New home and city brings new lease of life

Alex, who lives with a head injury after a work incident, moved from Dunedin to Christchurch last year in need of a fresh start.

“Moving here has literally saved my life. I’m so blessed to live here,” he says.

Alex says his unit’s great location means he is close to all the things he needs in his everyday life, such as the doctor’s surgery and the supermarket. His unit also has extra space for someone to stay overnight when he needs help with medication.

He’s enjoying exploring his new city and all it has to offer. He walks up to eight kilometres a day in summer and has recently joined a walking group co-ordinated by Step Ahead Trust, a not-for-profit organisation.

One of his favourite spots to have some time out is Hagley Park in central Christchurch.

“Once I got injured, I learnt how to do meditation. There’s a part of Hagley Park which has been there since 1843. There’s a cascade of trees and I sit in this wee forest and there’s nothing around. It’s so peaceful.”

His home is also near many good secondhand stores, which means Alex has been able to indulge in another favourite past time – op shopping. Alex – who has been involved in theatre since he was a young boy and had many jobs over the years, including a stint as a window dresser – moved to Christchurch with no furniture. He has enjoyed scouring local op shops to help tastefully furnish his home.

Alex lives in a housing complex with a community room downstairs. He has been working closely with Kāinga Ora community development manager Amanda to look at ways of bringing the residents who live there together.

Over the past few months, residents have held a ‘get to know each other’ meeting in the community room. They have also had the opportunity to get First Aid tips from Hato Hone St John and visits from Step Ahead Trust and Oak Development Trust, a community development organisation. Now Alex is working with Amanda to look at how they can hold sessions that focus on menu planning and cooking.

“The community development work is so important and we’re slowly building a community here…we’re like a tree in its infancy. Having the community room is a real asset for us. It’s our wee whare,” Alex says.

Alex has volunteered in his local community, and for community organisations, for most of his life, receiving many awards in recognition of this work.

He is continuing to give back to the community. Earlier this year, he volunteered at a Matariki event run by Oak Development Trust and he plans to continue volunteering, as he has done for most of his life.

Alex says he is thankful every day that he’s had the chance to put down roots in a place where he can live well. “I love sitting out on the deck and people watching. You never get bored in this place because there’s always something happening.”