Hi my name is Sandy Pardon and I have lived in New Zealand all my life!

I live on the beautiful Hibiscus Coast, half an hour north of Auckland. I am a fifth-generation New Zealander whose Scottish ancestors made the perilous journey across the oceans finally landing in the South Island in 1855 where they eventually settled in Central Otago and Akaroa near Christchurch. I have a great passion for this country of ours and know many parts of it intimately, fostered by my great love of the outdoors where I have spent years enjoying all that it offers. My family moved from the South Island in the 1950s and I was bought up in the Waikato, where, after pursuing tertiary studies at the Waikato University Library, I took off to explore the world on what we refer to as our OE (overseas experience!) I spent many years away traveling and working in Gt Britain, Europe, Asia then North and South America before settling in Singapore for nine years where my husband was working for an American Drilling Co. So I have a very good understanding of what it feels like to set up a home in a foreign country. On our return we made Auckland our home, we have schooled our three daughters here and lived in several different parts of the city. I adore this “City of Sails”, its multicultural Pacifica makeup, its easy access to two ocean coasts, the brilliant recreational facilities, and interesting suburbs in which to live, all make for a very modern, cosmopolitan city. I look forward to assisting you in your resettlement here and hope I can share some of the spirits of this city with you.