[Dawn]

Really, really interested to hear the bit about the kids freedom and school.

I worry about Lauren a little. She is 16 and it's her last day at school today!! Here she is off with her friends most nights, going to see her mates bands play in local gigs and stuff, well when she's not dancing of course. She doesn't know what the scene is like there, neither do we, she worries that she won't be able to do the things she can here. Her friends are important to her and I really think the friend network she makes in NZ will be the difference between her staying and wanting to come home in a year or so. She is of course of that age where she may want to be hanging around these 'hoon' guys you describe although she is very sensible and has never ever been in any trouble here. hanging out on the streets at night isn't her style.

Charlie hates school, he's 11. So I really need school to be a positive experience for him otherwise he'll be hankering for home as well. He is very sporty. He's in every sports team going and makes friends that way but he is concerned they don't play footy in NZ as he isn't a rugby fan. He has a lot of freedom at the moment because we live semi-rurally. He goes out with his mates as soon as he comes in from school and they're playing in the farmers fields, building dens, climbing haystacks, rope-swinging across the river etc. I am so aware that he has to build these networks back up again quickly. He is very sensitive and may become low if he feels trapped in!!

Add to this that we don't have PR and so aren't entitled to education and you'll see that he can't go straight into making friends at school. We'll have to find ways for him to find other young people. And GET THOSE ELUSIVE JOBS AND PERMITS ASAP!!!!