I grew up in Wainuiomata, attending Wainuiomata Primary, Intermediate and College. Back then the fascination for the weather wasn't there as much as it is these days. It was in 1995 when my parents and two younger brothers moved to Upper Hutt that the fascination for the weather began.

On the 18 July 1995 it was a freezing day at Heretaunga College,I remember going out to catch the bus after college had finished for the day and you could see the snow starting to settle above Riverstone Terraces. Excited about the snow falling our bus driver told us it was snowing in Kaitoke.

As we passed through Birchville and Te Marua the falling snow started becoming heavier. By the time we started heading up the Kaitoke Hill snow was settling all over the road, thankfully we made it home with snowy conditions through the evening. 10 to 15cm of snow fell at our farm that night.