ chips at Finlayson Takeaways and eat them on our beautiful reserve by the harbour.
What’s one piece of wisdom you’d like to pass on to others, particularly young people?
Respect your elders. Sometimes as young people we think we have all the answers, yet there’s a lot to be said for listening to the wisdom of people who have experienced life already. English writer] GK Chesterton put it well: ‘‘Don’t ever take a fence down until you know the reason it was put up.’’
What’s one trial or struggle that you’ve overcome?
I’ve struggled with anxiety socially and in my studies. I’ve never been a social butterfly and was a very awkward teenager. I didn’t enjoy the same things teenagers and young people are ‘expected’ to enjoy. As I’ve got older I have got much more comfortable in my own skin. Now I try and focus on the things that really matter and stress less about the things that don’t.
Is there a particular spot in South Auckland you like going to or that you’d recommend to tourists?
The first thing I do with friends and family when they come from Sydney is walk down the road and take a stroll along our beautiful foreshore. I make sure they visit again just at sunset and see the beauty of the sun setting over the water.
If I was Auckland’s mayor I’d …
I think what is often not appreciated about Auckland is that the heart of the city is not really the CBD. Only 13 per cent of Aucklanders travel into the CBD for work. For most Aucklanders their lives are elsewhere. They live, work and play in Auckland’s suburbs. If I was the mayor I’d focus less on the CBD and more on building up infrastructure around Auckland’s other hubs.
My husband Simeon is the Kiwi I admire most. He’s a man who cares about people, but also someone who when he sees something that needs doing, he gets out and does it. He’s an extremely capable person. I have no idea how he juggles so much.
When I’ve got a few free hours I like to…
I’m a homebody and my idea of a good time is a good book, working in the garden with Simeon, or a quiet evening with family or friends and a board game.