Sharing My Neighbourhood book - a Hataitai residents experience of COVID-19 Lockdown

Debbie from Hataitai

Hey Bert, what’s Sharing My Neighbourhood all about?

Well Ernie, it’s a book released on 25 September 2020 – exactly 6 months since New Zealand went into COVID-19 Lockdown. It’s is a photo journal of our neighbour Debbie’s personal experience leading up to and then living in self-isolation in her bubble for 38 days under Lockdown.

Apparently she was stopped in her tracks when she first saw us on Mum’s fence on 3 April - I do remember her taking a couple of photos of us then. Then she was out walking past our house again the next day and Mum had asked us to change our positions, which we had done. Debbie was really tickled by it and then got a bit fixated upon us (wouldn’t be the first) and took our photo every few days whilst out on her walks.

That’s so cool Bert. I do remember Debbie - she visited us often, was always happy for a natter, and yes she loved taking our photo!!! She was in a bubble of just her and her cat if I remember rightly. So is Debbie’s book just photos of us Bert?

No Ernie it’s not all about us, although obviously we are the cover stars and there are lots more photos of us in her book. Her photos which are centred around Hataitai, Kilbirnie, Lyall Bay, Rongotai and Roseneath include photos of the empty streets, the chalk messages of support on the pavement, the innovative ANZAC poppies, the autumn colours and all the other ‘teddies’ placed in view for the kids to seek out as part of the New Zealand Bear Hunt – they are all captured here to preserve these memories. Oh, and not forgetting her book also includes her personal narrative, and the daily NZ COVID-19 stats.

Wow Bert that sounds amazing! So where can we buy her book?

Debbie can be private messaged for bank details, or visited at the Hataitai monthly community market, or you can buy it on her website debbiewareing.com.

Debbie is kindly donating $5 from each book sale to the redevelopment of the 100+ year old Hataitai Centre - the iconic former bowling club.