Chloe Wright and daughter Belinda Hainge. Photo/supplied
Chloe Wright and Belina Hainge
The apple doesn't fall far from the tree when it comes to Chloe Wright and her daughter Belinda Hainge.
From a shared passion for helping people, to having the same laugh and dress sense, these two have plenty in common.
The tight-knit pair see each other nearly every day, and this Mother's Day Belinda will be celebrating her mum, who she describes as "a mum you can be proud of and trust to give good advice".
"She's one of those mums where all your friends say 'your mum's so cool'," Belinda laughs.
Both Chloe and Belinda love to be busy, and Belinda says she's like her mother in many ways.
"We both love studying, and have kept it up well into our adult years," Belinda says. "Mum is always very busy and has accomplished a lot, which in turn has made me a very busy person, always with at least five projects on the go.
"We have the same laugh, which sounds like a guinea pig wanting to be fed! We have a similar dress sense, although I swipe her clothes a lot more than she swipes mine. And we both love helping people. We both ride horses and absolutely love watching crazy cat videos on YouTube."
As for Chloe, she says she and Belinda are both extremely enthusiastic and optimistic, and are both "storytellers".
"When Belinda was a child, at bedtime she always wanted me to tell a story, not to read one from a book, and now she is the family poet for family occasions. "We both love creative cooking, gardening, animals, nature, and diversity of people. I think daughters become their mothers; I have become my mother and that makes me happy."
Together with husband Wayne, Chloe established the Wright Family Foundation, which supports a number of key organisations and events in New Zealand - all with the aim of helping individuals achieve their goals through education.
Working together on the Wright Family Foundation is a shared passion for Chloe and Belinda.
"For our family, work, fun, and play are interwoven. As the family grows we all become involved in whatever helpful way we can to provide support for each other. This naturally extends outside of the familial area. Belinda and I are just part of a big team and that is what makes us strong."
As Chloe and Belinda celebrate Mother's Day with the rest of their family, the pair are excitedly anticipating the next step in their journey together - Belinda is in her second trimester of pregnancy with her first child.
Belinda is looking forward to having her baby at Bethlehem Birthing Centre, of which Chloe is the founder and director.
"We are both so excited. Mum is already a wonderful grandmother to her other grandchildren, and I can't wait to become a mother myself."
Wendy and Hannah Simister
This Mother's Day will be extra special for Wendy Simister and her daughter Hannah.
The arrival of Hannah's daughter Sophie in November means this will be Hannah's first Mother's Day as a mum - and Wendy's first as a doting grandmother. It's clear this blue-eyed bonny baby has brought plenty of laughter and joy to her family, bringing her mum and grandmother even closer together than they were before.
Not only do Hannah and Sophie live with Wendy, but 24-year-old Hannah has worked in the family business - Tauranga fashion institution Wendy's Boutique on Eleventh Ave - since she was 18.
And Wendy has been part of her granddaughter's life since the very beginning - even being present at her birth, which Wendy says was a privilege.
"Hannah has just been the most amazing mother. I'm really proud of her, because having a baby is one of the best things you do in life, but also one of the hardest things you do.
It has been really special to be part of it, and the fact that Hannah and Sophie live with me makes it even better."
Hannah says becoming a mum has deepened her relationship with her mother, and given her a new appreciation for all she's done for her. "Before I had Sophie, I didn't quite understand just how intense the love is. Mum has been an amazing help with Sophie."
Family is everything to Wendy and it's clear that these family values are shared by Hannah. Wendy, who is also mum to son Mathew, 28, is close to her three sisters, and her parents live next door on the 1.5 acre section Wendy lives on at Te Puna.
Wendy has owned her boutique for 32 years - since before Hannah was born - so a young Hannah grew up in the shop. Wendy remembers her trying on high heels and befriending the staff and customers.
Before I had Sophie, I didn't quite understand just how intense the love is. Mum has been an amazing help with Sophie.
Wendy says she was careful never to place any expectations on her children to join the family business, but she was thrilled when at 18, Hannah decided to come on board after completing a course in travel, tourism and business.
In their downtime, Hannah and Wendy love shopping together, going away for weekends and watching their favourite TV shows.
They also love to have a laugh together. "Becoming a mum, you re-look at what's important. Being able to have family around and enjoy them is what's important - there's a lot of people who don't have the opportunity or blessing of family."
And in keeping with that, Mother's Day will be a big celebration in this household - a big family dinner with four generations and Wendy's sisters. "I can't wait," Wendy beams.
Katrina Hulsebosch
On Saturday mornings you'll find Katrina Hulsebosch in her happy place - cheering on the sidelines as her 7-year-old son plays rugby.
It's time she cherishes all the more, because during the week Katrina can be found at her desk, hard at work in her role as a director at top Tauranga law firm Harris Tate.
Katrina is a busy working mum who loves both her roles - and now, as an employer herself, she's helping other mums achieve the work-life balance they crave.
When Katrina talks about her life, the word "juggle" comes up a lot. "I love working. It is a juggle, but we make it work," says Katrina, who is mum to Eliana, 8, and Cole, 7, and married to Shay.
"I'm home every night for dinner, even if it means taking work home and doing it after the kids are in bed."
Katrina says guilt is part and parcel of being a working mum - she often misses her kids' after-school activities such as swimming, flippaball and horse riding.
But she consoles herself with the fact she's doing important work that she loves - and she's providing an excellent example for her children.
"Whenever I start feeling guilty about it, I think about the positive impact it's having on my kids, especially my daughter, being able to see a female doing this job. You really can do anything."
Katrina joined Harris Tate following maternity leave with her youngest, as the firm was flexible towards her working part-time hours. For three years, she worked three days a week.
At Harris Tate we have a lot of part-time mums, because we understand what it's like to be a working mother. We are really supportive of that.
As an employer, Katrina says it can also be a juggle having part-time staff on the team - there are sometimes empty desks, and logistical challenges when a child is sick. But supporting part-time workers is "so worth it", she says, because mums make excellent employees.
"To go back to work when you have got young children, you have to be organised, manage your time well and be committed."
Katrina says she couldn't do her job without the support of Shay, and a wider support network of family and friends, including an Oma and Opa who are on hand to assist with school pick-ups when needed.
With work such a big part of Katrina's life, she cherishes time off with her family. Weekends are spent enjoying time on their 10-acre lifestyle block, where they have chickens, miniature cows and two dogs.
The family loves sports - mountain biking at the Redwoods is a shared passion, and they love being out on their boat.
Then there's Cole's rugby games. "I'm so happy I can be there. Life feels like it has just the right balance."
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