We are Mathias and Christin Schaeffner, both born in rural East Germany and went to school together for nine years. We were born in 1984 and were schooled in the early years after the fall of the wall. It is only due to the benefit of hindsight that we can now see what we have come to enjoy: we enjoyed the benefit of growing up rurally without the distractions of big city life. We grew up in a world with landlines and only emerging internet. The internet was exiting as it provided for the exchange of information, without replacing real world relationships. We also grew up with a generation of teachers who for the first time in their careers, were free to teach ethics, social sciences, philosophy, languages and politics without much government interference. We are both eternally grateful for having enjoyed their passion, knowledge and commitment. It has allowed us to develop a profound commitment to what it means to be a citizen in a democratic society.

As adults, we both lived internationally - Mathias in the UK and USA and Christin in France and ended up having our older two children in the heart of Berlin. We felt that something was missing and after visiting New Zealand, we knew what it was: a strong sense of community and the connection to pristine nature, which we found in this country. Now, nearly eight years later, it has undoubtedly become home. We live on a 2,3ha completely off the grid rural lifestyle property in the Tasman District. We are nestled amongst wonderful people and feel much supported and appreciated. Our children feel like any other child in New Zealand with the benefit of having to languages to call their own. We are much grateful for what we have received and what to give back to shape a better future for all people in this beautiful country.

Due to our experience with local government over the lat few years, we believe there is much that needs to be done when it comes to local authorities conducting their business in an open and democratically accountable manner. We started a membership-based non-profit organisation Tasman Democracy Inc. The way we work is inspired by the work of the New Zealand Council for civil liberties and supportive of the Ombudsman’s call from 2019 for an independent oversight body for local authorities following the concerning findings from his investigation, especially of the Christchurch City Council. One of the former Christchurch City Council Senior Leadership team is now CEO of the Tasman District Council.

As parents we feel it is important that our children will not only remember that they are unseen and unheard, be it by the Council or Police, but that eventually, the system regards them just as much part of it than everybody else. This is what motivates us.