Kevin's Guide to Nelson, New Zealand

A Bit About Me

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Just who is Kevin?

Good question. Probably better looked at as 'Where do I begin to write a bit about myself?'
I, Kevin Jensen, was born in Motueka in the mid 1950's and did all my primary and secondary education there. After I left school, I spent three years at the Teachers Training College in Wellington before doing a years teaching in Havelock (in the Marlborough Sounds), and another one in Picton (also in the Sounds). After being caught up in a surplus of primary school teachers, I went Nursing and have been an Enrolled Nurse for the past 28 years (for those from the USA, I am the equivalent of an LPN). Having just written that, there have been some recent changes. For a number of reasons, I have recently had to give up my nursing career after 28 years and am currently unemployed. The big job hunt will start again soon.

I have two younger sisters (one in Manapouri and one in Western Australia) and a brother still in Motueka. Between them, they have provided me with four nephews and a niece. I also have an older half sister in Auckland who has 4 children. My mother died just before Christmas 2006 (sudden and unexpected) and my father died in March 2001, following a crippling stroke towards the end of 1995, from which he never recovered.

For 11 years from 1989, I was very involved in Spectrum (Nelson) Inc., the social and support group for gay and bi-sexual men in the Nelson region, being its inaugural Chairman, a position I held for 10 years, before becoming Secretary for a year. From mid 2000, I have had almost nothing to do with the group other than to host their web pages until recently when they asked me to remove them - they now have their opwn web site ( www.spectrum.org.nz/ - and have called in to the Drop-In Centre a couple of times a year to let them know I am still about and meet those there.

I have been a Member of the New Zealand AIDS Foundation (NZAF) for over 15 years, as well as being the Co-Ordinator for the Nelson HIV/AIDS Support Network. I act as a spokesperson for them (complete with photo in the paper at times), and with the help of the other members of the Network, we organised the local International Candlelight Memorial (not held in Nelson since 2005 due to an almost non-existent turnout of people other than the organisers), World AIDS Day events, and visits to Nelson of the New Zealand AIDS Memorial Quilt.
In 2003, The Nelson HIV/AIDS Support Network won the Trustpower/Nelson City Community Award (in the Health and Wellbeing section). These awards are presented annually to recognise the work done by volunteer organisations in Nelson City. This year was the first time we had been nominated, and the Health and Wellbeing section is the section with one of the highest number of nominations. To say we are pleased with ourselves and thrilled at winning, is an understaement.

In October 2005, I was honoured by the NZAF and made a Life Member in recognition of the voluntary work I had done for those living with HIV/AIDS and the Foundation. The presentation was made by the Foundations Vice Patron, Sir Paul Reeves (a former Governor General) at a Gala Dinner in the Auckland Town Hall which was full with over 400 guests present. I am one of 8 Life Members in the country, and the only one on the South Island

Every year from 1981 to 2001, I organised the youth competitions for the local Divisions of the Order of St. John, a volunteer First Aid organisation and Ambulance service. In 2002, I become more actively involved in the day-to-day running of the Richmond Youth Division, looking after all their paper work.

To fill in what time is left, I spent 6 years on the Board of Trustees of the Nelson Injecting Community Health Enterprise (better known as N.I.C.H.E.) which operates the local needle exchange, and I am a member of the Nelson Sexual Health Project, promoting better sexual health (where I am what almost amounts to being the token male on the Committee).

For the past 14 years now, I have had my own house in Nelson (still part owned by the bank until the mortgage is paid off), and live alone in it.

On 28 November, 2003, I was invited to attend a reception at Premier House, the official residence of the Prime Minister, for Sir Ian McKellen. Sir Ian has probably become best known over the past few years as the actor who played Gandalf the Wizard in the Lord of the Rings trilogy of movies. Me being me, took the camera and got a friend to take some photos (note that they may appear a little dark and fuzzy as a flash was not used).
A more detailed report on the evening can be found here along with a couple more photos..

Me (on left) with Sir Ian McKellen.

A special thanks to Sir Ian for allowing me to have my photo taken with them for inclusion on this site.

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