By Roselyn Fauth
Photography by Kevin Fedde for WSJ one of the 51 photos taken for a photoshoot for the Wall St Journal in America
Last night I sat at a dinner table at The Oxford in Timaru with American doctors, one of my closest friends, my neighbours, my GP, and the surgeon who had replaced my mum’s knee that afternoon! I took a selfie and sent a photo to Mum and joked that I was getting exceptional service, hearing how her surgey had gone that day from the very person who had been working inside her leg!
That’s Timaru, hey. We are small enough cities that usually once you get chatting you can find two degrees of connection.
One of the people at the heart of today's story is my friend Kelly Sweerus, an American doctor who moved to Timaru from the United States with her husband Forest and twin girls. Our children are the same age, and that is how we met. Over the years, she has become one of my closest friends...
We had gathered for dinner, because of a story published in The Wall Street Journal, asking why so many American doctors are relocating here. The Wall Street Journal! That is a massive publication in the United States, a wonderful promotion for Timaru.
Kelly was part of the preparation and helped support the reporter. I was invited to give a local perspective on where we live, what makes Timaru special, and what it means to welcome immigrants here. Preparing for that interview made me ask myself those questions, and through that reflection, it reaffirmed that we live in a very special place.
Really cool to meet Haydn Jones from 7 Sharp.
Although I was not featured in the article myself, one of my photos, showing Kelly’s beautiful Turnbull Rule home, was included. That felt pretty cool: to support my friend, promote Timaru, and profile our built heritage, our epic playground, and public art gallery to readers in the United States.
Dr Kelly Sweerus with Wall St Journalist Nancy Keates
When Nancy, the reporter from The Wall Street Journal, visited Timaru, Kelly and I met her for lunch at one of my favourite local places, The Oxford. Afterwards, we showed her some of our CBD heritage buildings, then we went to Caroline Bay Playground. Later, Kelly showed her the Aigantighe Art Gallery, where Nancy experienced a weaving workshop, a free event hosted by the gallery team and the South Canterbury Tongan Society.
The playground blew her away. She said, “We don’t have anything like this in the US.” And the fact she could rock up to a workshop as a free event, she said that would be unusual back home, there would usually be a charge, and that would exclude those who couldn't afford the fee.
Roselyn Fauth with Nancy Keates from the Wall St Journal at the Caroline Bay Playground
As we clambered around on the shipwreck and I explained that the playground had been championed and fundraised for by community. And that is Timaru aye... when we see a problem, we find a solution, rally together, and make something happen. Timaru is small enough and big enough that it can be what you choose to make of it.
The new playground, surrounded by existing tennis courts, paddling pool, skate park and bike skills park, with view out to Caroline Bay, Timaru. - Photo South Canterbury Drone Photography
The playground design has been inspired by stories of Caroline Bay and the Timaru District, capturing everything from its creation stories, and geological foundations to the local Māori and the European stories. https://cplay.co.nz/case-study
There is something special about helping people connect to a place you care about. I felt really proud. As well as our city, our wider region is stunning. Just a bit of fuel and a picnic and within 30mins to an hour you can be in wild landscapes hunting for fossils, finding cool rocks, watching birds and taking in views like this.
Sunday drive to Mesopotamia. Belles and I are bashing rocks with hammers on the hunt for aggates. Photo taken by Geoff Cloake.
Free concert at the Caroline Bay carnival - posing with the Kiss Tribute band.
Volunteers supporting the Aigantighe Art Gallery over the years.
Special friendships - raising our families together. Kelly Sweerus, Clarissa Doran, and Roselyn Fauth
Free fun in Timaru. Photo By Roselyn Fauth 2026
Caroline Bay Photo By Roselyn Fauth 2026
Photo Geoff Cloake
Making huts on the beach.
Photo By Roselyn Fauth 2026
Walk out onto the reef at low tide to explore the rock pools.
I am the 6th generation of my family to call Timaru home. My fathers grandparents. Center: My fathers grandmothers parents. Right: My fathers mothers parents. My mother is dutch and immigrated in 1980s to work as a nurse at the Timaru Public Hospital.
After Nancy flew home to write her report, a photographer was booked for The Wall Street Journal. So there we were, Kelly and I, having a professional photo shoot together. I now have 51 photos of us, which are lovely, but also hilarious. It is not often you get that with one of your closest friends! I have no idea what to do with these images, so I'll stick them here in this blog for you!
Photography by Kevin Fedde for WSJ Dr Kelly Sweerus and Roselyn Fauth - one of the 51 photos taken for a photoshoot for the Wall St Journal in America
When the article was published, the story rippled back home. Rachael Comer wrote about the article in an article for The Timaru Herald,. Then Radio New Zealand came down, and then Hayden Jones from Seven Sharp arrived to film people who have chosen to move to Timaru. Many are connected through the hospital. Some gather most weeks for dinner, helping each other settle into Kiwi life. What began as support for newcomers has become friendship, family, laughter and community.
Looking around the room, I thought: these people could have chosen to live anywhere. And they chose Timaru.
They may have come for work, but they found something more... Friendship. Community. A place to raise their children, volunteer, join in, and belong.
This is so critical for Timaru. Like many regional places, we need doctors, skilled workers, families, volunteers, teachers, carers, business owners and community-minded people to keep choosing us. But attracting people is not just about jobs. It is about whether people can imagine a life here and feel welcomed into it, and come not for what they can consume, but for what they can be part of.
We were chatting in the car on our way home from the interview, and Kelly told me...
“It is hard to describe Timaru to Americans as there isn’t really anything like it in the United States. Timaru has a great sense of community. With all of the activities, clubs and events we are busier here than we ever were in Seattle. It is a joy to live here.”
"The media attention feels a bit uncomfortable, I want the spotlight to be on the community and how wonderful it is. And I'm acutely aware that the hospital staffing isn't optimal, so I think a lot about the people who are waiting to be seen. I hope they know that their referrals are important and we are working hard to recruit additional staff and to get them the care that they deserve."
Dr Kelly Sweerus at her desk in the Timaru Public Hospital. Photography by Roselyn Fauth
Dr Kelly Sweerus looks out to the pacific ocean on her first day in Timaru.
Timaru is more diverse than many might realise. More than 70 cultural and ethnic groups are now part of the district, and newcomers from around the world help shape its workplaces, schools, neighbourhoods and community life.
Timaru has always been shaped by people. Ngāi Tahu are mana whenua here, and this coastline has long been a place of movement, food gathering, connection and exchange. Later came sealers, whalers, farmers, landing service crews, port workers, manufacturers, teachers, doctors, families and volunteers. So when I say Timaru is practical and productive, I do not just mean now. It is part of a much longer story...
For locals, we are not trying to be somwhere else like Auckland, Christchurch or Queenstown. And while no place will be truely perfect, one of the most rewarding things about living here is that if you want to make a ripple of impact, you can.
Photography by Kevin Fedde for WSJ - Dr Kelly Sweerus and Roselyn Fauth at South Canterbury's epic playground CPlay at Caroline Bay.
I often say that Timaru can be what you make of it. The more you give to this place, the more it gives back.
Not always in money or consuming, but in friendship, purpose, identity, making memory, developing skills and belonging.
And, if you are willing to join in, Timaru are more than welcome you to our little city - the "Rivea of the South", Timaru, South Canterbury, New Zealand
Me as a kid in the 1980s, playing on the seesaw at Caroline Bay, my childhood neighbourhood and still one of the places that shaped my love for Timaru.
Me, Roselyn Fauth, at the new playground a few laters later, as a mum raising my kids here with my husband Chris. Photography by Kevin Fedde for WSJ. the mural in the whare that was designed by architect John Rushton, has an artwork inside that was a collaboration by Francine Spencer and Roselyn Fauth.
After the photoshoot with feddestudio - Kevin Fedde for WSJ. Photo By Roselyn Fauth 2026
https://www.wsj.com/real-estate/luxury-homes/timaru-new-zealand-american-doctors-eca3fe8d
https://www.thepress.co.nz/nz-news/360992752/how-did-timaru-end-front-wall-street-journal
https://www.pressreader.com/new-zealand/the-post-1022/20260425/281715506209335
https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/health/593950/why-american-doctors-are-flocking-to-timaru
https://www.msn.com/en-us/health/general/the-doctors-leaving-america-for-new-zealand/ar-AA21EINN
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z8rDmuObO0U
https://newsroom.co.nz/2026/05/07/the-immigrant-doctors-giving-new-zealand-life/
Looking for free fun? Check out our Timaru Scenic Route for some inspiration https://www.wuhootimaru.co.nz/timaru-scenic-route