Challenging authority and questioning assumptions held by those in power haven’t always been easy, especially when many believe Asian communities are doing well and don’t need support. In this conversation, Eva bravely shares her own experience of postnatal depression and how a culturally sensitive GP supported her without labelling what she was going through.

She reflects on the significant gap in Chinese parenting programmes that are both linguistically and culturally appropriate, which she and the wider Chinese community identified. For many first-time Chinese mothers, confinement support is not just tradition—it’s critical for physical recovery and emotional grounding. It often depends on extended family, which many migrants lack in Aotearoa.

Eva also shares how her children keep her grounded. As a mother of four, she speaks honestly about balancing being a community champion and simply being a mum — a role constantly reminding her what matters.