HUMANS OF KAITAIA
Iwas born in Melbourne, but my dad is originally from Yorkshire, and came to Australia on a boat when he was 4. He was a musician at the time he met my mum, who was a free-spirited, fun-loving hippy. There were four daughters growing up together, with seven half-brothers and sisters thrown in the mix.
We came from a Christian background, and were taught to treat people how we wanted to be treated, never to judge, but to give, work hard for what we wanted, and to pray. My parents had lots of kids but neither had consistent jobs until we were a bit older.
We didn’t have a lot of money so instead we would build things, pretend we had a shop, or make our own house in the old garden house out the back. Sometimes we would go camping and fishing, so I was always playing in the mud, gutting the fish, and just getting dirty and making our own fun.
Elizabeth Werner
Just before I turned 16 we moved to the Gold Coast. At 17 I graduated high school and started a hairdressing apprenticeship. I liked school, but loved to sit in the back of the room doing my friends’ hair, eyebrows and makeup. Doing my apprenticeship was so exciting for me, I finished something that was supposed to take nine years parttime in 18 months.
I have loved the industry since I was a little girl . . . cutting my doll’s hair, my sisters’ hair, and of course my own. My childhood
goals were to either work in an orphanage like Mother Teresa or become a hairdresser. I know two very different passions. But I now have years of experience and am able to train other people in hairdressing, barbering and other aspects of the beauty industry.
My vision is to build a strong foundation, then to train people and create job opportunities as much as I can. Seeing people gain confidence and keep growing in all aspects of their lives really excites me.
I met my husband in Australia. He moved to Sydney in the same year and month that I did. We lived just around the corner from each other, but I didn’t know him. Later we both moved to the Gold Coast, again in the same year and month, but we eventually met at the Melbourne Cup race day.
We hung out for three weeks, before he went to the United Kingdom for two years. We kept in touch, and he would ask me to fly over and would offer to buy my ticket, but that freaked me out a bit. We met up again when he had a one-day stopover flight in Australia on the way home. He came back to New Zealand for a few months and then moved back to join me on the Gold Coast.
We moved to New Zealand three months before my father-inlaw passed away. My son was four months old, and this was quite a life-changing experience. A new country, a young child, without my sisters, parents, friends, comforts and support networks. But I’m so grateful for that time, getting to know my father-in-law and for the chance for him to meet his grandson.
Before my son had turned 1 I was pregnant with my daughter, and we had decided to stay in New Zealand. It was something I never thought of doing, but now I’m glad we did. I have met so many amazing people here. We love the sense of community and the idea of my children being brought up in this environment.
There are a lot of people I miss in Australia, and entertainment, but I now think of Kaitaia as my home.
My friends would say I’m open, I talk a lot and I’m a wee bit crazy. I like to set and achieve my goals. I love happy, optimistic, positive and inspirational people. The people who are more excited about achieving their dreams and encouraging other people to do so rather than being focused on negativity or to bring others down. Which is probably why I love my work.
I’m passionate about loving and living life. Through the harder or darker times I have seen, I look at my children and all the beauty that surrounds me. This reminds me how blessed I am to be breathing right now.
Every day I have the chance to build a better future for my own family, and hopefully others. I try not to get complacent, and make every minute count. There is always the possibility of a better tomorrow no matter what right now looks like. Have fun and enjoy the ride.