Aotearoa in 20: How a steak knife in the eye became a significant life event

Wednesday, 2 September 2020

Elizabeth Burgess remembers a fat pony called Silver, a steak knife in the eye and discusses the rise of conspiracy theories in New Zealand.

A steak knife in the eye and a farm childhood are vivid memories for a Waikato woman. Elizabeth Burgess shares her story for Aotearoa in 20, a Stuff special project.

Two of my strongest memories from growing up are a fat little pony called Silver and the time my sister and I were arguing about the best way to butter toast, with a butter knife or steak knife, and the steak knife ended up in my eye.

I guess it was quite a significant event for me because I spent a long time in hospital and it was quite lonely when you’re a 3-year-old. I remember crying for my Dad in hospital.

I’m told Mum didn’t have a phone or car in the 1970s in Rotorua and she had to pick up my younger sister, who was about 2, and my younger brother, who was about six months, and carry them down the street looking for somewhere she could ring an ambulance. I imagine that would have been quite stressful for Mum.

Then I had to wear glasses and kids made fun of me because I had a scar in my eye.

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Elizabeth Burgess was born in Matamata in 1977.

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Elizabeth Burgess has great memories of spending time on the farm as a child.

Elizabeth Burgess with her son Jimmy Burgess and Bully the dog.

I was born in Matamata in 1977 and my dad worked for the Agriculture Fishing Department and my mum was a primary school teacher, though she was taking a break and barmaiding. I was about 2 when we moved to Rotorua, so I grew up in Rotorua.

When you compare New Zealand and Rotorua to other places in the world, it’s an amazing, beautiful physical environment. I couldn’t have asked for anything better.

Elizabeth Burgess says she would love her son to experience living on a farm.

My dad’s grandparents had a farm on the western side of Lake Taupō and we would spend all our school holidays there.

We would feed the chickens, feed the lambs, feed the calves – which was awesome. There was a little fat pony called Silver and we spent hours brushing and grooming and braiding his hair; we just loved him.

There was a creek and we would build dams across the creek to try to make it into a swimming pool, and there was a cave on the property, so we went cave exploring, which was terrifying. I remember on one occasion I went into the cave and shone my torch into the darkness and a scary face with horns was looking back at me. It turned out to be a poor little goat that had fallen down and was really grateful to see us. I got out of that cave pretty quickly, but the goat did get rescued.

I would love my son to have those experiences, but we’re not farmers. The farm was sold, we’re city dwellers now.

I’m an older mother, in my 40s, and have a 3-year-old and, like all the children in our family, he does not like sleeping, so our routine is a bit up in the air. It depends on if one of us is sick, if we’ve both had a good sleep or if I’m exhausted. I’m just hoping we get through this phase.

I’m proud of my ability to solve problems and I believe this is because of a New Zealand education.

I’ve done my OE, met people from overseas and seen how people can be pigeonholed into what they can and can’t do. At least my experience of education in the 80s gave me the ability to look at any problems and try and find a new way to solve it, whether it’s putting a flat pack together or participating on a school board.

I think New Zealanders are problem-solvers and I’m proud of that about myself.

I was very fortunate, I had educated parents and they weren’t drug addicts or alcoholics, they brought me up in an old-fashioned way, but they loved me and made me feel loved and wanted to encourage me to be successful.

I think the early years of childhood are so important. The country would be better off if people with babies were just paid to stay at home and spend time with their baby, love their baby and bond with their baby. They’re going to be set up for success.

As told to Benn Bathgate for Aotearoa in 20, a Stuff project.