Being born and raised in Levin, with a short stint overseas in the UK working in health and disabilities as well as residential social work, I came home to Ōtaki electorate and continue to live in Levin with my whānau. I missed my church community, St. Joseph's, the beautiful Tararua maunga, looking out at Kapiti Island, the normalisation of te reo Māori as you walk throughout the electorate, the best bacon and egg pies, and orange chocolate-chip ice cream. But most of all, I missed the community spirit of the Ōtaki electorate that ties us together, from Foxton right through to Paraparaumu. 