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Megan Newberry wasn’t in Christchurch, New Zealand when the earthquake of 2011 devastated the community. But that didn’t mean she escaped unscathed. As a registered psychologist and a Christchurch local born and bred, Newberry returned to her hometown where she joined the city in its long recovery.

When Newberry talks about returning to Christchurch after the earthquake that left 185 dead and several thousand injured, her quirky kiwi accent doesn’t give away the difficulty and trauma that came with the harrowing event. ‘They’re still dealing with it’, she said of the city she returned to, to be closer to her family and friends. ‘There are still areas in the city where there are just large patches of grass.’ If anyone could recognize the impact it would be her.

Newberry spent all her schooling in the self-named capital of the New Zealand South Island. It was also where she studied psychology at university and went on to do her masters in organisational psychology. She then went on to work in Auckland on the North Island. When asked why she chose psychology, Newberry’s bubbly voice is resolute: ‘I knew what I wanted to do before I left school at 17. I love observing and analysing people.’

It is this love of observation that also drives Newberry’s passion for writing. Recently enrolled in a feature article writing course Newberry thinks it will be a good balance with her profession: ‘Psychology has so many rules and regulations. Feature writing will let me write and share my observations of people’. And Newberry hopes to use this passion for writing to help make one of the biggest transitions of her life.

Newberry is hoping that free-lance writing will help alleviate some financial pressure as she transitions from her job in HR to a self-employed coach. Having worked professionally for 6 years, she’s excited to venture out on her own. And based in her hometown of Christchurch, Newberry will not be short of support.

As well as all her family and friends, Newberry’s biggest supporter will be her husband of 2 years, Gary. The two met after Newberry returned to Christchurch after the earthquakes. ‘Everyone wanted to get out of Christchurch and it was crazy I wanted to go back, but six months later I met my husband,’ Newberry says with a shrug of her shoulders. But the two of them didn’t stay in Christchurch long, with Gary’s job taking them all over the world.

Following Gary’s job in IT, Newberry got to experience the world and several temporary jobs. They spent 3 months each in Sydney, Australia and Boulder, Colorado. They also spent some time in Europe. But they have since returned to Christchurch where Newberry is now planning her future.

‘In 10 years I see myself juggling my coaching business with writing. With hopefully 2 to 3 kids’, she laughs. And does Megan Newberry see herself staying in the city that has become such an intrinsic part of her life? ‘Yes, I think so,’ she says with a solemn tone.