THE JOY PROJECT

Jane Elizabeth, 42, is a potter. After 11 years in America, she moved back to Wellington and now lives in Eastbourne. Read more

Jannine Rickards (Nga Puhi, Ngai Te Rangi), 37, is a winemaker. She lives near Martinborough, Wairarapa where her and her partner frequently go hunting. Read more

Nathan Tuuta (Ngāti Mutunga) 44, is an emergency department nurse. He lives in Bell Block, New Plymouth.  Read more

Violinist Joe Harrop lives in Auckland and juggles being a full-time father of three with performing and recording music. Sharing his love of music with the community, including disadvantaged… Read more

Actor, director and teacher Suzy Smith-Roy, 32, talks about making her first short film and the support of her husband. Read more

Ratnavyuha, 53, teaches meditation at Auckland Buddhist Centre, runs retreats, and helps lead Triratna Buddhist Order. He has found myriad joys in Buddhism over the past 25 years, though that isn’t… Read more

Lou Clifton wanted to a run a business that involved a craft. She settled on what she describes as the best job in the world, shoemaker. Read more

Julian Chote, 26, is an artist and performer who is stuck at the hurdle between doing 10-minute performances and putting together a ‘full show’. They work as an educator. They feel pretty lost and… Read more

Lara Marshall, 27, runs a co-sharing office in central Christchurch. She put it together using recycled materials and items from her happy place - her family farm on the South Island's West Coast.
 

Rizvan Tu’itahi, 33, is a musician, sound engineer and graphic artist. He lives on Auckland’s North Shore. Read more

Maria Parsons, 58, is a retired chef. She lives on the Otago Peninsula, Dunedin, with her dog, Carlos, and cat, Socks. Read more

Liam Coleman, 32, is a writer and actor in the comedy web series These Two. He is half-Vietnamese, was born in Melbourne, raised in Christchurch and lives in Auckland. He has "a love that never dies"… Read more

Carmen Sutton, 44, is a builder. She lives in Ashburton with her partner, Frith. Read more

Josiah Tualamali'i, 21, spent the last seven years discovering his Samoan roots. Celebrating his culture and empowering other young Pacific Islanders is what gives him joy. Read more

Fonteyn Moses-Te Kani, 47, is Head of Strategic Relationships for Māori and Iwi at Westpac. She and her wife, Gena, live between Auckland and Hamilton and have five children and three mokopuna between… Read more

Chaim Cleavin, 42, is a funeral director. He lives in Dunedin with his partner Ros and their two children. Read more

Ted Pearce, 63, works in traffic management. He lives in Christchurch with his wife Jean. Read more

Jean Khan, 85, is a devout Muslim and writer living in Newtown, Wellington. She has three children, nine grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren. Read more

Cuda Wong, 11, dancer at Carter-Chan Dance Performance Centre. He lives with his mum, dad, older sister and younger brother in East Tamaki Heights. Read more

Zoe Reid, 30, is a self-employed gardener. She lives in Wellington with her seven-year-old daughter. Read more

Steven Oates, 41, organiser of ‘Woof: The Auckland Pride Dog Show’ lives with his mum and two dogs: Ruby, a Ridgeback-cross, and Murphy, a Golden Retriever, in Mt Roskill, Auckland. Read more

Kym Spry, 37, is a massage therapist living in Raglan. A Kundalini yoga devotee, she has been practicing for three years. Read more

Marc Weir, 47, is a Wellington restaurateur. He married his longterm partner, Ash Brocklebank, on 28 February. Read more

Frozan Esmati, 34, is a clinical psychologist for Refugees as Survivors New Zealand (RASNZ). Born in Afghanistan she left at 13, spending many years abroad, before returning there to work as a… Read more

Richard Reder, 57, is a self-employed plumber and president of the Wellington Rock 'n' Roll Club. He lives in the Hutt Valley with his wife Karen and two of their three adult children. Read more

Jaye 'Glam' Morgan, 34, is a fashion stylist and retailer. She lives in Wellington. Read more