Newsmaker: Sam Edwards-Tuilave

SEEKING CHANGE: Newsmaker Sam Edwards-Tuilave organised this week's march raising awareness about domestic violence. PHOTO/BEN FRASER 190914bf1.JPG

This week's Newsmaker is Sam Edwards-Tuilave who organised the Rotorua March to Change New Zealand's Shame, to raise awareness for domestic and sexual violence, which was held earlier this week.

Tell us a bit about yourself?

I moved here seven years ago, married a local man and we now have two children, Aled, 4, and Malia who is 5 months.

I have a brother living in Nelson but the rest of my family are at home in Wales. I like to be active. I ran the Rotorua Marathon last year and I enjoy meeting people and learning from them.

Tell us a bit about where you're from in Wales?

I am from a village called Aberdare in South Wales. I miss home but there are many aspects here that remind me of home.

I speak a little Welsh but I wish I was fluent. I am enthusiastic about the survival of native languages and culture and I love the culture that surrounds me in Rotorua.

My home used to be thriving with coal mines but most of them are closed now.

The Welsh people are usually very inquisitive and friendly and love the All Blacks. I feel very proud to be Welsh.

Tell us about your job as a teacher?

At the moment I am on maternity leave, I go back to work in January next year. I work at Rotorua Girls' High School teaching English and Social Studies.

I love my job and it is great to be around teachers who are passionate about what they do. It is a very forward thinking school and I like that.

What motivated you to organise the march against domestic violence?

I heard the main march was in Wellington and the organisers suggested that people hold their own march in their town towns if they can't make it to Wellington. I didn't hear about anyone organising a march here so I thought I should.

I am passionate about women's rights and feel strongly about keeping children safe so it seemed right for me to organise the march.

The statistics regarding domestic violence and child homicide in New Zealand are quite shocking. I think we all need to work together to tackle this.

What do you do in your free time?

I don't get much free time these days, but when I do I enjoy running and catching up with friends.

What do you love about Rotorua?

I love how central it is to everywhere and I love being immersed in the culture.

Tell us three things about yourself most people wouldn't know?

I have a tattoo, I was a cabaret singer in the valleys for more than 10 years and I once slept in a Sri Lankan airport because I had my wallet stolen so didn't have any money to stay at a motel.