Our events

Our amazing team of board members, volunteers & sponsors are committed to our Kiwi community. We love to take ideas & turn them into action. 

" I'm from Wellington originally & have been in the US since early 2018. I moved here with my American wife, who I met at Sydney airport many years ago, & my two daughters (4 & 7) after living in the UK & Australia for a number of years. I currently work as the Global VP of sales for a Social Media Intelligence Company.

After graduating from University many (many) years ago I left NZ on my big OE & never really returned for any large length of time other than to see my family/friends. Have been in my role as President of Kiwis in LA since November of 2020 & see it as a great opportunity to give back to expats & the community of the country I'm so proud to call home....even if it's from the other end of the Pacific ocean.

I do miss my fave Kiwi food:  Roast Lamb & Pies "

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Jackie joined the KILA board late 2020 & is our own personal geek squad, even building this website. She is also across social media, so if you have interacted with our IG then you have already chatted with her.

" I'm from Wellington & have been on my big OE for as long as I can remember, moving between Sydney & London with yearly stints of re-grounding in NZ, I've been based in LA since I won the GreenCard Lottery & picked the town hailed for great weather. A jack of all trades I primarily work in the fitness industry, then also freelance in media mgmt, film production, & have various passion projects in the metaphysical, songwriting & performance. "

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Celeste is our social media maven, if you have interacted with our FB page/group or our LinkedIn, chances are you have chatted with her.

" I grew up in the Karangahake Gorge & have been in Orange County since 2015 & then on the KILA Board since 2019. I’m a self employed social media consultant with Number 8 Marketing.

I also run the OC Kiwis social group & I write a blog about my family's USA adventures & lost in translation moments, called Jandals & Jet Planes. My dream job would be to be an artist. "

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Roger found KILA around 2010. 

" I have been in LA since 1990 & started my accounting career with the Deloittes affiliate in Wellington in the 1970s. 

Other than looking after about a dozen tax clients, I mostly spends my days playing tennis or golf, & also keeping track of my six kids spread all across the globe. 

Being from a small country, I think we need to encourage one another that we really can succeed in whatever we set out to do. "

Keith has been running point with Kiwis in LA for a decade, just retiring from the President role at the end of 2020 & leaving an excellent legacy for the board to continue on & grow. 

" I was born in Waipahi in South Otago, & grew up in Christchurch before working in advertising agencies in Wellington & Auckland. I moved to the States in September 2001 & settled in Long Beach with my partner Steve. I have been helping the NZ community in Los Angeles & beyond ever since becoming involved with Kiwis in LA in 2008. 

Steve & I spend time each year in NZ catching up with family & friends – along with visiting some of NZ’s most excellent distilleries. "

" I have been living in the US since 1982. I started my career with the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Tokyo in 1975 & upon moving to the US worked for the NZ Trade office in San Francisco.  In 1985 New Zealand kiwifruit growers asked me to work full time for the industry promoting NZ kiwifruit in the US & Canada.

It was a job that was particularly dear to my heart as my family were long time growers in Te Puke.  

I continued to work in the produce industry for family owned company Giumarra - working with growers around the world to supply North American supermarkets 12 months of the year. 

I moved from Colorado to Long Beach in 2015 & since that time has been involved with Kiwis in LA enjoying everything the organization has to offer.   I retired in 2019 & plan to spend time on the beaches in both Long Beach & Mount Maunganui. "

" I was brought up in Auckland & has been a resident of Los Angeles since 2002. 

A Realtor at Keller Williams Santa Monica, I have helped members of Kiwi’s in LA buy & sell property throughout LA. 

Contact me for your property needs. 

I enjoy fishing, formula 1, growing feijoas in my back yard & being on the Kiwi’s in LA board. "

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" I was born & raised in Nelson NZ, a great place to grow up. In 1974 I headed off to NT Australia, circumnavigated Australia, then headed off to UK & Europe before Israel where I met my wife. 

Back to NZ again & after 2 years off to Australia for seven years traveling around, but mostly in Brisbane, eventually landed in the USA where we have lived in LA from 1987 until today. 

I have my own business as an Electrical Contractor, I also do photography & after editing my photos sell them at the KILA annual art show. I was so happy to find Kiwis in LA for reconnecting with the Kiwi spirit. I try to go home at least once a year but I don't feel I am ready to return to NZ just yet, maybe one day in the future but I love my visits. "

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"I hail from a large family in Upper Hutt, & have been living in Los Angeles since 2018 when I spearheaded a New Zealand entertainment technology start-up. 

I love the outdoors, music, cooking & just about anything creative. 

I also have my first book 'Sales Savvy The How-to-Sales Handbook' released 2022"

"I born in New Zealand's South Island & grew up mostly in Lower Hutt & Sydney. 

I'm a former journalist & lived for 10 years in Latin America covering news & features around the region for Time, Business Week, Financial Times, New York Times, Sunday Times of London, Miami Herald & Houston Chronicle among media outlets. 

Now residing in Santa Monica, I'm a freelance writer & editor, and I also write mystery/thriller novels

Or have an idea for a great Kiwi centric event? Contact us at info@kiwisinla.com to find out about ways you can contribute to our Kiwis in LA community.