We are a couple of kiwis who, like many of us, are blessed with ancestors from the far reaches of this planet (well we don’t think there are any from further afield but some claim that they walk amongst us so no guarantees).

Carolyn is a New Zealander with both her parents being New Zealanders.

• On her father’s side, some European ancestors came to New Zealand on the William Bryan, departing Plymouth, UK on 19 November 1840 and arriving in New Plymouth on 31 March 1841.
• On her mother’s side, the family hails from a small village near Lucerne, Switzerland.

Overall, Carolyn’s ancestry traces back to the UK and Europe, encompassing a rich mix of histories and cultures.

David is first and foremost a New Zealander, with a Kiwi father and an English mother.

• On his father’s side, some of David’s European ancestors came to New Zealand on the Timandra, departing Plymouth (UK) on 2 November 1841 and arriving in New Plymouth on 23 February 1842. His Māori ancestry goes back further, to Ngāti Rāhiri hapū of Te Āti Awa (Taranaki) iwi.
• His mother was born in Plymouth, UK. After meeting his father, they married in Singapore and later made their home in New Zealand.

All up, David’s ancestry is largely British—he is both a New Zealand and British citizen—with a blend that includes Scottish and Scandinavian threads, alongside Māori heritage.