EMILY’S BIG MOVE
When Emily Laing shifted out of her Auckland home to move to Gore, it was like a divorce – she and her flatmate Liam Hagenson, her partner on Lego Masters NZ, had to divide up their vast brick collection and decide who got what.
But these custody arrangements were the product of romance rather than heartbreak. Executive assistant Emily, 28, moved from Pukekohe to Southland after finding love with Dunedin-based Elliot Mason, who she met on a dating app last July.
After COVID safety restrictions kept the lovebirds separate for four months, they decided they couldn’t be apart any longer and – once Emily got a new gig in Gore and he found employment in Invercargill – they moved in together in the Deep South in December.
“Everything fell into place, we’ve both settled into our new jobs and we’re excited to start our lives together in person,” tells Emily, adding that she hasn’t yet found a place for her 20 large boxes of Lego. “Unfortunately, Lego isn’t Elliot’s thing, although we both love lawn bowls.”
She adds that being on Lego Masters was a lot more challenging than moving from one end of the country to the other for love.
“The show taught me I’m a lot braver than I think. I’m quite shy, so putting myself out there was a really big deal.”
Lego Masters NZ screens 7.30pm Mondays & Tuesdays on TVNZ 2.