Ha Long Bay – The Descending Dragon
In the northeast of Vietnam, where the Gulf of Tonkin meets the sky, lies Ha Long Bay, a place where time seems to stand still.Known as "Descending Dragon", this breathtaking UNESCO World Heritage Site is part of an ancient archipelago spanning 1,553 km², home to 1,969 islets carved from limestone over millions of years.Here, nature tells its own stories through:Towering karst formations standing guard over emerald watersCaves, sinkholes, and underground streams shaping a hidden worldEchoes of ...
March 10, 2025Hanoi – A City of Culture, Coffee, and Chaos
Hanoi, the City of Lakes, is a place where ancient traditions and modern vitality collide in the most seamless way.Here, life moves at a hypnotic pace, motorbikes weave through the streets like a synchronised dance, lantern-lit alleyways lead to hidden temples, and the air is rich with aromas of sizzling street food and freshly brewed coffee.Even in the midst of this whirlwind, I spot something familiar, an odd Kiwi sign, a small reminder that no matter how far we travel, connections to home fin...
March 9, 2025Silk Threads That Bind Us
In 1986, I set off on a six-month journey through Nepal and India, carrying a trusty 20kg green canvas pack on my back and a camera in hand.Though I had spent time in Hong Kong in 1979, it was my Himalayan trek and travels through the Asian subcontinent that truly immersed me in the rich cultures and traditions of Eastern South Asia....
March 8, 2025Rediscovering My Archaeologist Spirit at Angkor
Temperature: 35-37°CFeels like the 40s. No humidity. No wind.As I stood in the heart of Angkor, one of Southeast Asia’s most significant archaeological sites, memories of my childhood curiosity came rushing back.At 12 or 13 years old, sitting in my Queenstown classroom, I was captivated by the Mayans of Central America—their extraordinary mathematical, astronomical, and architectural achievements. That feeling of wonder and awe never left me.I poured my fascination into a school project on ...
March 5, 2025Confronting Vietnam’s History Up Close
March 2, 2025 – A caveat before we begin: Today’s journey was a challenging one. Walk gently with me.History is often best understood not through books, but through experience—through standing where others once stood, seeing what they saw, and feeling the weight of their stories....
March 2, 2025The Road Less Travelled - First Steps in Vietnam
March 1, 2025 – My first tour to Vietnam, a land I had only known through distant echoes of history. Growing up in Queenstown, Aotearoa, New Zealand, in the 1960s and early 70s, my world was shaped by the forests of Robins Rd, the vast waters of Lake Wakatipu, and the towering Remarkables and Ben Lomond. Our Wakatipu Basin community felt isolated, surrounded by mountains and rivers that sometimes made travel impossible. Yet, despite that distance, the ripple effects of war found their wa...
March 1, 2025Reflection and Empathy
There are few moments more fulfilling in life than seeing your children thrive and contribute to the world in ways that embody the values you hold dear. Reading this powerful piece by my son, Dr. Pounamu Jade Aikman, fills me with immense pride. His work as a kaupapa Māori researcher and advocate for the humanities is a profound reflection of the lessons our whānau holds close: the importance of empathy, cultural grounding, and fostering meaningful connections.Pounamu’s insights into the 'fl...
December 9, 2024Waiata in the Woolshed: In Conversation with Glenn Colquhoun
On October 17, 2024, Anah had the honour of being the MC for Waiata in the Woolshed, an event that provided a unique opportunity to meet author and GP Glenn Colquhoun from the Horowhenua....
October 17, 2024Reflections on the Global Nurses' Voices Speaker Series
In February 2024, I had the privilege of speaking at the Global Nurses' Voices Speaker Series, an innovative outreach by the Nightingale Initiative for Global Health (NIGH). This series brought together nurses, including students and retirees, to share stories advocating for healing, resilience, and collaboration worldwide....
February 16, 2024What I do know it will
I am flying across Moemoea the Qantas wing to my left. East to west. It feels, on this day, a Saturday, the day after my first international speaking opportunity, that the stars have now aligned. Now is the time that big dreams are being realised. A Korowai of many braids is growing stronger, the pattern bolder and the voice clearer. I have for a very long time known, felt, the puku intuition, in the second brain, in the stomach, that I would be sharing my experiences a...
September 9, 2023Work to break down barriers to Māori health, recognised
Article by Esther Ashby-Coventry ...
August 17, 2021Becoming an Integrative Nurse Coach: Insights from New Zealand's First Workshop
Article by Louise Bobbitt – Kai Tiaki Nursing New Zealand vol 27 no 7 August 2021.10 Louise Bobbitt, RN, PGDipNurs, INC, is a clinical nurse specialist in oncology at Auckland District Health Board, and an integrative nurse coach and mindfulness-based stillness meditation teacher. ...
August 10, 2021From Timaru to Harvard: Dr. Pounamu Jade Aikman's Inspiring Journey
Article by Keiller MacDuff...
July 17, 2021Trauma-Informed Care: Timaru’s First National Training Day Draws a Full House
(Story from Timaru Herald – Writer Keiller MacDuff, Photos Valentina Bellomo) ...
July 6, 20215 Essential Self-Care Practices for a Healthier You
Self-care is a key component of integrative nurse coaching. We don’t often think about the importance of taking care of ourselves, especially when we’re so busy taking care of other people. But the truth is out: you deserve a little self-care just as much as the next person!Giving yourself a moment to breathe and reset in the midst of your daily life can benefit you in a very real way. You don’t need to go all-out and spend a chunk of money on an ‘Eat Pray Love’ kind of reawakening eit...
February 6, 2021Reflections on Our Central Otago Retreat
Adventures often begin with a spontaneous moment and the opportunity to just do it.Creating out-of-the-ordinary travel and wellness experiences for women was deeply woven into my sense of purpose. Guiding, inspiring, and empowering women to become more than they believed possible brought me great joy. Watching women let go and fly was a privilege. Experiencing discomfort allowed us to grow lifelong lessons. Meaningful conversations and new experiences that stimulated different ways of being and ...
November 25, 2020Delivering Integrative Nurse Coaching to Aotearoa
New Zealand may be small, but we are mighty. We’re proud to have hosted the International Nurse Coach Association’s first ever accredited nurse coach program outside of the USA.Having both studied at the International Nurse Coach Association, Heather Leong and I decided to bring their compassionate teachings to this small slice of paradise we call home....
November 17, 2020Living in Lockdown
My daughter has been living in Melbourne for the past year. I asked her to share her experience of isolation, restrictions, and lockdown.This is her story.A COVID-19 CalendarMarch...
August 13, 2020Change From Within
True change starts on the inside When we talk about personal change, we are talking about the stuff on the inside. The negative beliefs we hold, positive values we hide, and the perspectives we need to broaden and grow.Drastic changes like reaching our goal weight, moving to another city, starting a new job or completely upending what we know as ‘normal’ won’t always bring us the internal shift we’d hoped for.Why outer change is not the same as changing from within Wherever we ...
April 12, 2020The Importance of Values-Based Leadership
What is values-based leadership?Values-based leadership is the act of leading by, through and because of one’s values. We’re talking about the good, honest values, like kindness, empathy, self-reflection and growth.Practicing these values in your daily life will have you leading by example – whether you see yourself as a leader or not. Because being a leader isn’t about being loud, charismatic and popular.It’s about being true to who you are, working on your own development and growth,...
April 2, 2020Exploring Integrative Nurse Coaching
Changing lifestyle and behaviour to improve wellbeingOver the years, many people have asked me the question: what is Integrative Nurse Coaching?Integrative Nurse Coaching is the practice of honing in on lifestyle and behavioural changes to improve wellbeing.Put another way, it is an integrative approach to health and wellness actioned through the dynamic health lens of Nurses.What does it take to become an Integrative Nurse Coach?Nurses have a very unique perspective....
March 26, 2020How We Stayed Human During COVID-19
COVID-19 is impacting the world in a huge wayBy now, we’ve all heard the story: the devastating consequences of COVID-19 are changing the world as we know it.During this time, we must stay connected to our values and keep being human. We must learn to adapt, be open to change, grow in resilience and choose love over fear.We cannot control the spread of COVID-19. But we can control the way we react to it....
March 21, 2020Celebrating 2020: The International Year of the Nurse and the Midwife
The World Health Organisation have declared 2020 as the International Year of the Nurse and the Midwife....
February 8, 2020The Essentials of Integrative Nurse Coaching – Christchurch 2020
When?9 – 4.30 pmSaturday 17 & Sunday 18October 2020Where?The Welder20-26 Welles Street,Christchurch 8011...
January 20, 2020The Essentials of Integrative Nurse Coaching – Waikato 2020
When?9 – 4.30 pmSaturday 26 & Sunday 27September 2020Where?Te Kopua MaraeMorgan Rd PokuruTe Awamutu...
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