The Candid Kiwi blog

  Episode - 24 Nooroa and Jojo Manu Click above to listen to this episode. Kia Ora  Welcome to episode twenty four. This is Nooroa and his son Joseph Manu.  Nooroa has five children (four boys and a girl) with his beautiful wife Darnel. Nooroa was born in the Cook Islands and moved here when he was just four years old. He moved to a place in NZ called Tokoroa. He was a natural at running and found his love for sports amongst his mates in Tok. He exceled in rugby and started to make rep. teams and knew he could make something of this sport. He is spiritual as well and served a mission for his church. This is where I got to know him. He was serving in my town in the bottom of NZ. We instantly loved Nooroa as a family. He married the love of his life, Darnel, who he met at Church College of NZ and then played semi professionally in NZ and had his University paid for. Since then he's been studying and coaching sports with the children in mind, especially his own. He created a...

  Episode 23 - Candid Kiwi recap Click above to listen to this episode. Kia Ora Welcome to season two of the Candid Kiwi. I'm excited for another year of amazing stories. In this twenty third episode I talk about 2021 and what it meant to me. I had some amazing goals achieved and wonderful things happen last year. I also had some tough moments and times where I didn't think I could ever move forward with my life. I summarize those times and continue to share my story with you. I hope you've enjoyed listening to season one and will equally enjoy season two. I'm so grateful for my life and for this journey and the things I learn living one day at a time with those whom I love the most. Hope you'll come listen. Until next time....... Ka kite ano au i a koutou

  Episode 22 - A Wrights Christmas Click on the link above to listen to the episode Kia Ora and welcome to episode twenty two.  I'm excited to introduce you to my whanau (family). It starts with my mother, Susan then me (Melissa) then moves to Llewellyn, Sarah, Gareth, Haydn Delwyn and Bevin. They each have a unique perspective on Christmas growing up in the Wright household and share it with us in this wonderful episode. These guys were front row and center in my life and no one knows you quite like your mother and siblings know you right! I was thinking about this season and what better way to celebrate Christmas with us coming together across the globe to talk about memories we have together. I can't be with my family physically due to Covid, but this was a neat way for us to join together to celebrate Christmas and our family. I love each of their stories and I loved being able to see them via skype and messenger. We caught up on old times and reminisced about those good o...

  Episode 21 - My Dad Click above to go to the episode. Kia Ora Welcome to my twenty first episode. This one is about my Dad, Murray, and a little more on who he was. I share my perspective on my father and his life and what he means to me. He was a wonderful man who was passionate for his causes and taught me well. He had many talents and I share them with you in this episode. He was in his late 40's when he died and it was too early and there was still so much life for him to live. I'm sad  he decided to take his life and share details of the day with you. It's a tough listen and I cry. So trigger warning for those who don't want to listen to tough subjects like suicide, death and hardships. But that's life right? The good and the bad. My father was amazing and I'm glad I had twenty years with him. Some aren't as lucky. So come with me and listen to more of my story. Until next time..... Ka kite ano au i a koutou My mum and Dad in Dunedin while he was trai...

  Episode 20 Shanae Click above to go to Shanae's episode. Kia Ora and welcome to episode twenty. I'm excited to introduce you to Shanae. Shanae is engaged to my nephew and I knew I needed to have her on the Candid Kiwi. She is part Aboriginal and tells us her family story and about her people. The Aboriginal people have an old and rich culture that is unique and full. I loved listening to Shanae describe her people and their culture and the love that she has for it. I learned so much and am enriched by listening and you will be too. Shanae has experienced racism her whole life and has tried to navigate her life being told she's different. She's come out on top, however, and wants to continue to fight for her people but educating herself more and giving back to her community and beyond.  Shanae is inspiring and you'll walk away educated and feeling determined to do your part in healing the world in your corner. Please come and listen and learn. Until next time.........

  Episode 19 - The Schooling Years Click above to go to Episode Kia Ora Welcome to my Nineteenth episode. In this episode you will be told the story of my schooling years. Starting at kindy and ending at my years at Waikato University in Hamilton New Zealand. I moved around a little and so have been to a few schools. In NZ we call kindy what they call pre-school here in USA. I headed into primary school, which is called elementary school here in USA. I attended three different primary schools, Waikiwi, Middle and Caversham, with a variety of teachers. I then headed off to McAndrew Intermediate where I had three teachers, two great and one not so great by default. I started to become a rebel. Here is also where we started to wear uniforms. I then attended Southland Girls High, an all girls school, and went through some ups and downs. Then we all know I went to CCNZ and I dedicated a whole episode to that year of my life. After those years I attended Waikato University where I traine...

  https://anchor.fm/thecandidkiwi/episodes/Ep--18-Dru-Nakaya-e173uvp Click above to listen to Dru's episode. Kia Ora and welcome to my eighteenth episode. In this episode I introduce you to my husband, Dru Nakaya. He didn't want to do this, as he doesn't like talking about himself or being in the spotlight in any way. But I knew I needed to capture his story and he's a nice guy, especially to his wife. Dru open's up about his childhood, family, friends, joys and hardships. He's an honest and kind man who's worked hard for what he has in life. He was born in Bountiful Utah. He's the youngest of four children. His family were into the outdoors. They skied in the summer and winter. He did what he wanted with his hair. He had really good mates and loved his brother.  Here he is on his mission for the LDS church. Kayberry is in the middle and my brother, Llewellyn is on the right. He loves climbing. His father is Japanese and he served there for two years for...