A New Team Member

We have welcomed a new team member to our group, Emma Mortimer is taking on the role of volunteer coordinator and grant writer.

Welcome to the team Emma, it’s lovely to have you!

Here is a little interview with Emma so you can get to know her a bit better.  

Where did you grow up? 

Tāmaki born and bred. I grew up in Balmoral/Mt Eden and went to a little Catholic Primary School called Good Shepherd. There was a wonderful sense of community and connection, it was so diverse and multicultural - not yet gentrified. Balmoral shops held a treasure trove of cuisine, St Luke's was new and shiny with Big Fresh and its bobbing animatronics, Potter's Park was the local hangout, and Geoff's Emporium gobbled up all of my pocket money. I come from a family of four children so there was never a dull moment!

Where did you grow up? 

Tāmaki born and bred. I grew up in Balmoral/Mt Eden and went to a little Catholic Primary School called Good Shepherd. There was a wonderful sense of community and connection, it was so diverse and multicultural - not yet gentrified. Balmoral shops held a treasure trove of cuisine, St Luke's was new and shiny with Big Fresh and its bobbing animatronics, Potter's Park was the local hangout, and Geoff's Emporium gobbled up all of my pocket money. I come from a family of four children so there was never a dull moment!

What is your connection to Te Wai ō Pareiea/Te Atatū? 

I moved out here close to a decade ago and never left. I was drawn to the coastal vibes, close to the city, sense of community and at the time I was attending an awesome boot camp on Wharf Road that I really miss!

Tell me a little bit about your family 

I live in the classic 60's state house with my partner, our 6-year-old son Bede and little dog Awhi. Bede attends Matipo Primary School and loves riding his bike, football up the road and drama around the corner. It’s so nice to be able to stay local and explore our backyard with the coastal walkway just down the road.

What do you like to do in your free time?

"Free time" with family means bike rides, markets, playgrounds, finishing with a beer in the sun somewhere. When I get a moment for myself it's a film, or theatre performance, hitting the beach, big walks, a nice wine with good company. 

Tell me a little bit about your main job

I am a producer and freelancer in Film and TV working across documentary and scripted projects. It's a hugely collaborative industry that relies on the sum of its parts to make the whole, and that's just how I'm wired, getting everyone behind the vision to deliver something that could not exist without every single person in the room. I love that aspect of our industry and my role in particular.

What made you choose to get involved with Rivercare?  

Film and TV can feel very cerebral, especially through script development where you're living in the abstract for long stretches. Rivercare gives me a chance to translate skills I use every day - fundraising, community building, looking after a team - into something literally grounded in the place where I live. My dear friend Nina Wells (who happens to be the Predator Control Coordinator) saw the opportunity and thought of me, and I'm so glad she did.

There's something really satisfying about working in a small, dedicated team with tangible outcomes. Our success relies on the community mobilising towards a shared vision, which isn't so different from filmmaking when you think about it. 

But honestly, a big part of it is Bede. I want him to understand how special it is here and why we need to look after it. Getting involved with Rivercare opened my eyes to just how remarkable Ōrangihina really is and how at risk our waterways are. I didn't have the full picture before. How incredible would it be for our tamariki to safely play in the awa? It was very cool to be part of the Matariki Planting Day recently, even through the rain there was a real sense of comradery and kinship. That feels worth showing up for!