Feb 2026 · Issue
Celebrations
Mairangi Bay · Auckland · New Zealand
Inside This Issue
Cover
Celebrations
Feb 2026
Contents
Inside This Issue
7 articles
Mum's Note
In February, we experienced many beginnings. Each of us stepped out with a flutter in our hearts — new schools, new classrooms, new friends and teachers waiting to be met.
Every day here feels like a small act of courage. We step into a new classroom with a flutter in our hearts, quietly hopeful for the days ahead — much like the day we first arrived in Aotearoa. It's been just over a year now, and slowly — child and parent alike — we are finding our footing in this life.
Growth is the kind of thing you can't quite see as it happens. There are days of wandering and stumbling, and days when a single fall feels like the whole world — days that end in tears on the floor. Then one day you look back, and find yourself noticeably grown. Through the growing pains of rushing to become — we look forward to meeting a version of ourselves that is just a little steadier on the other side.
Article
Mum's Note
Yussi
Arcade & Windsor Park
We went to fly the drone with Shua's family. We were going to Windsor Park, but it started raining.
So we moved to the Westfield mall arcade. We usually only waste money on it, but this time Min won a cute capybara stuffed doll, on her first try! Jin and Shua played a watergun game and karaoke, singing Golden😎!
Article
Arcade & Windsor Park
Hyun
Up the Coast: Matakana-Omaha
Matakana Farmers Market is one of the most well-known farmers markets in the region. From the moment you arrive, the energy of a lively morning greets you — and on market days, the crowds are proof of just how loved this place is.
The wooden stalls and rustic surroundings give it a genuinely old-fashioned, homegrown feel — the kind of place that hasn't tried to be anything other than itself. You'll find a wonderful variety of fresh produce, locally made artisan goods, and clever second-process products that showcase what the region has to offer.
Plenty of little things to discover along the way, too. The surrounding shops add to Matakana's charm: Matakana Market Kitchen and Village Kitchen are firm favourites for a bite to eat, Matakana Village Books is a sweet little bookshop full of beautiful cards and gifts, and Hub — a lovely book café right at the entrance — is the kind of place you don't want to leave.
• Open every Saturday, 8am–1pm, rain or shine
• Bring your own bags or baskets
Article
Up the Coast: Matakana-Omaha
Min, Hyun
J's Birthday
24th February is Jin’s birthday. She was waiting for her birthday from January and finally the dream day has come!
On Jin's birthday, she got so many presents. She got a mermaid swimming toy from me, pink shoes from her bestie Shua's family, baby stroller from Min, jewel sticker and mermaid dress, Elsa beauty toy, barbie car and princess sticker from Mum and Dad. Grandma sent her KR snacks, and we bought candies for her unicorn piñata.
The real party started in the afternoon. At the party, we sang birthday song to Jin and she blew out the candles on the cake. Next we did a fun piñata! The first person who hit the pinata was the birthday girl, Jin. She hit the piñata very hard but it just moved a little. We hit the pinata many times in turn, and at last it exploded! We grabbed the candies and brought them to the table to eat together. Jin loved her birthday!
Article
J's Birthday
Hyun
First Day
I watch them from behind — school uniforms, oversized bags, a line of small backs moving forward. Min, my dependable compass — always out front, clearing the path without complaint. Hyun, my tender-hearted one — holding her little sister's hand, so no one falls behind. Jin, my smallest hero — tucks her fears quietly into little heart, eyes forward, never looks back. I walk behind them, at a distance. Children only find their own way when their parents learn to step back.
Article
First Day
Yussi
Waitangi Day
Waitangi Day is a special day in New Zealand. It celebrates the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi, when Māori chiefs and the British Crown signed an agreement together. This treaty is like the country's founding document.
The main celebrations happen at the Treaty Grounds in the Bay of Islands. People start very early — at 5 AM! There are large waka (canoe) on the water, music concerts, market stalls, and cultural performances. It is a day of celebration, but also a day when people stop and think.
Waitangi Day is a public holiday in Aotearoa New Zealand. The work of honouring what the Treaty truly means — and of restoring Māori rights and self-determination — is still going on today. We celebrate Waitangi Day so that no one forgets that promise.
Article
Waitangi Day
Min
Little Notes
A February morning, still new and uncertain — but they set off on their adventures anyway, brave and unhesitating.
— Yussi
Article
Little Notes
Yussi