Laura Willan is a relatively new arrival in Selwyn, but is deeply connected in her new community, running her own business, working as a youth worker with local teenagers and becoming the social focal point for her local neighbourhood.

The mother-of-three says moving to Rolleston is the best thing her family ever did and is here to stay.

“I think Rolleston is a really special community and really clearly defined because of the school communities,” says Willan, who was initially annoyed that the school zones were predetermined, but has since embraced the community benefits.

“I feel that our kids now have this amazing community because everyone over this side of town goes to Rolleston Primary. So, they walk the same way every day with their neighbours and they've grown up together with their kids.”

The 42-year-old says that the ‘village’ also keeps an eye on her children when they fall off their scooter or make a detour for an early morning snack.

“You immediately get a phone call when something happens because you really have eyes in the back of your head when you live in Selwyn,” laughs Willan, who adds that the network spreads even further when the children’s sports activities overlap school circles.

“The kids end up with amazing adults and mentors around them, which just grew naturally because we live in Selwyn.”

Willan arrived in Selwyn in 2015 because of the Christchurch Housing Trust initiative by former Christchurch Mayor Gary Moore, who relocated undamaged homes from the Residential Red Zone.

“We were so lucky to be part of this project, because it enabled us to move from a two-bedroom home in Linwood to a new four-bedroom house in Rolleston with a large section without having to change our mortgage,” says Willan whose family needed a fresh start in Rolleston after an extremely stressful few years.

Laura and husband Jeremy had spent many years working with youth in the Linwood area, at times feeding 20-30 youngsters at their home, or taking in young mothers with no safe place to go.

“At the end we just didn’t have the capacity anymore, emotionally or mentally, so we needed a break and move somewhere where people would no longer knock on our door.”

Aside from supporting youth in Linwood, the family had plenty of its own challenges and when daughter Jamie-lee lost her battle with leukaemia, the couple had reached their limits.

“We were just totally overwhelmed. Coming to Rolleston was like a fresh break and slowed down the pace of life.”

The couple both found new work, with Willan moving into the wine industry, as a sales representative for family wineries and distilleries.

Unfortunately, life threw another curveball when the role was disestablished after a few years, only two months from giving birth to her youngest child.

Willan took up the challenge and started her own wine business Wine Divine.

“I really love the wine industry. It brings back memories from when my parents would have friends around and would talk for hours over a bottle of wine.

“We started a wine club to create that same feeling from walking into a room with strangers, but at the end of the night there's no strangers after sharing good food, good wine and conversations.”

The company gained momentum and morphed from just selling wine to providing bar services at weddings and parties and hosting wine or whiskey tastings.

The Covid-19 pandemic brought the events calendar to a grounding halt, so Willan used the slow-down to get back into familiar territory.

“My youngest was just going to school, so I had more time for a regular job and wanted to get back into that youth space.”

The timing was perfect, with alternative education provider Tumanako setting up a school in Rolleston to cater for Selwyn students.

Willan says the programme caters for students who need “a bit of a circuit breaker” from their schools, usually for one or two terms.

“There are lots of reasons why they come to us, but we support them with their numeracy and literacy and work towards their NCEA Level 1 qualification.”

The programme also supports others to find employment when they turn 16, thanks to a partnership with well-known teenage mentor Peter Reynolds from Moral Compass and his connections with CORDE.

With her day-job and three children, Willan had to become a time-management expert as her business is growing steadily, working closely with G&T Catering at Larcomb Winery and hosting more tasting events.

“People in Selwyn definitely like a social drink and entertaining at home.”

“When we moved into our a cul-de-sac we organised a street party that grew into a Facebook group that we now use to help each other or invite neighbours for a drink on Friday.

“That can be outside on the berm, but often at my house, because they know I may have one or two bottles of wine in the garage,” laughs Willan.

Last modified: 22 Aug 2025 10:14am