In this third episode exploring what it means to be second or third-generation Italian in New Zealand, Carla Rotondo talks to Vincenzo Cocurullo, the Mayor of Whangārei from 2022 to 2025 and District Council Councillor for the previous six years. His Italian side originated from his nonno, grandfather, who was born in Piano di Sorrento and settled in Whangārei. The Cocurullo family mixed with a small group of Italians, particularly with Dora and Vincenzo Russo, who owned a café and had emigrated to NZ encouraged by Vince’s grandfather. Vince has visited Piano di Sorrento and his relatives there, and even though in his growing up in NZ the Italian influence was limited, he discovered that he had lots of mannerisms and non-verbal communication similar to his Sorrentina family. In Whangārei Vince lives in the house that his nonno built, makes limoncello, grows grapes from the grapevines planted by his nonno, makes mozzarella cheese….he is definitely an Italo-kiwi.

Per il supporto alla realizzazione di questo programma Ondazzurra ringrazia l’Ambasciata d’Italia a Wellington, https://ambwellington.esteri.it/en/ che promuove la lingua e cultura italiana in Nuova Zelanda, e il Ministry for Ethnic Communities che promuove la diversità ed inclusione in Aotearoa. https://www.ethniccommunities.govt.nz/