Amey-22

How would you describe yourself? A homebody. A girl with a well-loved but poorly trained dog. An artist and collector of art. A devoted aunty. A lover of colour, clothes and flowers. A collector of things and moments. A listener, encourager and advice-giver. A birdwatcher. An expert afghan and scone maker.

 

How do you start your day? I have a very set routine during the week, and it starts early with some exercise. Then I take my dog, Frida, for a walk around the block, and drop her off to my parents' house - they live about ten steps from me - before I head off to work.

 

What hats do you wear? When I first read this question, late at night, I thought it was literal, so my answer was that I only have one hat that I wear when it's sunny outside. The next morning, I read it again and realised it was metaphorical - of course! But I think I'm too straight-forward to have hats. I have one hat for everyone and everywhere. I like to keep things simple.

 

What do you fear? Probably the closest thing to fear that I feel is the intense nervousness, as an artist, of presenting my work, and of people's scrutiny and criticism of it.

 

Who do you look up to? I can't single out any one person. I'm fortunate to know people from such a wide variety of backgrounds, both family and friends, many of whom have had experiences and faced obstacles and adversities that I couldn't even begin to comprehend. Hearing their stories, and in some cases living through experiences with them, I'm in awe of how they have got to where they are in life.

 

Is there a quote that you live by or that resonates with you? There is one in particular by Abraham Heschel that I have stuck to my fridge: "Awe enables us to perceive in the world intimations of the divine. To sense in small things the beginning of infinite significance. To sense the ultimate in the common and the simple. To feel in the rush of the passing the stillness of the eternal."

Related Stories

Woman walks down a dirt road holding a watering can and a woven basket of foliage cuttings

Room to Bloom

Flora has nurtured her passion for planting from a young age. Today, she works to nurture that same passion in others through her gardening business.

Read More
Māori woman standing inside a marae

Wisdom from the Skies

Heeni Hoterene transforms maramataka lunar calendar wisdom for modern contexts, so it resonates with an ever-evolving world.

Read More
Ngaio Bay

Ngaio Bay

For Isabelle Keeling, one of her favourite spots in the world is her family bach.

Read More
Mother and daughter in their sewing studio

Mandy & Shania

In Riversdale, mother-and-daughter team Mandy and Shania are combining their skills and setting the bar high with their beautiful, classic women’s clothing.

Read More

Out Now

Twenty-first Edition

Our beautiful Ngahuru Autumn 2025 Edition is out now.

Do you have a story to tell?

We'd love to hear it.