This year the Herald’s award-winning newsroom produced a range of first-class journalism, including investigating the state of our mental health in the Great Minds series, how NZ can rebuild stronger post-Covid with The New New Zealand and how to minimise the impact of living in an Inflation Nation.
This summer we’re bringing back some of the best-read Premium articles of 2022. Today we take a look at New Zealanders whose lives are a little less ordinary but largely unknown.
The secret life of: A $15m Lotto winner
Life changed for Michael after winning $15 million. Photo / Supplied
“I didn’t own a home,” recalls Michael of his life seven years ago. “And I’d just gone through losing someone very close to me.”
He was living with his two adult children and “we didn’t have much”, says Michael, who worked for a not-for-profit in his childhood community, “a place where there were a lot of social issues”. It was a job he was endlessly passionate about.
“I had a little bit of debt. The kids had jobs and we were in a good position. We had a car etcetera. But nothing to a luxurious degree. We never had money, not enough to really value it.”
But that was about to change.
In the space of a year Michael from Porirua’s life changed in the most contrary of ways: He lost a loved one. And he won $15 million. This is the heartwarming story of one man’s generosity, gratitude and humble dedication to his community.
One woman shares her experience working for uber-wealthy men aboard their luxury superyachts. Photo / Getty Images
As she stepped on board the superyacht she’d eyed up when she first arrived in Europe, Courtney had no idea how encountering its owner would impact her life.
Her new boss, a “very powerful” billionaire, renewed her faith in rich people.
Courtney worked for two very wealthy men as a crew member on their superyachts. One was a millionaire sex fiend who flaunted his riches and barked at his staff. The other was a hard-working billionaire who would change the course of her life.
Returning to school in 2022 came with many challenges for students and teachers. Photo / Michael Craig
In my 15 years of teaching, in Auckland, Northland, and the UK, I think this is the hardest time of all. Coming back into the classroom this year is definitely different and strange, wrote an anonymous teacher in February.
From the way we teach to the way children are allowed to interact with us and each other, the Kiwi classroom is a place without singing, without shared learning and facing unprecedented challenges.
A primary school teacher reveals what it was really like teaching under the protocols required to keep kids safe from Covid.
