I attended Kaikoura High School as a student from 1971 to 1978.

I then went to Wellington for 3 years to study Textile Design and eventually went to teachers' college in Christchurch. I got my first teaching job in Hokitika at Westland High School, where I met my husband, Nick Parkinson. We got married in 1987 and started a family. In 1993 we moved back Kaikoura to be near my extended family.

At this time we became partners in Kaikoura Apiaries, which was my father's business. This later became Mountainhoney Kaikoura Ltd. This latterly branched out into Hexagon Mead. My son and nephew bought/took on these when my husband passed away in 2020.

 

In 1994 I got a job as the Art Teacher at Kaikoura High School and was there till I lost my job on November 15th 2021. I also taught Graphics, Soft Materials, & Digital Technology over the 27 years I was there. My lasting contribution to the school is the Kowhaiwhai design that the school uses, which I designed.

 

I am now working for Advert Media – Skool Loop, in Kaikoura building websites for schools all around New Zealand. I have 3 boys all of whom went though Kaikoura High School, Jesse, Ezra and Marc. I am currently living on the family estate where I grew up and have joined the faith that I grew up amongst – Christadelphian. My faith, hope and family the major focus of my life now.

 

The friend I remember the best was Tammy Martin. As a student I remember going to the North Island in 4th form to Taumarunui. I also remember Jim Flavel as our form teacher in 7th form. I also have a memories of Fran Dove introducing us to squash on a field trip to Christchurch. There was no squash club here then.

 

While I was a teacher at Kaikoura High School I taught alongside staff who had taught me. Barry Dunnett, until he retired and Brian Allison, when he came back as principal. Latterly Beth Ataria was on the staff again until after I finished. The class I remember the best with my teaching was the class of 2003 with Chelsea Copping, Paula Scott and Sorrel Hennessy. They all excelled in what they did and two of them went onto Design school. I guess if they join they will tell more of their stories.our profile here