Are you an Easter Instant winner?
We've given 30 (!) Neighbourly winners a little Easter treat. If your name's on the list below then your Easter is going to be a little sweeter. You've won a $20 voucher for your local The Warehouse so you can head down to grab yourself your favourite Easter chocolate treats. You might even treat your favourite neighbour to something delicious.
Congratulations to:
Philip Taramai - Lower Hutt
Mere Wetere - Nelson
Ann Mackay - Oamaru
Terry Green - Porirua
Andrew Douglas - Invercargill
Priya Patel - Wellington
Lynne Street - Rotorua
Vijen Reddy - Hamilton
Rob Voss - Whangaparaoa
Dianna Cork - Mount Maunganui
Joanna Fleet - Otaki
Catriona Greig - Porirua
Donald Fowler - Nelson
Liz Claridge - Whangamata
Billy Boston - Christchurch
Elizabeth Mark - Waikanae
Brett Lovegrove - Christchurch
John Dowling - Auckland
Tracy Morton - Raglan
Jacqueline Ross from Blenheim
Ntombi Mupariwa - Paraparaumu
Florentina McInnes - Napier
Morag Hughson - Tauranga
Marjo Plessius - Putaruru
Beverley Broad - Christchurch
Mahendra Patel - Hamilton
Leonie Hona - Whangarei
Mandy Clark - North Auckland
Sean McNulty - Kerikeri
Sue Scott - Gisborne
To claim your prize just get in touch with the Neighbourly team before 12pm Thursday 13 April to claim their prize. If you spot a familiar name from your neighbourhood, be sure to give them the good news!
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Hero
“I was born and raised in war. To be honest, those are not good memories.
I really like Iran, and I really miss it, but I couldn’t be myself there. Even though my family didn’t like my decision, I left Iran. I promised myself that I would do whatever I can for all communities, especially for the kids, so they do not have the same experience I had.
I studied software engineering in Iran and left in 2006. I went to Malaysia and stayed in Kuala Lumpur for seven years. I was admitted to Lincoln University to do my PhD here, but unfortunately, I couldn’t afford the expenses. I requested a scholarship, but they told me I had to be there for six months first. So, I stayed in Malaysia and did my PhD in network security. In December 2013, I came to New Zealand with a work visa.
It took me a while to connect with the Iranian community here. I volunteered with the Multicultural Council, SPCA, and community patrol, and I established the Christchurch Iranian Society in 2017. Before that, I started working on Radio Toranj, the only Farsi-language radio show in New Zealand.
One of the reasons I started organizing cultural events was to showcase Iranian culture. I wanted to show people that we have delicious food, colorful dresses, traditional customs, and our own instruments. My hope was to show people that we are not what you see in the media.
I am working to involve all the communities that celebrate Nowruz, the Persian New Year, in the Nowruz festival in March 2025. We want to share this celebration not only with our community but with the public as well. It’s better when it’s shared.
I remember the first time someone from Dunedin called me and asked, Hero, can you help? Something happened, and they keep declining Iranian visa applications. When I heard that, I felt insulted. We are still human, so how can they do that?
Through this journey, I’ve learned a lot. Every single day, people with different cases call me, and I try to share my knowledge and guide them as much as I can.
I have received several awards, including the Christchurch Civic Award and an Award of Recognition for my contributions to the community during the pandemic. In 2021, I established Canterbury Kia Ora Academy, a charitable trust. Through this charity, I can help other communities as well, not just the Iranian community.”
- Hero
View more stories, or nominate someone: @humansofchch
www.humansofchch.org......
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