Lecturer in Entrepreneurship and Strategy at Otago Business School.

“I’ve never had a problem working hard to chase big goals but, during lockdown, I learned that those goals, and the people involved, have to be worth working for and working with. Big goals require time which must be taken from another part of life. Lockdown showed me the richness of my personal life and the costs of shrinking it to spend time elsewhere.”

Senior quantity surveyor working for McConnell Dowell.

“your health is your wealth”, the most important thing in life is your health and your family and you must find the right balance between work and life. I look forward to the future in New Zealand with my partner Kerryn and Dog Molly."  

Accountant & Tax consultant.

"Well I suppose it’s just to be grateful for what we have. Challenges come in life but it’s important to face them and keep moving forward."

Senior Lecturer in the University of Canterbury.

"The importance of slowing down and connecting with family".

Founder of Qb Studios shared workspaces. 

"The lockdown was a reminder that it's possible for darkness and light, separation and connection to exist at the same time. Even during a difficult time when in some ways we were more separate than ever before, there was a blossoming of communication and connections with friends and family, suddenly united in this strange new reality". 

Professor at the University of Canterbury and Director of the National Centre for Research on Europe (NCRE).

“Zoom can be an adequate short-term alternative to face-to-face contacts, but not a longer-term solution”.

He was Consul General, Ireland's official representative to New Zealand, for almost 40 years before retiring in 2015. 

"Come to think of it, what I did do in the Lockdown was start to write my memoirs…….still on page one!"

Owner of Rainbow Print & Dzyn Space

"During lockdown I learned that the only constant going forward is change. I re-invented myself and launched Dzyn Space, a on-line graphic design tool. My goal is to offer cost effective solutions for anyone to create marketing materials." 

Sourcing specialist for Business Support & HR at Momentum Consulting. 

"Embrace the simple things that life offers us. Whether it be taking a walk by the beach, having time to cook a meal or catching up with friends and family. Can't beat a cup of Barrys tea over Zoom with a loved one."

Dairy & beef farmers, now retired. 

"We enjoyed lockdown and caught up with all those wee jobs which normally get put off. It also made us appreciate all that we have, especially family and friends. With the beautiful weather we enjoyed the beauty of our local area and appreciated it more than ever. Because all our neighbours weren’t working we saw much more of them than normal whilst we biked and walked. We will always hold dear to our hearts the kindness shown to us during this time."

Festival Director of CubaDupa and is an award winning songwriter, musician, producer, children’s author, television presenter and publicist.

"Apart from the fact that my 4 and a 1/2 year old daughter doesn’t think I’m quite the right father for her, I also revisited and set up my home recording studio and collaborated with my old band “ALDOC” in Ireland and release a tune called “Distance” that was all recorded remotely."

Community Engagement Manager for Coastguard New Zealand

"we can create any world we want to if enough people are committed to it. New Zealand and Ireland have serious homelessness problems but when we were forced to, we could house and shelter everyone. So how do we move that from crisis management to the norm. Imagine if we cared about other people like that all the time." 

. Nessa is an associate professor at Victoria University of Wellington’s Faculty of Law and Steve has his own business training and coaching cyclists and other athletes.

“Lockdown had highs and lows, but we remembered to slow down and appreciate what we already have, and to enjoy our home and neighbourhood. The dog had the best time”

Museum curator and historian

"Don't take anything for granted, be thankful for every blessing, and count each one of them."

Head of Football at Saint Kentigern College

"Appreciate your family and friends and try stay away from the wine fridge"

Consultant for Irish IT company FINEOS

"If your fading your own hair get some good mirrors but most of all enjoy the quiet time." 

Leadership & Performance Coach

"People are more resilient than they give themselves credit for. The ability for organisations and people to adapt so quickly was inspiring." 

Head of Digital for Newshub

"I enjoyed our first lockdown and the show of community spirit in my local neighbourhood. The second lockdown in Auckland has been harder. I have been taking time to focus on my personal well-being. When anxious and homesick I try to practise gratitude and remind myself that 'this too shall pass"

Social enterprise and circular economy entrepreneur.

"How to use a sewing machine and help The ReCreators team make reusable facemasks." 

Proud grandmother & Retired nurse

"It was a very happy experience as we were in our son and daughter in law's bubble and their second baby was born on April 18th so we were helping out. Our neighbourhood is very tight and everyone looked out for each other. We walked every day and did loads of gardening. Our Hutt Valley Irish Society members were also only a phone call away so we felt very lucky to have had a stress free time". 

Firefighter in the aviation crash rescue sector and medical first response.

"self care is crucial, taking care of your physical and mental wellbeing should be a priority. If our cell phone battery gets low we rush to the charger but when was the last time you properly charged your own batteries?"

Associate Professor at the School of Hospitality & Tourism, AUT. 

"I am very proud of how New Zealand’s university sector, especially the Auckland universities, have responded sensitively and kindly  to the needs of our students at this difficult time and walked the talk in their commitment to equity of access to online learning classes and resources for students of diverse backgrounds."

Chief Financial Officer/Chief Information Officer for HamiltonJet.

"Lockdown taught my partner Avrael ( and our kids Niamh and Hamish, how connected we were able to become as a community through creative online methods and how thoughtful and caring the community could be even when not present with each other." 

Primary school teacher. 

"trying and perfecting all the Irish bread recipes under the sun including Irish Stout bread and Wheaten bread. A little taste of home!"

Communication Specialist in the Healthcare Sector.

"I was working as was my partner, and the kids were home, so it was a bit manic. But every day we rang the grandparents back home, and they got to see so much more of their growing up than they would have, which leaves me very thankful."

Assistant principal at Dilworth School

"I am blessed to have a beautiful wife (Victoria) and 3 beautiful kids (Taylor, Lucy and Cooper) and during lockdown I enjoyed slowing down and appreciating the quality time with them and how it strengthened our relationship as a family."

Administrator

"Acceptance - Rome wasn’t built in a day & sometimes things are just out of our control. I only moved to Auckland at the end of January 2020. I had envisioned meeting loads of new people, finding a great job and lots of travel. Of course, Covid hit not long after and there was nothing I could do."

Musculoskeletal and pelvic floor physiotherapist.

"My lockdown learning was to take pleasure from the simple things, being able to sit and enjoy a full cup of coffee, not having to rush a walk or exercise session." 

Management consultant with Ernst & Young

"how important it is to stay connected to people and how much we appreciate the contact and support."

Agricultureal Science and agricultural contracting.

“what’s for you, won’t pass you” in other words life might not always turn out as planned but what’s meant to be, will be. Throughout lockdown I realised how lucky I was to be involved in agriculture. Life pretty much carried on as normal, despite a global pandemic which highlighted its importance as an industry both in New Zealand & back home,"

Solicitor

"After attempting to home school my 13 year old during lockdown, that I made a wise choice at 17yrs not accepting a place at teacher training college. Its not the job for me!"

Stand up comedian

"I usually work from home during the day so there wasn’t much difference there but doing comedy gigs online & waiting for laughing emojis instead of actual laughter was very unusual... It was great to get back into the action of live work once again.  More importantly, I’ll never take a pint in a pub for granted again."

Social sciences teacher

"Life is just as great at a slow pace". 

Home securty and 'very good boys' in Auckland, Wellington & Christchurch

"Lockdown didn't bother them much, they just concentrated on giving their family's as much love and companionship as they could. A usual day at the office!"

Born in the Bog of Allen & now lives at Lake Hawea

Rory spent the Lockdown wrestling with a roomful of 19thC Orange Order minute books for his new writing project. 

Lawyer & Consul General for Ireland in New Zealand. 

"I found lockdown difficult and at times I felt a bit overwhelmed. To cope with this, I spent quite a bit of time on my e-bike making sure that I stayed ahead of my very fit 22 year old son on his road bike on the hills of Awhitu. My dog, Murphy, also got the legs walked off him – poor soul. I am very grateful that my family are all safe from Covid-19."

Insurance Broker & Member of the Auckland Irirsh Society

"The lockdown showed us that working from home is a real option and it also taught us that there are a lot of things that are not as essential as we thought. I also tried to learn Irish via Duolingo but think I might need some more direct tuition!" 

Digital Marketer

"Lockdown came at a really good time in a lot of ways as it meant I got to spend a lot of time with our newborns. I think I took a lot of learnings from the period too. I found I really missed things like going to the gym and have the option of just pottering round town but I didn’t miss things like takeaway coffees. It was a great opportunity to reprioritise what is important."

Manager and Novelist

"New Zealand is fortunate to have had world-class leadership to guide the country safely through lockdown." 

 One of the pioneers who deployed the Internet in New Zealand, .retired,

"Seize the day because, "The best laid schemes o' mice an' men gang aft agley"

Advisor at the Ministry of Education NZ

"Lockdown made me realise how much I love playing sport. I did a bit of road running during lockdown, but it didn't come anywhere close to the enjoyment I get from playing team sports such as hurling, Gaelic football and soccer."

He is a luthier, a craftsperson who builds and repairs string instruments. 

Bernard used the lockdown period to experiment in making instruments with new concepts and designs.

Sports journalist 

“I’ve worked from home as a freelancer for the last ten years so that wasn’t new to me. But it has felt surreal to come out of lockdown while the rest of the world struggles to contain the crisis. It’s reminded me just how far I am from family and friends back home but also made me realise just how lucky I am to be able to call New Zealand my second home.” 

Public Relations Officer

"Even when 'out of the world' it was vital to stay 'involved with the world', and keep informed with developments.  it also provided a salutary reminder of the insidious and dangerous way social media  facilitates the spread of lies, falsehoods and plain dumb theories about all manner of things."

Research administrator in Neurosurgery for the University of Otago.

"People are often a lot more resilient than they think they are, and mental health is precious."

Registered Financial Advisor

"If I really needed to work from HOME I could. School teachers are so under paid. Seeing whether something was a ‘NEED” or a “WANT” was far simpler, and started asking ourselves “Do we really need that”?

Public affairs for the TAB

"Covid was a crazy time as my work was mental, Caroline was working as a public health nurse, not to mention being a teacher. But once we began to relax a bit and tried to enjoy the shutdown, there were many fun times, such as ‘Fancy Friday’s’ and lots of baking."

Musician and a member of The Jordan Luck Band. 

"People have had time to reset and reconnect and be re-inspired. It certainly feels that way for us. Being locked down given us a new spark to really truly enjoy connecting again as a band and as mates." 

Music writer and producer

His first EP is due for release in November 2020. His latest track is Stingray and the video has already notched up considerable traffic. 

National Logistics Manager at My Food Bag

"Working for an essential service during lockdown, I learnt to appreciate the small things in my spare time, catching up with friends, physical contact with family, a good coffee and a scenic walk"

Industrial Electrician and Marketer

"Lock down was a great opportunity to tick off some major health and fitness targets for both of us.  From a mental heath perspective It was a great test of both our individual growth and of our relationship." 

Aidan currently works for the Anglican Church/Church Property Trustees as part of their Earthquake Repair Recovery Programme following the earthquakes of 2010/2011. 

Canterbury GP

"in the midst of all the disruption and worry and cabin-feverish kids we got a glimpse of a better world as well. A peaceful city, getting to know the neighbours better, a public pulling together amazingly well and a dependable government- all things we're going to need in a big way in the coming years."

Business Development Manager for Agstaff 

"One thing that has stuck in my head was to try and be a better person than you were yesterday... Make small and realistic steps... you are the best person to beat as you have all the advantages and disadvantage of yourself"

Food & Agribusiness and Export Lead at KPMG

"Our learning is counting our lucky stars. Jen and I realise how fortunate we really are, we appreciated the opportunity to spend more time together, knowing our families were safe even though they are not with us.".

Leadership coach

“I can have a slower, calmer internal pace of ‘being”. 

Cyclist.

"There is so much that we can't control, and Covid was yet another fine example of this. All we can ever do is our best, the rest lies with fate! And everything happens for a reason. we can still  smile, be curtious, be positive, be helpful & friendly, be flexible & adaptable & always look out for one another."

Research, Insights and Strategy consultant for FiftyFive5

"be flexible, accept you can't do it all but what you can do is enough, look for the positives (when you can), be kind to yourself when you can’t, get fresh air however you can and try and have fun dotted within the moments of madness." 

Business performance coach

"Lockdown was an amazingly positive experience for me because I had plenty of time to think properly about what is really important in life and to connect with my immediate neighbours and local community here in Auckland. The hardest part of the pandemic for me is not knowing when I will be able to visit friends and family in Ireland, something I had taken for granted until very recently."

Full time journalist

"because I work from home, not a lot changed. As I saw it I had been isolating for 10 years. The best people were the supermarket workers and the doctors and nurses on the front line. The companies were greedy and uncaring... but that never surprised me. I also learned that i needed to up my IT skills. which i have now done...." 

Real Estate Agent

“As a very busy Real Estate Agent I was able to spend more time connecting with my 6 children and 6 grandchildren, and spending quality time researching the Irish/NZ historical novel I am working on. I also picked up the guitar again to play Irish music."

Director of Marketing, Sales & Communications at Otago Polytechnic.

"We had booked our first visit back to Ireland in 4 years since we left, . Obviously COVID has not only cancelled that, but put a question mark over when it might ever happen. I thought I would need to return in order to fully be at peace with my decision. But I now know that, there’s nowhere else I would want to be."

President of the Christchurch Irish Society.

"to focus on community, helping with Red Cross meals on wheels, family and friends checking on their welfare by a simple call, giving a hand."

Owner Irish Born & Bread

"She is self proclaimed "foodie" and worked in a bakery during her uni days. Her recipes are family secrets passed on by her Auntie Roisin. S"

National Compliance Manager for Energy and Resources for New Zealand 

"on the work side is how effective my team could be while working remotely to keep everything running. On a personal note with three teenage daughters I learned the importance of family time and spending more time with the kids and less time in the office." 

Chambers Manager at Bankside Chambers.

"Family is everything and you should protect them at all costs. Be grateful everyday for what you have, you can never take this for granted." 

ead Barista & Part Time Student 

"cook using fresh ingredients, began learning Irish, and how to make Rēwena bread"

Owners of The Dubliner  Irish Bar & Restaurant - Methven.

"During lock down we thought we learned how to stop and smell the roses and live more at the kiwi pace of life but I guess we’re pre-programmed to be manic Irish people as we seem to be busier than ever, but the busyness is focused in different areas now which is cool and a lot more palatable!"

Owner of a publishing business and Presenter of  Irish Radio programme Ireland Calling. 

Lockdown was not a big issue for Oliver as he has worked from his home office for almost thirty years he enjoyed plenty of walks with his Dog (Seamus) and family! 

Primary school teacher. 

"be grateful for a safe home, for friends and family here and at home, and to slow down." 

Embassy Of Ireland

"We need less stuff than we think. Luckily, our well-being isn’t dependent on consumer products. We don’t need to be pampering ourselves or buying ourselves stuff. We could be happier and create a healthier society and life if we can consume less and give more." 

Teaches students with autism spectrum disorder

"Leaving the commercial side of life and not missing it. The simple things in life are just as enjoyable."

Train Driver with KiwiRail 

"We need to make more family time and we don't need the things we thought we needed. We need to Slowdown." 

Dairy farm manager 

“Don't take anything for granted and be thankful for all the small thinks. People need that human connection to each other”