Christine Fernyhough is well known as a leading Auckland philanthropist, having co-founded Books in Homes with Alan Duff 1994 and, in 2000, the Gifted Kids Programme for high achieving children in low-decile schools. In 2004 she was a recent widow when she bought the legendary Castle Hill Station, near Porter Heights in the Canterbury Alps, which she transformed into a high performing farm. The station came to national attention in 2007 when she published the bestselling The Road to Castle Hill- A High Country Love Story. This book was followed by Ben and Mark- Boys of the High Country and two picture books for young readers, Dart of Castle Hill and Phyllis of Castle Hill. Her writing has been described as inspirational, warm-hearted, funny and honest and her books have received rave reviews. In 2000 she was made an ONZM followed in 2011 by a CNZM for services to education and the community. In 2015 Christine established the Museum of the Everyday, based on her personal collection of more than 4000 New Zealand craft, design, folk art and social history objects from the twentieth century, built up over 30 years. Her latest book shares that collection, all housed in her charming 1960s seaside bach, the 'Butterfly House'.