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■ EVERYDAY PEOPLE A magazine ad changed my life

By Heat er Mackenzie photographers@theguardian.co.nz A chance purchase of a winter magazine in her home country changed Tokiyo Hall’s life and set her on a trajectory that would eventually see her living on the other side of the world. B orn in the large city of Kyoto, Japan which has a population 1.5 million plus, Hall found herself drawn to skiing from a very y oung age.

This enthusiasm saw her follow her passion into working as a ski instructor in Myoko, thought to be one of Japan’s oldest ski areas.

It was here that she purchased the travel magazine featuring an article and accommodation advertisement for Methven and her dream of travelling and teaching skiing in New Zealand was born.

“After seeing that, I thought New Zealand was the place for me.”

Once again fate intervened and on a rainy day in Myoko, Hall found herself at a loose end due to the weather, so she snuck into a local café to get out of the rain.

“When I was in there this Kiwi guy spoke to me in broken Japanese, about how wet I was from the rain.”

It turned out that chatty-chap was none other than Methven’s own Jamie Allen, husband of Shino who had placed the accommodation advertisement in the magazine Hall had been reading earlier.

“He told me to write to Shino about visiting Methven, so I did, and she told me I should come to Methven.”

A skiing accident in Japan meant Hall’s Methven travel plans had to be put on hold for three years.

When she was 22 and fully recovered from her skiing inju ry, Hall waved goodbye to her family and fr iends at the airport and set out for Methven for her first visit.

“I loved it so much here, I kept coming back each winter from then on.”

Over that time Hall did 20 winters back-to-back between New Zealand and Japan.

Even though Hall’s dream was to teach skiing in New Zealand, ironically that is one of the jobs she did not do at Mt Hutt.

Her first year in Methven Hall was travelling on a three-month tourist visa, which meant she couldn’t work.

“I was here just being a skibum really, spending my time skiing and competing in races.” Changes to her visa appli cations meant she was able to enter the countr y on short-term working visas.

Hall made the most of this and over the next few seasons at Mt Hutt she worked in the snow shop, for the lift department, was mountain hostess and even did a stint in the café.

During these years she was often called on by the ski patrol

There are people from all walks of life, scattered across the Ashburton District. Today we launch a new series, Everyday People, in which we get to know those out there in the community. Not necessarily because they have excelled or are doing something spectacular, but more just because they are here and a part of the landscape.

in order translate for an injured Japanese guest and this planted the ski patrol option in Hall’s mind.

“I thought to myself, I can ski, and I speak English, so patrolling would be a good fit for me.”

In 1996 she became a fully qualified ski patroller after completing her training over the previous two seasons. This training she then took back to Japan where she worked as a ski patroller for a number of winters as well.

“The ski patrollers at Mt Hutt were so nice. They told me I was part of a team and if I needed help just ask. Plus, they treated me like an equal.”

Hall pointed out that back in Japan being treated like an equal didn’t always happen.

She recalled one time when the patrollers were called out to find a missing skier, Hall was gearing up to go out too.

“The head patroller said to me that I couldn’t go out with the males. He said it was the female patrollers’ job to stay behind and make lunch.”

That comment didn’t go down well with the feisty five-foot something extremely capable ski patroller.

“I know I am short and there are some things I can’t do, but at least I can try.”

Fast forward to 1999, by now Hall had purchased a house in Methven had a pet dog and had been working at the Methven i-SITE for two years, so she de cided the next logical step was to apply for r esidency. “I wanted to stay here, as Methven is like a big family. Everybody says hi to each other and are always willing to help out when needed.”

At the time the population of New Zealand was declining and as a result the government of the time were practically giving residencies away.

“But not to me. Because I didn’t have any university qual ifications New Zealand did not want me .” Once word of her plight got around the town the locals soon got behind her.

In no time at all, 96 locals, including Jenny Shipley, had put pen to paper supporting her bid to stay here.

“Once Jenny Shipley got in volved things moved pretty fast and I got my r esidency within two months.”

At around the same time she got together with her future husband, long-time Mt Hutt staff member Mike Hall. The pair married in 2003 and went on to have two boys, Connor and Lochlainn.

Although Hall has made many trips back to Japan over the years, last year was the first time the whole family went on a skiing holiday to Japan.

“The boys loved it. It was re ally nice for them to go to their her itage place.” Hall has no regrets about making Methven her home and said she is lucky to be here.

“It was always my dream to live in New Zealand and luckily for me that dream has come true. I feel warm and safe here and not like a foreigner at all.”

“Funny if Shino had never put that ad in the magazine I may never have come here.”