After decades of saving lives, I am now seeking your support to help rebuild ours.

It's not easy asking for help. After decades of saving lives, and being there for people in their most desperate times as a NZ Police officer, volunteer firefighter, and surf lifesaver, I always told people that seeking help is not a sign of weakness, but an act of profound courage. Now, it's my turn to ask for the support I need.

Hi, I'm Karina, a resilient mum to my 12-year-old son. For the past 1.5 years, we've been travelling around New Zealand, living in a tent, and house-sitting animals and farms in exchange for accommodation. Life didn’t go as planned. After becoming a solo mum, I completed 6 years of full-time university study, while cleaning and gardening to make ends meet. Despite graduating with 1st class honours at 45yo, my plans were derailed again. My son's accident and life-saving surgery prevented me from starting my new career as a psychologist, and when our rental home of 10 years was sold, we had to reimagine our lives. I started a small telehealth business online, sold everything, and we began house-sitting. It was the only way to survive, not paying 80% of our income on rent.

My son is now a correspondence student and aspiring entrepreneur, while I try to grow my business. Our goal is to save for a home on wheels, a bus, a motorhome, or a caravan; a warm and safe home to learn and work from. Achieving this will take a long time, and living in a tent is tough, (even for a survivalist!) so we are bravely asking for your help.

Thank you for reading our story.