Scenic sights satisfy

Sonia Thursby lives in Torbay and is CEO of YES Disability Resource Centre in Albany

How long have you lived here?

I have lived on the North Shore since arriving in New Zealand in November, 23 years ago. I arrived from England, having left a cold, dark winter into a bright, warm summer.

Describe your neighbourhood.

Torbay is beautiful, the people are friendly we have a local community magazine that keeps us up-to-date. There are so many activities organised by local people that I can connect with.

What is your earliest memory of the Shore? The beauty: walking to work in an office in Little Shoal Bay not believing I lived here; remembering walking to school in London, never dreaming I could live in this picture postcard of a country.

And the Christmas parades, in the sunshine, put on by each small community. That sense of community is what I love the most.

What are the greatest advantages to living here?

The location: you can go north to the Bay of Islands and sunshine, or south to the mountain skiing. I love the beaches, cafes and sense of belonging that living on the Shore creates.

Where is your favourite Shore beach? Milford Beach is so full of life, families, sailing, beautiful walks and is close to the cafes. It is a small beach but always has something going on, and you can use the nearby barbecues.

Who is the person you admire the most?

Sir David Levene, he is such an amazing man of the Shore, and when our organisation was looking for a patron who really walks the talk, we looked no further.

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

It is not easy to get around without a car: more cycleways and a better bus service would be great. Where is the best place to have a meal?

The high-performance AUT Millennium

Centre has opened a cafe and the food is amazing, little known but healthy and beautiful.