Getting to know... Briar Bradfield-Watson
Introducing Briar Bradfield-Watson, a dedicated cellar hand at 15 Valley Winery for Indevin Group and a key member of the Pride Wairau Festival Committee, orchestrating Blenheim’s inaugural Pride Festival, happening now until June 23.
At the weekend you’ll find me…
Walking along the Taylor River, accompanied by my girlfriend, my kurī Bernie and a hot chocolate. It is a really good chance to slow down a little and observe the beauty of nature. Bernie loves to chase after balls, take gigantic leaps into the river, and shred sticks into a million pieces, which provides hours of entertainment.
I am busy working on...
The Pride Wairau Festival. As the festival draws near, we are very busy making sure everything is aligned so that Blenheim’s inaugural Pride Festival is a resounding success. It has been a pleasure working with Jesse, Gabe and Amber over the past few months. I am learning a lot and making great friends in the process.
I will never shut up about...
The importance of building strong communities. Society these days is pretty focussed on people as individuals rather than a collective. In my experience this can be isolating and make life harder than it needs to be. Working together and having strong relationships is known to be incredibly important. One way that I try to connect with my community is through my hobbies. I love art, live music, and dancing. Being out at events, gigs, festivals and gatherings enables me to meet others and make connections.
I wish more people knew...
That the life they were born into was largely a matter of luck. Many of us are born into circumstances that afford us privileges, advantages, and opportunities, while others face systemic barriers, discrimination, and hardship from the very start. Acknowledging the role of luck in our lives can remind us that not everyone starts from the same place or has access to the same resources and opportunities. It also leads us to be more understanding and empathetic towards people in different situations.
I’m most passionate about...
Social and environmental justice. I have always cared deeply about the Earth and her people. Growing up, my family was involved in many conservation projects which deepened my respect for te taiao. I am also incredibly passionate about diversity, equity and inclusion, and have been working on this with Indevin Group for just over a year.
I hope in ten years Marlborough will...
Be a creative hub, full of life and cultural diversity. Blenheim now, compared with Blenheim 16 years ago when my family first moved here, is wildly different. Never would I have imagined as a teenager that when I was 30, I would be attending DJ nights at Scotch, FriGay Drinks at Bamboo Tiger, and Matariki celebrations at the Wairau Bar. I hope Marlborough will continue to flourish as a welcoming and inclusive community that celebrates its diversity and embraces the contributions of all its residents.