Hekenga / Migrare Asia, Pasifika, Earth:

New Kiwis (Migrants to New Zealand)

Julia, 22, Cave, New Zealand; moved to Dunedin 5 years ago.

“What speaks to me most about this place is simply going back to fresh, flowing water."

"[It] reminds me of adventuring along the riverbed when I was younger. It's cleansing." 

"Moving water, the sound of it – so lush! – takes me back to being in the country, not living in the city like this."

"Takes me back to the Earth.”

Julia lives in Woodhaugh, near the gardens, and prizes this spot - where an old concrete promontory stretches out into the local creek, a deceptively-quiet backwater of the locally-famous Leith, that runs through the gardens.

It's a quick walk from home, an ideal spot on a hot, humid day.

Julia meets quite a few locals here - children paddling, students reading - and lots of runners passing. The gardens' many paths are popular local trails.

A path through the gardens runs just above the stream, so there's passersby to watch as well - and a cacophony of rushing waters that fill the air.

When in flood, the track above can become impassable, as the Leith acts as a drain for the very steep hills and mountains surrounding this side of Dunedin city.

Its notoriety comes from the few days a year when this bucolic little stream becomes a thundering torrent. A kilometre further on, the creek bed becomes a 20 metre wide by 15 metre deep flash-flood graded, high velocity, reinforced concrete channel! The 'raging torrents' that sweep down the Leith draw spectators - and large standing waves have been witnessed along the channeled stretch.

Dunedin has a temperate, tempestuous climate, and many who live here venerate the wildness of the closely surrounding bush-clad mountains, and the frequent storms that leave everything clean.

Julia is a student, like most in her neighbourhood. The housing is largely older, family homes, often in need of repair, but boasting large backyards for bbqs, fire performance, surfboards and friends' tents.