HUMANS OF ŌTAUTAHI
Jane EDGEWARE
“I grew up in North Canterbury and Waipara. “I’ve been running my accommodation When I was around 10, we moved into the city. business here for 14 years. I specialise in I left a community where I felt I belonged, I internationals. For a long time, I said I was knew people, and they knew me. I moved into building a global family because I’ve become this wild city of Christchurch which was quite very good friends with the people who live shocking to me. It seems quite funny now here. I must have had thousands of people because I really love Christchurch! through here from overseas. I love the “A sense of belonging was really important. I diversity of culture. started thinking about that and how I could “I’m also Chair of the Housing for Women recreate that, so 30 years ago, I had the idea of Trust. We own land out at South Brighton; community living. I bought these properties the beachcomber site is being rebuilt as a in 2007 to form what we now call a co-housing co-housing village for women and children. village. I did have quite a lot of adversity at the We’re committed to providing a way for beginning of this, but I feel blessed with that women to own their own homes and also experience because I became financially savvy, offer affordable or accessible rentals for and I think that I’m in a perfect position now to women and their children. do a co-housing development. I’m very grateful “What I’m really passionate about is for the learnings that I’ve had along the way. connection – human connection – and quality “I love that this property is on the edge of relationships. That people experience happy the four avenues; we’re close enough to be and fulfilled lives, or settled lives, that’s able to walk into the city. important to me.” facebook.com/humansofchch
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