Category: Born & Raised

What are your family links with Mercury Bay?
My mum, Anne, is one of the local Whitianga mosaic artists who is pretty involved in the local art scene. My dad, Laurie, used to be the local auto electrician for years here in town until his old apprentice Dallas bought the business off him. While my parents moved to Whiti in the early 90s, my granddad had bought a plot of land out near Cooks Beach back in the 50s, and his brother and sister-in-law, Dan and Edith Hansen (my great uncle and aunty), started Wilderland not long after.

I grew up in Whitianga and Matarangi from the time I was born until I was 15 years old. My Dad, Mike, is still living in Whitianga. You can probably find him at the rugby club or at Smitty’s.

I’ve been living in London since 2008, most recently in the north-east, not far from Stratford where the Summer Olympics were held in 2012.

I’ve been living in Perth since 2009. I bought a house here in the northern suburbs of Perth in 2015; in total, I’ve lived in Perth for the past 16 years.