I am a first-generation New Zealander on my father's line. My father Armand Mendes da Costa arrived in New Zealand from the Netherlands circa 1952. He spent the best part of 50 years tracing his direct line of descent from the Dutch East Indies (now Indonesia) through the Netherlands to medieval Portugal.

On my mother's line of descent, my earliest ancestor to arrive in New Zealand was my second great grandfather John Butler, who arrived in New Zealand from the United Kingdom in the mid to late 19th century.

Both families are descended from or connected to some notable families throughout the UK and Europe and therefore the family tree makes for fascinating reviewing.