Pauanui has been my home for the past 15 years. My husband, our two young daughters and I moved up from Christchurch, seeking firmer ground following the devastating earthquakes. Arriving here felt like we’d landed in paradise, especially with the beautiful beaches and amazing hikes on our back door step. 

 Some of you may have seen me around the Village at Hello Friday where I’ve worked for the past 10 years. It’s been a real delight getting to know our lovely customers, and I fondly refer to work as my “happy place”.

 I’ve always had a passion for dance - from ballet to ballroom as a youngster to Ceroc as an adult, fitting in classes at the iconic Pineapple Dance Studios in London while on my OE many years ago! So when I heard Donna was starting up Line Dancing classes in Pauanui my ears pricked up! I was hesitant about trying something new however, as sadly I’d recently lost my beloved husband. But I summoned the courage to come along to the first class, and to my great surprise I couldn’t stop smiling! Donna’s classes are fun, welcoming and supportive. The music and camaraderie keep me coming back each week and my new challenge is the improver class. I would absolutely recommend anyone who’s been thinking about it to come along and give line dancing a go.