I grew up at Kina, near Motueka, and attended Tasman school with lots of cousins. We had an apple orchard and ponies to ride on the beach - so idyllic! Though my extended family stayed in the district, I moved to Australia in my 20s, and met my American husband while kayaking down the Murumbidgee.
After living in the US for many years my three children and I returned for a year in NZ in 2002, so they could get to know their kiwi roots. We found Starfish that year, and have been thrilled to have it as our base in NZ ever since.
Our youngest daughter has now lived in NZ for 10 years and our son lives in Sydney. John and I are now transitioning to spending 6 months of each year at Starfish.