Where We Come From
Both Carolyn and David were born in Taranaki, New Zealand, with Mount Taranaki (Mount Egmont) watching over the region.
Carolyn was raised in Stratford and David in Inglewood—two rural towns roughly 21 km apart, nestled among dairy farms and well-known as fierce sporting rivals, particularly on the rugby field.
Mount Egmont from near David's parents property
Inglewood, New Zealand
Being raised where we were, we both enjoyed the advantage of an outdoorsy lifestyle—playing sport (Carolyn: netball; David: hockey), fishing for trout, chasing eels, hunting deer and pigs, and spending time around horses and motorcycles. We raced soapbox carts down tree-lined hills, got up to all sorts, and somehow we survived!
Although we grew up fairly close to one another, we didn’t actually meet until we attended Massey University, around 200 km from our hometowns. Carolyn completed a Bachelor of Education, and David a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science.
After university, Carolyn pursued a career in education, later completing a Master of Education with first-class honours. David began in information technology, finishing as IT Manager for a multinational company. He then followed in his father’s footsteps into construction, successfully running his own company for many years, before eventually settling into real estate, where he now runs his own agency.
We’re fortunate to come from backgrounds where animals have been part of everyday life since childhood. Growing up, our families shared their homes with dogs—including a Pug (Carolyn), and a Labrador, Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, and several German Shepherds (David)—as well as numerous cats. Our wider family lifestyle blocks also meant horses, cattle, sheep, and of course, the mandatory chickens.
Our first fur kid as a couple was an extroverted Samoyed called Kyla, given to us as an engagement present more than forty years ago. She spent her first year as a beloved student-flat companion, taught us that dogs could body-surf, and generally lived life to the max. Tragically, Kyla was taken from us far too soon, but by then we were well and truly smitten with Samoyeds.
Kyla was followed—not replaced—by Ebony. Later, we decided she needed company (and we wanted another dog), so we were privileged to become part of an Akita named Quin’s pack. Akita’s are a unique breed unlike any other we’ve encountered. They can be a challenge, but being part of an Akita’s pack is truly special.
Since then, we’ve been lucky to share our lives with more wonderful companions: Samoyeds Annie and Shelby; an Akita named Baku; and a Shih Tzu x Cairn Terrier named Monsta.
We spent nearly twenty years breeding and showing American Miniature Horses, including importing stallions from the USA. For many years, October through to March—with only a brief respite over Christmas and New Year—saw us hauling horses the length and breadth of New Zealand to compete at shows. Along the way, we were thrilled to win the National Supreme title with one of our foals.
At the height of our involvement, our herd numbered thirty-two horses, including three imported stallions. It was a season of early mornings, late nights, endless planning, and muddy boots—but also one filled with friendships, laughter, and the quiet satisfaction that comes from working hard alongside animals you love.
Foaling was always the highlight. There’s nothing quite as magical as helping a foal into the world on a starry night, then watching it take its first steps—and, not long after, its first meal.
We’ve also shared our lives with cats—Mimi, Aston, and Martin—and with sheep, predominantly polled Wiltshires. Lambing was always special, but never quite as magical as foaling. And, naturally, there were the mandatory chickens.
While neither of us can play an instrument or sing in a way anyone would want to listen to, we both love immersing ourselves in music—and thankfully our tastes are very similar. We’re in awe of musicians and take every opportunity to attend concerts. We’ve seen many New Zealand and International Artists, and we regularly settle into a local pub to listen to live music while enjoying a quiet pint of (preferably local) beer.
We’ll admit we have a bit of an issue when it comes to artwork—we own more pieces than we have space to display. If there’s a gallery nearby, it’s almost guaranteed we’ll be popping in.
Naturally, we also love exploring our world: taking in the scenery, observing wildlife (once David convinced Carolyn to trek out to see otters on the Isle of Skye… no otters were seen!), experiencing local culture, and delving into the history of the places we visit.
Never Stop Dreaming
The Murano Blown Glass Horse
Our art fetish also has a habit of showing up when we travel. On one trip to Europe—when we had no space to carry anything—we swore, no art!
Naturally, that didn’t last. A blown-glass horse from Murano (made by Zanetti, a master glassblower) ended up being shipped home, along with a couple of Venetian Carnival Masks from Venice and a Tree of Life Persian rug from Istanbul.
Likewise, on a Christmas jaunt to Hong Kong over Christmas and New Year, a few canvas paintings somehow ended up in our suitcases, and a framed piece had to be shipped back to New Zealand.
These treasures keep the memories—and the desire to travel—alive.