Landing your dream job in the arts sector doesn't often go hand in hand with a small rural town in provincial New Zealand. But for Karis Evans, that's exactly what she found when she moved to be closer to her partner. We caught up with Karis to look back at what that dream role meant for her and where it has helped her get to now.

Moving to Manawatū meant that Karis and her partner still enjoy the benefits of city-living – like being walking distance to great coffee – but in a much more affordable way. They even purchased their own home just out of the CBD. 

“The home hadn’t been touched since 1957 and we thought it was beautiful – though the real estate agent probably thought we were mad! We are now renovating the property but doing everything we can to maintain that 1950’s look, even painting the kitchen back to its original pink!” 

Just a 15-minute walk to town, Karis talks about her love for time spent at Te Manawa, Square Edge, Zimmerman Gallery and of course exploring the shops and cafes of George Street.  

“I enjoy showing people around when they come to town particularly Georgie Girl and Walters Road in George Street. We also have great theatres! For a small population, we benefit from having a huge range of performers showing us their work.” 

Even the daily commute from Palmerston North to Feilding was enjoyable for Karis.  

“I took the bus, it was perfect! I think of it as a well-priced personal chauffeur service, and it gave me a chance to read my book and enjoy downtime before and after work.” 

A passionate animal lover, Karis also loves that the short commutes give her time in the day with her foster babies. 

“I foster dogs and am super passionate about animal welfare. Pound Pups Hawke’s Bay and Harmony and Hope Animal Rescue are both organisations I have worked with a lot and there are many other small rescues that operate in the region.”