Kia ora Koutou

Ko Ahatiti toku maunga.

Ko Waihirere toku awa.

Ko Takitimu toku waka

Ko Te Aitanga a Mahaki toku iwi.

No Turanganui a Kiwa ahau.

My name is Vera Cheffers. I live in Gisborne New Zealand with my little terrier dog Queenie, cats Morere (whom I found stranded in the bush at Morere Springs hence his name)recently acquired a stray kitten called Kitty and another cat that visits daily called Nibbler.

My Mum is Maori (Terekia/Katipa whanau) from the Tairawhiti Region, she passed away in 2021. My Dad is from Cornwall and Plymouth Devon, England. He is now 91 years old. So I am mixed race. I have 2 brothers and a sister. Many nieces and nephews.

I am a teacher. I have taught for many years. Started my teacher training in the  1980s at Palmerston North Teachers Training College then finished by 4th year at Massey University where I achieved my B.Ed.  I taught for a brief time in NZ at Mount Maunganui in the Bay of Plenty, NZ. Then travelled to London where I taught there at various schools for nearly 20 years.

I have been living back in NZ since 2010.

I am also an artist and dabbled in various creative disciplines.

I have explored all kinds of media from collage, water colour painting, photography, mixed media and performing arts. I occasionally like to write poems and journal.

I also enjoy crafting, using fibers, e.g. crocheting, knitting, journaling, I have currently been enjoying slow stitchery which has proved very relaxing. I want to have a go at weaving next, I am reading up on it and collecting different materials to give this a go. I have tried a bit of pottery a few courses for fun. I am not a drawer but I try.

My interest for Art goes right back when I was at Primary and Intermediate School where I had some inspiring teachers. Also when I was at teachers’ training college, I had amazing art lecturers/teachers who were so motivating and outstanding in their field. e.g. Cliff Whiting, Paul Dibble, Frank Davis, who was head of the Art Department at the time.  There were others but unfortunately I cannot remember their names

I love nature, walks along the beach and visiting nearby gardens, forests and country side.