Wanderlust

In a year that has seen 50,000 New Zealanders return home from overseas — and stay home, with borders closing rapidly around the globe — we’ve had to push pause on our habitual peregrinations. It is a Kiwi rite of passage to venture abroad often and enthusiastically, but this year, while we turn our attention to spots close to home, we’re indulging in a healthy dose of nostalgia. We’ve replaced planning with pining, and, because it’s no fun to reminisce alone, we asked five travel-loving Kiwis to share their most notable trips, what they meant to them, and how it affected their life professionally, personally, and spiritually. Artist Rachel Mataira, storyteller Jess Molina, comedian Brynley Stent, artist Nikau Hindin, and creative director Blue Hamel let us in on journals past for a conversation on journeys loved and fresh perspectives.

RACHEL MATAIRA

ARTIST

BOTH TRAVEL AND LIFE AT HOME INPSIRE MY WORK My work is influenced by the beauty of the world through my landscape photography, and its raw realities through my documentary work. I have found there is both beauty and raw realities wherever you travel to in the world, so my work is inspired by home and abroad.

TRAVEL HAS ENCOURAGED ME TO BE OPEN-MINDED TO When you travel, you’re putting yourself outside your daily comfort zone and experiencing something new. I’ve taken this philosophy from travel and apply it to my daily life. I think it’s important to be open-minded.