Joanna Paul artist, poet, film maker and activist with son Felix

I was just 24 when my mother passed away tragically. Our last time together was a trip to the bird sanctuary Tiritiri Matangi an island located 30km north east of central Auckland. It was nice I remember the packed lunch of blue vein cheese sandwiches. My mother drew me often and wrote poetry dedicated to me also. One of these poems captures me kayaking on Duddings Lake south of Wanganui on one of our many trips together. There's a picture of me in an interesting looking pool, perhaps ironically mum's final moments were in a hot spa. We also ventured to Greymouth and Dunedin where I was born in 1978. Jane my aunt passed away 15 years after my mother, she was like my real mum. I lived with her at times growing up, when I was child and as a teenager in Wellington.

Photos depict the Paul Family, Joanna Paul and Felix Harris.