Woman’s Day New Zealand – August 26, 2019

TEXT: CLOE WILLETTS. PICTURES: MICHELLE HYSLOP. STYLING: JULES

ARMISHAW.

CLOTHING:

COTTON

ON,

COUNTRY

ROAD,

GLASSONS.

Thedevoteddadwith

hiskids(fromleft)

Dylan,Mayaand

Ethan.“Ialways

worriedaboutbeing

a gooddadbecause

I never had one,”

says Mike.

Maya asked to strap

on a paddle board and hike

to a freezing lake in Nepal,

where they donated sheets

of roofing iron to widows who

lost husbands and sons in the

mountains. Next she plans on

helping Mike guide a group

up to Everest Base Camp.

Ethan raised money for

Auckland City Mission when

he climbed Kilimanjaro.

Although Mike jokes

he’s a zero-star traveller

and Wendy’s a five star, the

family stayed together inthe

Nepalese village of Panboche

four years ago, leaving 24

hours before a catastrophic

earthquake struck, killing

nearly 9000 people and

injuring 22,000.

Mike’s kids are grateful

for their dad’s extreme

parenting style, which they

agree will lead to a lifetime

of adventures.

“I love seeing my kids

achieve things that are

important to them – big or

small,” asserts Mike.

“Seeing them not afraid

to give things a go gives me

a realbuzz.” #

Above: Wendy knew

she was marrying a high

flier when she wed

herpilotin2003.

Above:EthantakingonKilimanjarolast

year.Right:Dylanwith Dad in Namche

Bazaar aged seven. Below: The family

in Nepal with a local lama.

AA

HITTING THEIR PEAK

S

E

ng!

Real life

Wehave five

copies of High

Adventure to

iveaway (Allen

&Unwin, rrp

36.99). To enter,

mailyour name

andaddress to

wdaynz@

bauermedia.

co.nz with the

subject

“Adventure” by

August 30.

e

e

c

g

$3

em

a

c

“A

Win!

Woman’s Day 37