Waitangi Day - New Zealand - Celebrating our nation

Today is our Nations day, a day to celebrate being a New Zealander  (aka: Kiwi) and to acknowledge the diverse range of cultures that make up our beautiful country.

Personally, it is a time for me to reflect on my own culture. My Great-grandparents, Grandparents and my Dad immigrated from Croatia to New Zealand, in the 1920's and 30's. In those early days the men would leave their homeland and their families behind to come to a new country, that they knew nothing about, and with no knowledge of  the English language, either written or spoken. The vast majority of them found work in the gumfields in Northland and once they found work, and saved up enough money they would send for the rest of the family. I can't even imagine what it must have been like living in those harsh conditions.

I am very proud of  the past generations who made that journey from Croatia to New Zealand,  to start a new life. I am proud of how hard they worked to make a life for their families.

In this photo are my maternal Klinac family, they are from back left to right:

Baba ( Croatian for grandmother) Klinac, Rita Labb guest at the Hotel, Annie Klinac (my Mother) and next to her Aunty Mary.

In front  left to right:

Steve (Stipe) Pervan (my Dad),  Dida (Croatian for Grandfather)  Tony Klinac  and in front of him my fav Uncle Tony. Missing from this photo is Uncle George, who may have been behind the camera.

This photo was taken in Palmerston North.