Being home

A DigitalNZ Story by Mark Beatty

Staying at home has got me thinking more about what home is about. Right now it is the people, the place, the time, the routine, the chaos, the tears, the laughter, the space to breathe, all of these and much more.

COVID-19 Home Stay home

Image: Edgar (on left) and Owen Williams looking at books on the verandah of the Royal Terrace home, Kew, Dunedin

Edgar (on left) and Owen Williams looking at books on the verandah of the Royal Terrace home, Kew, Dunedin

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Unidentified family, at home

Unidentified family, at home

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Debutante Miss Mary Whyte, at home

Debutante Miss Mary Whyte, at home

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Artist Selwyn Muru at Barry Crump's home, Wellington

Artist Selwyn Muru at Barry Crump's home, Wellington

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Douglas Lilburn at home at 22 Ascot Terrace, Thorndon.

Douglas Lilburn at home at 22 Ascot Terrace, Thorndon.

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: A university student studying at home in a flat

A university student studying at home in a flat

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Interior of a model home at Wainuiomata

Interior of a model home at Wainuiomata

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: A thanksgiving dinner at the home of Jim Pettus

A thanksgiving dinner at the home of Jim Pettus

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Clift children at home in Whaui Street, Vogeltown, Wellington

Clift children at home in Whaui Street, Vogeltown, Wellington

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: A thanksgiving dinner at the home of Jim Pettus

A thanksgiving dinner at the home of Jim Pettus

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Henare Gilbert and family at their home in Stokes Valley

Henare Gilbert and family at their home in Stokes Valley

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Interior of the Carter Home, Moreton Road, Carterton

Interior of the Carter Home, Moreton Road, Carterton

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Norma Holyoake, wife of the new Prime Minister, at home in Wellington

Norma Holyoake, wife of the new Prime Minister, at home in Wellington

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Arthur Thomas Bothamley sitting in a room in his home at 18 Selwyn Terrace, Thorndon, Wellington

Arthur Thomas Bothamley sitting in a room in his home at 18 Selwyn Terrace, Thorndon, Wellington

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Smith, Rod, active 2016: Photograph of Emma Smith at home in Seine Street, Island Bay

Smith, Rod, active 2016: Photograph of Emma Smith at home in Seine Street, Island Bay

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Phyllis and William Godber, the photographer's children, at their home in Petone

Phyllis and William Godber, the photographer's children, at their home in Petone

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Beavis, Cyril Denis Archibald, 1911-2000 : Photograph of Douglas Lilburn at home

Beavis, Cyril Denis Archibald, 1911-2000 : Photograph of Douglas Lilburn at home

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Algernon Charles Gifford sitting in his library at home, Chatsworth Road, Silverstream

Algernon Charles Gifford sitting in his library at home, Chatsworth Road, Silverstream

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Ans Westra and her children, Lisa and Adrian van Hulst at their home in Karori, Wellington

Ans Westra and her children, Lisa and Adrian van Hulst at their home in Karori, Wellington

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Mrs Walter Trevor (Sara Neil), ballerina, at home with her young daughter in the kitchen

Mrs Walter Trevor (Sara Neil), ballerina, at home with her young daughter in the kitchen

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Ana Likio at her home in Waitangirua, surrounded by luggage - Photograph taken by Ray Pigney

Ana Likio at her home in Waitangirua, surrounded by luggage - Photograph taken by Ray Pigney

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Banjo player, probably Hosea Easton, at home of William and Lydia Williams, Carlyle Street, Napier

Banjo player, probably Hosea Easton, at home of William and Lydia Williams, Carlyle Street, Napier

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Two unidentified young men baking and cooking at the home for University students

Two unidentified young men baking and cooking at the home for University students

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Mary and Noa Nawalowalo, in their home, Wellington

Mary and Noa Nawalowalo, in their home, Wellington

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Folk musician, theologian and writer Peter Cape with guitar and family within their home at an unknown location, probably Wellington Region

Folk musician, theologian and writer Peter Cape with guitar and family within their home at an unknown location, probably Wellington Region

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Owen William Williams, with a model ship of the 'Apollo', probably at his home, Royal Terrace, Kew, Dunedin

Owen William Williams, with a model ship of the 'Apollo', probably at his home, Royal Terrace, Kew, Dunedin

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Robert Thorburn Turnbull, E F Hadfield and Alexander Horsburgh Turnbull, at the Turnbull home fronting on to The Terrace and Bowen Street, Wellington

Robert Thorburn Turnbull, E F Hadfield and Alexander Horsburgh Turnbull, at the Turnbull home fronting on to The Terrace and Bowen Street, Wellington

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Mr R G Gentry in his home built aircraft, outside his house in Mornington, Wellington

Mr R G Gentry in his home built aircraft, outside his house in Mornington, Wellington

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Lydia Williams holding Owen as a baby sitting inside their home, with Edgar outside passing a toy through the window, at 'View Bank', Maitland Street, Dunedin

Lydia Williams holding Owen as a baby sitting inside their home, with Edgar outside passing a toy through the window, at 'View Bank', Maitland Stre...

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Jimmy McGuiness and the junk mail delivered to his home - Photograph taken by Phil Reid

Jimmy McGuiness and the junk mail delivered to his home - Photograph taken by Phil Reid

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: North Vietnamese family in their Wellington home - Photograph taken by Mark Round

North Vietnamese family in their Wellington home - Photograph taken by Mark Round

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Malcolm and Wendy Ackerley in kitchen of their Petone home - Photograph taken by Phil Reid

Malcolm and Wendy Ackerley in kitchen of their Petone home - Photograph taken by Phil Reid

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Katherine Mansfield at her work table, Villa Isola, Menton, France

Katherine Mansfield at her work table, Villa Isola, Menton, France

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Pantry interior

Pantry interior

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Kitchen interior

Kitchen interior

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Phyllis Fell blowing bubbles

Phyllis Fell blowing bubbles

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Frank Sargeson inside his house in Takapuna, Auckland

Frank Sargeson inside his house in Takapuna, Auckland

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Colin Speirs inside his Porirua East house - Photograph taken by Phil Reid

Colin Speirs inside his Porirua East house - Photograph taken by Phil Reid

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Two young girls watching TV inside a house in an unidentified location

Two young girls watching TV inside a house in an unidentified location

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Unidentified family outside house named Atamarie with parrot and cage; a woman is lying in bed inside doorway, probably Christchurch region

Unidentified family outside house named Atamarie with parrot and cage; a woman is lying in bed inside doorway, probably Christchurch region

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Joe and Pauline North alongside the old Reserve Bank vault inside their house at Rata Street, Naenae, Lower Hutt - Photograph taken by Melanie Burford

Joe and Pauline North alongside the old Reserve Bank vault inside their house at Rata Street, Naenae, Lower Hutt - Photograph taken by Melanie Burford

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Fireplace area inside the house Matitiki at Opawa, Christchurch, designed by Clarkson and Ballantyne for Robert Malcolm

Fireplace area inside the house Matitiki at Opawa, Christchurch, designed by Clarkson and Ballantyne for Robert Malcolm

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Bottling home brew, Campbell Island

Bottling home brew, Campbell Island

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Portrait of Mrs J Ohkuna with her two teenage daughters, probably inside their home

Portrait of Mrs J Ohkuna with her two teenage daughters, probably inside their home

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Mrs Mabel Howard, standing outside her new ministerial home in Karori, Wellington

Mrs Mabel Howard, standing outside her new ministerial home in Karori, Wellington

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Sir George and Lady Currie standing by the front door of their home, location unknown, Wellington Region

Sir George and Lady Currie standing by the front door of their home, location unknown, Wellington Region

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Ngata College, Ruatoria and Pine Taiapa's home, Tikitiki

Ngata College, Ruatoria and Pine Taiapa's home, Tikitiki

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Interior, bedroom, Paprill House

Interior, bedroom, Paprill House

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Living room interior, Jon Craig house, Wellington

Living room interior, Jon Craig house, Wellington

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: King house, interior, bedroom

King house, interior, bedroom

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Interior of unidentified house

Interior of unidentified house

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Living room interior, Richardson house

Living room interior, Richardson house

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Interior view of Oneida Homestead, Fordell, near Whanganui

Interior view of Oneida Homestead, Fordell, near Whanganui

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Edgar Williams with unidentified child playing in snow at the Williams' home, Kew, Dunedin

Edgar Williams with unidentified child playing in snow at the Williams' home, Kew, Dunedin

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Portrait of a young Edgar Williams, a dog and an unidentified young boy playing with a toy wooden rickshaw outside the Williams' home, 'View Bank', Maitland Street, Dunedin

Portrait of a young Edgar Williams, a dog and an unidentified young boy playing with a toy wooden rickshaw outside the Williams' home, 'View Bank',...

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Katherine Mansfield and John Middleton Murry

Katherine Mansfield and John Middleton Murry

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Artists at home, Opotiki

Artists at home, Opotiki

Alexander Turnbull Library