As someone with South African Indian heritage who has lived in Aotearoa for 20 years, what aspects of Matariki most resonate with you , and do you see any  connections between Matariki and traditions from your culture? 
I truly feel so connected to Matariki! There are so many aspects that hit home for me. What resonates with me the most is the emphasis on reflections. I am a big fan of looking inward for answers and have a daily meditation practice. Also, the focus on family connections and honouring ancestors. Growing up in a South African Indian family, we have similar family and ancestral traditions.The concept of the interconnectedness of all living things—reminds me of Hindu philosophy that recognises how we are all part of an intricate web of life. The celebrations also feel quite similar to Diwali, which is our Hindu New Year. Its also interesting how Matariki's intention-setting is similar to the Hindu tradition of sankalpa, where we set meaningful intentions for our future. These cultural bridges make me feel at home in both worlds 😊
How has taking leadership on RTL's cultural journey connected with your identity?
I'm incredibly grateful to work at a place as diverse as RTL, where I can bring my multicultural  heritage to work every day without any issues. Twenty years in New Zealand has taught me that being a cultural "bridge-builder", particularly at work, is'nt about being perfect. I think that creating spaces where everyone can have some fun while learning something new about each other’s culture without pressure, goes a long way. When I see people from different backgrounds bonding over Matariki celebrations or getting excited about Diwali sweets, it reminds me that our differences can actually bring us closer together. RTL is all about the shared celebrations!
You are part of the Sustainability team at RTL, how has Matariki been a part of this journey?  

I'm incredibly proud of my role in RTL's sustainability journey, though it hasn't always been an easy path. A year into our strategy, I still find myself riding waves of inspiration and sometimes despair—like after attending a seminar on digital overconsumption this week-  where the environmental impacts felt overwhelming. What keeps me going is RTL's genuine commitment to meaningful change.. We have built a culture where it's okay to pause sustainability strategy work - when we're not in the right headspace, as we did recently to avoid turning an initiative into a box-ticking exercise. My personal connection to the natural environment runs deep. I studied biotechnology at uni due to my big interest in the natural world.  But it wasn't until coming to New Zealand that I found a philosophical framework that truly resonated with me. Māori environmental principles have transformed how I approach sustainability, offering practical guidance and spiritual depth to our work at RTL. Matariki celebrations have served as a beautiful and timely annual reminder that our efforts matter. The renewal and reflection in this tradition reinforces for me - that at RTL we moving in the right direction.  Shoutout to our boss Joanne for championing this at senior leadership level and to our MD Reno who has supported and invested in this work. It takes a lot of time, money and commitment. So a big thank you on this.
How are you celebrating Matariki this year?
It would'nt be RTL without food and a dress up, right?! So yes,  I am dressing up in the night colours wearing a saree to work. At home we have decided to light lamps and also do our sankalpa (intention setting) over some shared kai for our flat dinner. I have also shared some of the celebrations pics with my family back home in Mzansi (SA) so they can be a part of our cross cultural traditions.