Kirsten Lunde is a wife, mother and grandmother who grew up and lived most of her life in the San Francisco Bay Area in the US. Her eclectic career there included theatre, hospitality, public service and retail before she started working from home to care for her younger two children, who have needed extra care including several years of homeschooling. After a short stint in Colorado, Kirsten's husband Glenn, a native Kiwi born in Dunedin, had an opportunity to house-sit for family in New Plymouth as a means of establishing a life in New Zealand. So Kirsten, Glenn, and their two younger children arrived in Taranaki in February of 2020, just in time for the world to shut down for COVID. With such an unusual start to life here, Kirsten turned to work from home which includes transcription, AI training, and especially her small board game publishing business through which she successfully crowdfunded and published her classical music-themed board game Ovation with more games on the way. Her community in New Zealand is largely centered on board games, and she runs a monthly game event lovally featuring the social deduction game, Blood on the Clocktower.

Amélie Hendrickx is a beauty and self-care strategist, skin therapist, makeup artist, and confidence coach, originally from Belgium and now based in New Zealand. With over a decade of experience in the beauty industry, she blends European skin expertise with a holistic, real-life approach to help women feel confident in their skin and grounded in themselves. Through her in-person treatments and a suite of online programmes, including her membership Bubble, Amélie helps women simplify skincare, master natural makeup, and build self-care practices that fit into their lives. Her work goes beyond beauty, using it as a gateway to reconnect women with their “Favourite Self”.

Making Yourself At Home is a weekly show that connects the migrant community here in Taranaki. Hosted by a warm and friendly team, this show will inform and educate those right across the rohe.

From where to get support and encouragement, to personal stories, schooling, employment and how to make new friends as you settle into life in Aotearoa. Proudly supported by the Ethnic Community Development Fund.

Originally from England, Mervyn moved to New Zealand in 1971, arriving as a PE (Physical education) and English teacher knowing no one. Within a year — as he describes it, “miraculously” — he met Jill. They married, settled in New Plymouth, and built a life together raising their three children.

Mervyn taught at Sacred Heart before beginning a 28-year teaching journey at Spotswood College, where he specialised in English and drama. His passion for language, storytelling, and young people has remained a constant thread throughout his life.

A member of the Baha’i community, Mervyn is currently involved in organising the Taranaki Race Unity Speech Awards, supporting young voices to speak with courage and conviction.

Between 2004 and 2012, Mervyn and Jill worked in China, teaching English at four universities — an experience that broadened their worldview and deepened their love of learning.

Though officially retired, Mervyn still tutors a small number of students — a privilege he treasures, as he believes he still has much to learn himself.

New Plymouth is home. And as Mervyn says, seeing the mountain still fills him with delight — a daily reminder that moving to New Zealand was the best decision of his life."

Meet Shankar Nautiyal—yoga teacher, meditation guide, and real estate professional. Teaching since 2007 across India, South East Asia, and New Zealand, Shankar blends breath, alignment, and mindfulness with the wisdom of mantra meditation to help people live consciously.

Originally from the Himalayas in northern India, Shankar carries the rich culture, food, and values of his mountain home into everything he does. He sees a beautiful similarity between his village and New Zealand—with stunning landscapes, calm natural surroundings, and the perfect place to raise children—bringing that same sense of peace and community into his work.

Alongside yoga, Shankar helps families buy and sell homes with care and dedication, drawing on his family’s construction roots in India and formal real estate training in New Zealand. Whether teaching or guiding clients, he brings heart, culture, and community to every part of his life.

Chloe moved from France to New Zealand in 2015 with her partner. After spending three months travelling around the country, they settled in Auckland, where she worked towards passing her English exam so she could practise as an osteopath in New Zealand.

After a year in Auckland, they were ready for a lifestyle change and moved to New Plymouth. Passionate about surfing, hiking, and biking, Taranaki felt like the perfect fit — especially for the surf. It has also been a wonderful place to raise their two children, who are now seven and four.

After her son was born, Chloe opened her own clinic, Holistic Osteopath, to create more flexibility around family life. She supports people with a wide range of conditions, including back pain, sprain injuries, and headaches. She is especially passionate about working with women during pregnancy and postpartum, as well as caring for babies.

Chloe has found a beautiful balance between work, family, and the outdoors — and Taranaki now truly feels like home.

Juli is German and more European. She has always been interested in seeing the world rather than staying in one place. She loves challenges, which is why she moved here with her family.

Learning languages is her hobby, as well as cooking and baking. Her newest hobby is skateboarding. She hopes to be fluent in te reo one day.

Sean is a US expatriate who relocated to New Plymouth in February 2025 so his wife could return to her home country, his children could grow up in a safer and happier environment, and his family could live close to the ocean in one of New Zealand’s most beautiful and vibrant regions.

He owns a small technology business in the United States that delivers managed technology services, specialising in computing infrastructure, communications systems, and cloud connectivity.

Sean’s interests centre around family, wellbeing, the outdoors, music, business, investing, and intentionally creating joy in his life. He has worked hard to build both his career and lifestyle, feels privileged to call New Zealand home, and is deeply grateful for the opportunity to live here.

Rebecca was born and raised in Sweden and arrived in Auckland in 2011 at the age of 19 on a student visa, never intending to stay long. Through meaningful connections and life-changing experiences, New Zealand became home. She met her husband, Oliver, in 2013, and they moved to New Plymouth in 2017. With a background in hospitality—particularly baking and desserts, including several years at Federal Store—motherhood offered a pause for reflection and a reconnection with her original passion for wellbeing. Rebecca now works as a Pilates Instructor at Physio Pilates New Plymouth, supporting women and clients to live healthier, happier lives.

Born in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Martha arrived in Aotearoa New Zealand in 1989 and has since made New Plymouth home. Her career has been largely in hospitality, where she has seen the growth and evolution of cafés and restaurants across Taranaki. She has long been involved in representing Argentine culture at the Taranaki Multiethnic Extravaganza and supporting the Latino community through cultural and social initiatives that help new migrants settle in the region.

Martha has a strong passion for music and has volunteered with WOMAD for many years, more recently working in contracted roles coordinating artist hospitality, including the welcoming artists’ BBQ. She currently works part-time as an ESOL Teacher Aide at Devon Intermediate and teaches Argentine and Italian cuisine through Taranaki Community Education. Proudly Argentine, Martha is known for her passion, generosity, and love of sharing food, music, and conversation, and for her curiosity about other cultures and traditions.