Consedine, Robert Consedine and Joanna

Robert Consedine was raised in an Irish Catholic 'community' in the working-class Christchurch suburb of Addington. From his involvement with the civil-rights mvoement in the United States to international relief aid visiting of Third World countries, Robert has witnessed the struggle for human dignity in some of the most marginalised environments in the world. Jailed for two weeks for his involvement with the anti-Springbok tour protests of 1981, Robert was deeply affected by stories from Maori prisoners, stories reflecting every kind of dispossession: disconnection from family, land, language, culture, unemployment, abuse, violence, low self-esteem and personal and institutional racism. Joanna Consedine grew up in an environment where she was aware from a young age about what constituted fariness and justice in teh world. Her background inspired her to choose courses at universtiy that deepened these values. After completing her Bachelor of Arts with Honours (First class) (Major: Education), Joanna worked as a tutor of a work-based training programme, facilitating the unemployed and school leavers with no formal qualifications into further training and employment opportunities. Returning home to New Zealand after her OE, Joanna then undertook contract work for Waitangi Associates and now works in career development.;