Interview with Hari Bans

To commemorate 125 years of  women's suffrage in New Zealand Kauri class has been interviewing women from our region with an interesting story to tell.

In this photo we were listening to Hari Bans talk about her life.

 Below are the questions that we asked Hari Bans:

How is your life different to that of your grandmother?

Hari Bans has two grandmothers. One owned a candy shop

What advice would you give your 10 year old self?

Hari Bans said she would not give any advice because all of the events in her life (good and bad)
have shaped her into the person she is today.

What has been your greatest achievement?

How close do you think we are in the Far North to equality between men and women?

Who has been the biggest influence in your life?

Ghandi and Dr. Martin Luther King were among the most influential people in Hari Bans' life
because they promoted peaceful protest to change the world.

What did you learn from them?

Hari Bans learnt to make Avocado ice cream from her Grandmother.

What was the happiest/saddest moment in your life?

Hari Bans told the class that there have been many happy and sad moments in her life
but having Ariela and Rafael were among the happiest. Some of the saddest moments
were losing her stepfather to Leukemia and her parents breaking up.

How would you like to be remembered?

Hari Bans explained that she would like to be remembered as a person of peace.

Who has been the kindest to you in your life?

When Hari Bans was younger and was living in Spain she went through a patch of difficulty. She was homeless and needed some help because she had just given birth to Rafael and had nowhere to call home. She sent an email to friends asking for help. A friend from Scotland replied and offered her support. She flew to Spain to live with Hari Bans for a week to cook and clean. Hari Bans explained that this really meant a lot to her.