Living an authentic life in New Zealand's countryside | SLICE | FULL DOCUMENTARY

Six kids and 50 wild horses, a beach, a mountain and a burnt-down house.

Against the stunning beauty of New Zealand's rugged Ruahine Mountains, Peter Karena and his wife Colleen struggle to instil in their kids the values of independence, courage and happiness.

The family has little in the way of material possession but they possess a physicality most of us can only dream of. The children ride bareback as they hunt and play in the wild. Unafraid and untamed, they are supremely confident, as if risk is an alien concept.

Documentary: "This way of life"
Direction: Thomas Burstyn
Production: Cloud South Film

SLICE wants to fill up your curiosity!
Accessible to anyone from anywhere at any time, this channel is your weekly dose of short docs about curious facts, discoveries, astounding info, unusual stories, weird, fun and instructive. Be smart, have a slice!

Follow us 👇

[SLICEDocumentary]

What will you say to Peter and Coleen if you had the chance to meet them ?

[islandvibes]

I'm extremely proud that this man has chosen not to pass down abuse to his family...he's soooo much stronger than his Dad...hats off to you Peter

[panarba]

Hello from Australia 🇦🇺 what a beautiful couple, with beautiful children and beautiful horses.
I wish I had grown up in a family like this.
Even though evil was thrown into their lives, they didn't let it define them or influence their future.
Loved this story.

[frankG]

I love how this father really is interested in the personalities of his individual kids. He really gets them.

[stephhenry]

So Omahu where there whanau home and land was went through a full on flood in Feb 2023, the river banks broke and flooded right throughout our village.
Cleansing and a reset of our lands and whanau of Omahu. It was devastating to see it all under water.
I remember Peter when we were kids, i would come from Auckland for holidays, we would all run mad around our urupa and little LDS church ❤ i knew nothing of his sufferings as a child. But what i do know now is Peter your life is full cup with all your children, wife and horses and the calm of a simplified life. I do hope you are blessed with mokopuna.
You all deserve a happy life❤ ❤❤❤❤

[julzhurianamariu]

The ultimate start of this story is the Father talking about his Tamariki.
He knew everything about them. Their joys, their vulnerability, their strength.
Oh, that the world would profile more fathers such as this ❤
We'd have a more spiritual stable foundation. 🙏 So truely humbled by this Whanau ❤

[lindalooloo]

We lived just down the road from this family, when they were in the big house. I didn't know the parents but 3 of the children were going for a walk past our house when a rare black fantail landed on a small tree near to me. I called them over to watch the fantails.❤ Those children were absolutely delighted by the experience of the fantails fluttering around them, especially the black fantail. It was an experience I will never forget...like their energy synchronised with the delightful energy created by the fantails. Beautiful children... I hope you are all enjoying life.

[LR-sngt]

I saw this years ago and have never forgotten this amazing family and the sadness of the victimisation they have suffered because if one obviously unbalanced man who is eaten up with jealousy over his son who has grown into a decent thoughtful husband and father. Heartbreaking and I hope their lives turned out ok.

[blbrightlights]

The purity of love the mother and father have for their precious children is a wonder to see❤

[bohonativos]

Now this is a childhood. So happy for these kids, they will never forget their childhood. Every child deserves this☺️

[mareelutze]

This documentary was outstanding....Thankyou for sharing Beautiful Family ..you are a Dear Man...who serves to show people, how to behave Better.. mum your unconditional love that comes from a pure heart, level and grounded thinking..you are both bringing forth, children that we will bless this earth going forward ..they will lead the way... Blessings., May the warm winds of heaven blow gently on your home..✨💖✨🌟🧡✨

[brickellrich]

I swear, I think I almost live and breathe just to watch these kinds of documentaries on YouTube. God bless Slice so much for making them so available.

[piecritic]

I could watch 10 more episodes about this family and not get bored

[vancamerawoman]

What a lovely family. Mother and father are great examples of the best type of parenting.
A thoroughly enjoyable, beautifully filmed, story.

[bizzybee]

Thank you for the long video telling the story of this amazingly beautiful family. Raising children to be loving while allowing them the freedom to be wild and free is the best way to raise children. We have become a society that tries to legislate and create laws to protect everyone even from themselves. We have no right to do that, and in the process we become the jailers. God bless this family and may the love of God deliver this family from the hatred of his step-father.

[neiljoy]

The parents & their children are one of the most healthy and authentic families you can ever hope to find.Proud, free, wild, loving, and steered by sound principles and morals.You lot are a class act.I held back tears watching this, as I could only have wished for such a loving and genuine family in my own life.I have absolute respect and honour for these folk.As for that ungodly step-dad, well ain't he a born loser and coldhearted fool.Some people are so stupid they can't refine themselves no matter what the loss.Their priorities are totally wack that they sing their way to the grave, only to find it full of regret😢

[outingsforoldladieswhoaren]

Tell your children, and also know in your heart, that house was not special. You guys made it special. You are an amazing father and leader. I am overwhelmed with your generosity of heart and your profound wisdom in spite of the bitterness and jealousy of that horrible narcissistic step-father. Don't honor him with the name father. He kept you so that he could dominate and control you. He wanted to feel powerful over you. But you, in your beauty amd grace, beat him by attaining something he is too selfish to ever gain: the deep love and admiration of your children. Wish I had the privilege of a husband like you who could have fathered my children with passion, beauty and natural wisdom.

[milliechalk]

They deserve a parenting award. Those kids will create a better world. ❤️

[cfield]

This family is so special. Mom and dad are raising amazing children who will grow up to think for themselves and treat others with kindness and respect. I hope their horse business succeeds and helps them financially. I hope this channel gives an update on this lovely family. I wish someone would start a go fund me for this family so they can continue their dreams. I live in the US and would definitely contribute.

The grandparents are the ones missing out on being a part of their grandchildren’s lives. Such a shame. How his mother puts up with her husband’s disrespect of her son is shameful.

[DunoonVanRijn-dxhr]

How beautiful for a Man to say He needs to be Worthy of His Wife. ❤