This Is Us | Episode 3: Engin

Series Classification: G (General Audiences)

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Engin Yenidogan

Engin is originally from Yugoslavia (now the Republic of North Macedonia). His family were forced to emigrate due to the threat of war. He grew up in Istanbul, Turkey, where he met his wife, Ayla, who grew up in Germany. After finishing university, Engina and Ayla worked as university lecturers before they decided to move to New Zealand in 2003.

Engin Yenidogan on the Mercer Bay Loop track. Photo: Photography by Disorient Pictures Ltd

Engin completed his master's degree in American culture, focusing on Toni Morrison's novels in relation to racial, cultural, and lingual issues through the eyes of the "other." He went on to complete his second master's degree in educational management at Auckland University of Technology, with his expertise area in organisational culture and change management.

He is currently employed by Te Wānanga o Aotearoa as an educational manager. He is also working towards his PhD at Auckland University of Technology. His two major passions are his family—including two teenage boys—and spending time with them outdoors.

Engin wants his two boys to get a good education, travel the world, and experience different cultures, like he and his wife have done.

He also hopes the boys understand their faith, set of beliefs, and, as human beings, develop a sense of obligation to help others without reciprocity.

Engin says he sometimes visits Istanbul—including the little town where he grew up. He says the suburb has changed so much he feels foreign, but not necessarily in a bad way.

For Engin, home is where the heart is, and he and Ayla made Auckland's Birkdale their home, where they live together with their two boys.

"When you have a physical house, it's not a home, necessarily. You can buy this anywhere. But when you raise your kids and family in that house and that community, it becomes your home."

The Yenidogan family taking a selfie with their GoPro camera. Photo: Photography by Disorient Pictures Ltd

Crew filming on the Mercer Bay Loop Track - Left to Right, Director of Photography Kelly Chen, 1st Assistant Camera Nahyeon Lee, Director Ghazaleh Golbakhsh, Sound Recordist Debra Frame, Production Assistant Sara Shirazi. Photo: Photography by Disorient Pictures Ltd

The Yenidogan family looking out to the ocean from the cliff top of Mercer Bay Loop track.

Left to right: Engin Yenidogan, Cem Yenidogan and Ayla Yenidoga posing for a family pic from their GoPro camera before the start the Mercer Bay Loop track.

Cem Yenidogan, Ayla Yenidogan, Attila Yenidogan and Engin Yenidogan looking further down the track towards the ocean.

Cem Yenidogan, Engin Yenidogan, Ayla Yenidogan and Attila Yenidogan and walking down the Mercer Bay Loop track.

Ayla Yenidogan, Engin Yenidogan and Attila Yenidogan walking down the Mercer Bay Loop track.

The Yenidogan family taking a selfie with their GoPro camera.

Engin and Ayla Yenidogan amongst the crew.

The Yenidogan family walking away from camera for a shot.

The film crew as they navigate the Mercer Bay Loop Track.

Crew filming on the Mercer Bay Loop Track - Left to Right, Director of Photography Kelly Chen, 1st Assistant Camera Nahyeon Lee, Director Ghazaleh Golbakhsh, Sound Recordist Debra Frame, Production Assistant Sara Shirazi.

Engin and Ayla Yenidogan looking out at the view, in front of camera.

Production Assistant using an ingenious method of making sure a fleckie doesn't fly away - tying it over her shoulder..

Director of Photography Kelly Chen filming a timelapse on the Mercer bay Loop Track.

Engin - This Is Us | Photography by Disorient Pictures Ltd

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Ghazaleh Golbakhsh, Director Photo: Photography by Sascha Stejko

Series director Ghazaleh Golbakhsh is an Iranian-New Zealand writer, filmmaker, and Fulbright scholar who has recently completed her PhD in Media and Communications.

She has written and directed award winning short films. Ghazaleh is currently developing her first feature screenplay and publishing her first book of personal essays.

| Twitter: @baronessghaz | Instagram: @ghazalehgol |

Photo: RNZ/NZ On Air