Like many of us Rebekah Heineke didn’t plan on moving to London.

Five years on she’s still here and a few career moves later she’s set up her own business to build a community focused on fun, fitness and body positivity.

Like many of our network members she has an infectious energy and that real can-do positive attitude that so many Kiwis have.

Growing up in Auckland she dreamt of being a teacher and she naturally flowed into nannying, first in New Zealand, and took her experience to Monaco in the South of France.

London was the last place she imagined moving – all she’d heard was it was grey, rained a lot and was overpopulated. She says: “It was only when I moved to France that I visited a friend in London and fell head over heels in love with the city! It wasn't like any place I'd ever been to before.”

Getting to know our NZ networks – Kiwi Kids Abroad

Living abroad provides access to a wider understanding of the world, but knowing your heritage and culture is just as important, especially for those of us that have children while living away from New Zealand.

That’s why Kiwi Kids Abroad was set up in by Kent Gardner and his wife Gaye, whose children Freddie, Harry and Will were born in London.

They are well known to many of our members from their time in London and many will remember Kent is past winner of UK New Zealander of the Year.

 The family moved back to New Zealand 18 months ago, but are committed to growing Kiwi Kids Abroad and return regularly to stay connected to their London roots.

For Kent and Gaye, stepping back into the New Zealand way of life was easier, as they had prepared their children by making sure they had a solid connection while they

Start with Why

Author: Simon Sinek

Reviewer: Bronwyn Huband

I joined the NZBWN Book Club with two goals – one to finish a book and second to be able to read something that would challenge me.

Luckily when I turned up to my first book club at Ozone in North London on Sunday I wasn’t the only one to confess to not having quite finished the book and as I am still 15 pages off the end – no spoilers here I promise. If reading a book feels a bit daunting there’s always the audio option or Ted talks to give you an overview.

Simon Sinek’s Start with Why was the very first book read by the book club back in 2015. It was a perfect combination and still is - coffee, brunch and a good honest conversation about a book that aims to give us rich ideas and content to discuss, debate and implement into our lives. 

Given so many of us working in roles going through transformation or change, Start with Why is one of those must reads. It really provides the opportunity to stop and think about why you and/or the leadership you work does what they do. It all starts with why.