Survival kit: Thinking outside the box

Rez Ruaine (centre) with Roka Ti Miha and son Tiparere Puru. Photo/Stuart Munro

Rez Ruaine has come up with an affordable survival kit in a milk bottle.

She introduced it at Te Ora Hou's Stone Soup last weekend and has also shown it to a women's group at Tawhero School.

Ms Ruaine developed the idea when she first saw a presentation at her Church of Latter Day Saints.

The kits can last for 72 hours, and others for three months up to a two-year storage.

Thinking outside the box once she started developing the kits, Ms Ruaine enrolled in Te Wananga o Aotearoa one-year certificate in business management with Lou Brider, to help further her independence.

"I want to do something to benefit myself. I want to show my 13-year-old son that education has a promised future.

"It's okay to try things, if you feel it is for you. When you follow your dreams the opportunities open up."

Ms Ruaine said her business study had opened up ideas that had been sitting in her mind.

"I want to bring out those ideas, the survival kit is one, and help people who may be struggling like me.

"We are capable of building our own dreams and wealth and also show that if they can do so, can we."