The past few months have been a whirlwind for Kerry-Lee Dewing, with the former Shortland Street star juggling two toddlers, a trans-Tasman move and a full-scale home renovation. But now she has left Sydney to shift back to Auckland with her Kiwi fiancé Jono Bayer and their two little ones, the dust is finally beginning to settle.
“It’s been a full-on, emotional time for us,” explains Kerry-Lee, 36.
“There was a lot of uncertainty around the move and we were waiting on so many pieces of the puzzle to fall into place, but we’re finally starting to see the light!”
In December, the South Africa-born star returned to Aotearoa with her daughter Andie, two, and son Hunter, who recently turned one. With Jono, 39, remaining in Sydney a little longer for his job
in property, it was Kerry-Lee who navigated the logistics of setting up their new life.
While staying with relatives and parenting two tiny tots, she managed a significant home reno, as well as all the admin that comes with moving to another country.
(Credit: Robert Trathen. )
Three months to move-in day
“It took about three months before we finally spent the first night in our house, but all the hard work was worth it!” enthuses Kerry-Lee, who played killer nurse Kylie Brown for eight years on Shorty.
“Although it’s a huge task when we’re juggling the little ones, it’s great to see the kids happy and settled, with their own rooms and lots of space to run around.”
While the couple left their busy lives in Australia with “heavy hearts”, Kerry-Lee says the family reached a crossroads when they outgrew their city apartment and the pull of family in New Zealand became impossible to ignore.
“Sydney is an incredible place, but after having Andie and Hunter, we realised how important it was for them to grow up with a close connection to their grand-parents and cousins.”
The chaos of early motherhood
Welcoming Hunter, moving countries and renovating a home, Kerry-Lee jokes that she checked off several of the “most stressful life events” in the space of a year. She recalls when her son had just been born, there were times she found herself with a crying baby on each shoulder.
“A lot of people told us having two babies close together is hard in the beginning, but they’ll end up being best mates – we’re finally seeing glimpses of that,” Kerry-Lee smiles.
“Andie and Hunter love splashing together in the bath, and we recently caught them dancing with each other. We feel pretty chuffed!”
(Credit: Robert Trathen.)
Settling into life in Auckland
After studying commercial property, Kerry-Lee was working for global leasing company CBRE in Sydney and has now transferred to the Auckland office. Although the family is settling into a rhythm in their new surroundings, she admits she hasn’t quite come up for air yet.
“I only went back to work once my maternity leave finished, so it’s still early days, plus we’re doing sleep training with Hunter and there’s still a never-ending list of things to figure out with the move,” she says.
“We’re looking forward to getting our evenings back soon and starting to reconnect with friends we’ve only seen once or twice since we got back! Having grandparents close by has been fantastic as they love having Andie and Hunter when they’re not at day care.”
Wedding plans are still up in the air nearly three years after Jono popped the question on a private Queensland island just before Andie’s birth. Family life has taken centre stage meantime, Kerry-Lee explains.
Wedding plans are still on pause
“I understand why people get married before they have kids as there’s no time to think about it when they’re little! But now we’ve moved back to New Zealand and completed our family, the wedding definitely feels like the next piece of the puzzle. We just need to find the time to decide what it’ll look like.”
Kerry-Lee’s fans will be pleased to know while property has been her focus since she left Shorty six years ago, she hasn’t entirely closed the door on acting.
“The pull is definitely still there,” she reveals.
“Acting will always be a passion and I’d love to keep my hand in, exploring the creative side of myself again in some capacity.”
(Credit: Robert Trathen.)
Open to new adventures ahead
With their life in Aotearoa falling into place, Kerry-Lee is open to whatever comes next, including adventures abroad.
“I moved here from South Africa with my mum when I was 13, so I’ve always been open to new things,” she says.
“It’s important for kids to experience different places and cultures.”
For now, though, she and Jono are happy for their kids to grow up as little Kiwis.
“Life is becoming less overwhelming and more exciting,” smiles Kerry-Lee.
“We’re seeing the benefits of being back, with lots of new connections, friends and possibilities. It was bittersweet to end our chapter in Australia and it’s been a big move, but we know we’re exactly where we’re meant to be.”
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Author
Jo Bailey