I truly believe there will be an aspect of this interview that resonates with any listener, as we explored his childhood, growing up with a single mum in a small town in Ontario, deciding to leave home and ride his bicycle around the world, meeting my mum and pursuing a more mainstream life path for many years before divorcing and eventually setting sail on this world voyage. So, after a bumpy ride in the punctured, half-inflated dinghy to and from the boat in Sarangan to collect the equipment, we successfully set up in our unique little villa in Uluwatu for a wonderful conversation.

In February 2022, I had the privilege of sitting down with Ayla over a few ginger beers and picking her brain about all things te reo Māori, te ao Māori, living overseas, education, language, working in the public sector here in Wellington, and what we could all do to contribute more to our communities. Despite the fact that Ayla is younger than I am, she inspires me endlessly. I hope you’ll enjoy reading her words as much as I enjoyed hearing them.

I lay alert in their guest bed, taking in my new surroundings. After months on the boat, I was extremely conscious of the stillness. I realized how familiar I had become with every sound on the boat. The dull rattling of the anchor chain, the creaks of the wooden floor boards, the ocean. These sounds were replaced with new ones that night.