About Happyzine
Happyzine – where optimism and sustainability meet.
Happyzine is dedicated to focusing on the brighter side of life. We celebrate what’s going well, and dream together about what’s possible. Happyzine is a positive news website, weekly electronic magazine and blog with a strong Aotearoa flavour. We focus on the environment, Maori, youth, and inspiring New Zealanders. Happyzine also includes general good news from around the planet, opinion pieces, blogs, positive thinking success stories, and much, much, more. Check out ‘the team’ below for a more detailed idea of the subjects we focus on:
The Team
Editor – Charlotte Squire
Editor Charlotte Squire has a B.A. with a double major in Politics and Social Policy. 
With a strong focus on positive social change, Charlotte has worked within the environmental arena for the past seven years. Charlotte has worked for a number of New Zealand based environmental organisations including the Green Party, BIO-GRO NZ, and Greenpeace NZ. She has been a freelance writer for the past six years, exploring positive environmental change. She has written for Her Magazine (formerly Her Business Magazine), Organic NZ, Eco-Living, Permaculture UK and Australia, The GB Weekly and Wild Tomato Magazine. Charlotte is a published Creative Writer. She is also a singer/song writer, her debut album Turangawaewae – Place to Stand being played nationwide.
Sub-Editor and Researcher – Marty Mars
Marty has a strong passion for the written world, with a major focus on te ao Maori and conservation. Check out Marty’s blog – which focuses on news about Maori, the environment and anything else that takes his fancy:
Business Coach – Serena Star-Leonard – Star Coaching
I have always had a healthy belief that if you really want to do what you love for a living you can find a way to make it work for you (and done right make it work really well for you!). My coaching practice is designed to guide people who understand that there is something more to life than working 9-5 and who are driven to do something about it.
Recently I noticed that many people were trying to use the internet to create alternate sources of income but made the same costly mistakes time and time again. So much so that I partnered up and created Grassroots Internet Strategy, a small business resource that helps people understand what they really need to know and plan for.
If you have a burning desire to either start or expand I would love to hear from you…
Web Design – Lucid Design
One of Nelson’s leading graphic design and web development studios with over 10 years’ experience
Lucid Design is a graphic design and web development studio with a focus on beautiful, elegant design for web and print.
We are passionate about good design and code and, whether the project is the first step for a startup or spans several months, our talented team has the skills to create wonderful things.
We have a strong commitment to working ethically and sustainably and strive to use ecological, environmentally-friendly materials and processes.
Sub-Editor – John Leonard
“Hey – I am a 33 year old Irish male living with my amazing kiwi wife in Bondi Australia. I have been 
writing stories and poetry since I have been able to think and write. I have traveled the globe far and wide and have some wild travel journals and stories of my days. I spent a few hazy years in Dublin studying English and Philosophy in UCD, sneaking out with a degree. I have a great love of sport and played soccer and GAA at very high levels, always as a custodian of the nets. I have recently given up sweet alcohol and will be blogging the affair on a site called soberpaddy.com. You will be able to see some of the interesting contrasts in my life through my writings as the emerge over the course of the next few years. Watch this space. I always believe you should quote yourself, so here’s one for you – “Always listen to what you believe, but never believe all that you hear”
Accounts – Gabrielle Syben – MYVA
“MyVA is a virtual assistant service for socially and environmentally responsible business. My areas of expertise are accounting, administration and marketing. My approach is to assess client’s needs and problem solve. My aim is to form long term relationships with solopreneurs and small business clients. As a MyVA client you will have a business buddy onboard; who will take on tasks; setup systems; and provide resources and education tailor made to suit your needs.
I started my career in management accounts working for large enterprise – Shell Centre, Eveready House and Wimpey Holdings – in London. Moving to Sydney in the 1970’s I worked as an Accountant, specialising in troubleshooting and systems development. It hasn’t all been about numbers – while raising my children I trained as a silversmith at Peter Mears Westhaven studio, and gained a degree in psychology. In 2001 I set up my first business, specialising in administration and graphic design, working with a wide variety of talented entrepreneurs.
My current business direction has developed from my passion for problem solving, empowering and providing practical support to solopreneurs and small enterprises that are creating positive change for the environment and society.”
gaibz@ihug.co.nz
Illustration – Dave Kingan – Kereru Culture
Kereru Culture (Dave Kingan) has spent the last two years as an artist working for friends and associates doing private commissions and promotional work for events. His passion for the natural surroundings of his home country Aotearoa come together in his work creating reflective, meaningful and thought provoking art and design work. With a strong regard for ethical and environmentally friendly living, Dave uses his creative talents with great depth of perception and love, creating works that aim to inspire and cultivate change within the current society.
Happyzine Bloggers
Hannah Campbell Golden Bay
“I am Hannah the emerging writer-poet dance enthusiast. A gluten-free eating, book-devouring, word-salad kind of girl that laughs at every chance I can get, staring skyward at an unfolding life that is full of surprises. A health focus guides me as I play around with balance and boundaries; learning daily, moving daily, listening carefully to body messages. I make mistakes, I eat chocolate with abandon, I cherish my family and adore my friends. I believe in discovering your passions and following them wherever they lead. I believe in love, in family, in humour and in forgiveness. I believe in strawberries. I struggle just like everyone else but carry little stones in my pocket, stones of hope and a searching for something better. ”
Elissa Jordan – Vegan Food and Yoga
“I am a certified yoga teacher, an urban cyclist, an amerature belly dancer, a practicing vegan and a digital editor. In the past I’ve also worn the hat of journalist, English teacher, world traveler and biochemistry student. I’ve got a writer inside of me that I’m learning to let loose in the world beyond my own notebook. I’m forever learning new things from deepsea diving to rock climbing and a little Japanese. I am many things but mostly I’m just me.”
Theron Burgess – First Time Father
Theron is a stone-worker – creating trails, walls and amazing landscapes. He is also a dedicated first-time 
Dad. Theron has delighted Happyzine readers for the past year with his humble tails of learning to be a Dad, whilst maintaining relations with his wife.
Marcia Meehan - Lover and Reviver of the Honey Bee
“I am an urban beekeeper, I keep two bee hives on my city section. Bees can be kept in urban areas such as roof tops, balconies, small gardens, in fact, anywhere a hive can fit without causing a nuisance to neighbours. I am passionate about keeping bees for their pollination skills and also, to help increase their population worldwide. There has been enormous loss of the honey bee, Apis mellifera across the USA and Europe, as yet the reasons are unsure. Mono-cropping, sprays, insectacides, pesticides and miteacides are some of the ideas talked about . Varroa is pretty much worldwide now and has certainly played a major role in the devastation of the honey bee. I work for a horticultural education centre so to me beekeeping fits in perfectly with my love of trees and plants. I am a Mother and Grandmother, I believe these are my best years – I now have the time to commit to educating the public about the importance of keeping bees, planting gardens that will encourage and feed pollinating insects and generally becoming aware of what we have to do to make sure we save these amazing little insects from certain extinction if we carry on the way we are going.”
Rebecca Toon – Travelling Aotearoa in a van with a laptop “Gathering the Stories”.
“For years I have had a dream of setting up a positive news website to broadcast all the amazing things I have seen happening in the world and Aotearoa. Luckily for me I discovered Charlotte and Happyzine that were dedicated to just that.
I have always been interested in different cultures, environments and ways of living. This interest lead to me to a degree in Development studies (Geography), Criminology and History, and travel in Asia, Africa, Europe, Middle East, India and the South Pacific.
I love settling as well as travelling, and home for years has been beautiful Lyttelton Harbour, on Banks Peninsula, where I have helped set up community projects and worked as a social worker.
I love meeting people addressing real issues in a positive way, and when I discover them I want to share that knowledge with everyone!
Now I feel it is time to step out and explore my own country more. The different people and cultures of this land and look at my own history within it. So I have decided to go on a journey to explore all my ideas in more depth, put myself out of my comfort zone and watch how I grow.
The name I have given to this journey is ’Gathering the Stories’. I will be travelling around the North Island meeting and writing about people up to amazing things related to the environment, arts, music, social issues and whatever other wonderful things I stumble upon.
I invite you to come along with me on this journey. To share any great people and places you would like to see written about and to be inspired by the amazing people and projects flourishing in this incredibly beautiful, special country.
I look forward to sharing my journey with you and welcome any ideas or reflections you may have along the way. Come, be inspired, and enjoy, life is here to be lived!”
“Rose Diamond lived in the Nelson/Golden Bay area of the South Island for 12 years. Her first book, 
Migration to the Heartland: A Soul Journey in Aotearoa, tells of her own journey to wholeness and is a love song to the spiritual beauty of New Zealand; her second book, Living your Passion: How Love-in-action is seeding a Whole New World, presents New Zealand as a potential role model for the world as a peaceful, sustainable society. Rose is a lifelong educator with a passion for whole person learning and a profound fascination with the creative process. Her own particular piece of the puzzle is mapping the inner process of transformation, recording and publishing some of the emerging community models for the new culture, helping to link initiatives locally and globally, and identifying the curriculum for the transition. Through her project, A Whole New World, she holds a vision for global unity through the awakening of consciousness and grassroots empowerment. To find out more about A Whole New World go to: www.awholenewworld.net”
My name is Mary Speller. After raising five children, and working I decided to work for myself. I wanted the freedom of setting my own hours, and creating my own business. Having seen how much business is now done online, I knew I needed to market online online as well as offline to maximise results. I know that network marketing has a large personal development component, and so I allow time to attend courses and webinars, read books and I am constantly looking for better ways to get results in both my personal, and business life.
Glenn Edley – MondayMotivators and MinMotivators
Glenn Edley is the owner and Campaign Director at Spikemail, a managed email marketing company that helps businesses of all sizes communicate effectively with their clients and customers via email. He creates strategies and implements email marketing campaigns for Spikemail clients and consults to several Advertising Agencies.
I’m a freelance writer, author, fanatical gardener, foodie and a passionate believer in the magic and power 
of being outdoors & encouraging lots of unstructured play for children. I’ve worked in a variety of industries including advertising, politics, benevolent organizations and publishing, but writing and being Mum to two outdoor warriors suits me best. I’m currently working on a second book about the power of imagination. I live in Sydney with my adorable husband, two fluffy children and two cheeky puppies – or should that be the other way around? 
. Caro Webster
Lorraine Cuadro – Breastfeeding Expert
Breast-feeding Consultant
Lorraine volunteers most of her time in helping new and experienced mums to breastfeed. As a mother of two she has experienced many breastfeeding issues first hand and knows how difficult it can be. Her passion for breastfeeding is supported by her current role as a breastfeeding counsellor.
To gain access to Lorraine’s Free Breastfeeding Audio Library or to find out about her new eBook “Essential Steps to a Beautiful Breastfeeding Relationship” visit Lorraine at http://www.the-essence-of-breastfeeding.com
Nick Thorburn – http://thecoolkidzclub.webs.com
Hi my name is Nicholas Thorburn and I am an eleven year old male from Auckland, New Zealand. I have grown up to love animals because my father is a customs officer in the drug dog section. I love all things music. I like singing, dancing, acting and modeling. I live in Auckland, New Zealand. I come from a big complicated family of two brothers and four sisters, but they are all half sisters apart from my fourteen year old brother Josh. I am writing for Happyzine because 1: I need the experience for my school work and 2: It is lots of fun. I found Happyzine through a television show called Breakfast and I hope that I can keep writing for Happyzine as long as I live.
Creative Writer
John Leonard – see John’s bio above as Sub-Editor
loading...
loading...
