A Lifetime of Service | Aunty Priscilla’s Journey of Compassion and Community
Priscilla Dawson, affectionately known as Aunty Priscilla, is a well-known figure not only in Auckland but across Aotearoa New Zealand. Her lifelong dedication to refugee and migrant communities earned her the Queen’s Service Medal in June 2020, a recognition of her extraordinary service.
eCALD sat down with Priscilla Dawson at New Zealand’s first working Theravāda Buddhist temple in Mt Wellington, Auckland—a place close to her heart and symbolic of her commitment to community and culture.
Born in Rangoon, Burma (now Yangon, Myanmar), Priscilla arrived in New Zealand in 1967 at the age of 21 with her family, fleeing political unrest due to her father’s activism. Their resettlement was made possible through the personal sponsorship of Sir Bernard Ferguson, then Governor-General of New Zealand, who had stayed with the family in Burma while researching his book Return to Burma. At the time, there was no formal refugee resettlement programme—the Māngere Refugee Resettlement Centre was only established in 1979.
Priscilla recalls arriving on a Friday and starting work the following Monday at Thorn Television Manufacturing Factory. Although she could read and write English, speaking it was a challenge. She learned through her job and later while working at a Chinese restaurant washing dishes to earn extra income. “Willingness, determination, and perseverance are important if you want to succeed,” she says.
Her journey as an interpreter began in 1991 when Immigration New Zealand contacted her to assist two Burmese-speaking asylum seekers. Encouraged to pursue formal training, she completed her interpreting certificate at AUT. “That’s when I got the interpreting bug… once I got my certificate, there was no stopping me,” she laughs.
Priscilla began interpreting at the Te Āhuru Mōwai o Aotearoa (Māngere Refugee Resettlement Centre) when the first group of Myanmar refugees arrived under the Quota Refugee Programme in 2000. She continues to support new arrivals—often voluntarily—and now interprets primarily online for public health services, including Auckland Hospital, Middlemore, Nelson Hospital, and Kenepuru Community Hospital in Wellington.
In addition to interpreting, Priscilla works as a cross-cultural facilitator with Refugees as Survivors New Zealand (RASNZ), supporting Burmese-speaking clients referred by talking therapists. Her assistance ranges from connecting individuals with the Burmese Buddhist Monastery to helping navigate systems like education, health, housing, WINZ, and employment. Much of her work is unpaid, driven by community calls for help. “Whenever people have difficulties and they ring me, I just drop everything,” she says. It’s no surprise she is deeply respected and lovingly referred to as Aunty by Myanmar communities across New Zealand.
Priscilla attributes her values to her upbringing with her grandmother, who instilled the Buddhist principles of dāna (giving) and sīla (morality). “To me, Buddhism is not a religion—it’s a way of life. Kindness and not hurting others makes life a lot easier and happier,” she reflects. She views Buddhist practice as a path to conscious awareness, freedom, and compassionate living.
Together with her husband, Priscilla is a founding member of the Auckland Theravāda Buddhist Association (ATBA), established in 1980 by a group of Burmese, Sri Lankan, Malaysian, Thai, and NZ European individuals. At the time, there was no Theravāda Buddhist place of worship in Auckland. The ATBA remains unique in hosting English-speaking monks, serving all communities regardless of ethnicity. Today, many Buddhist communities have their own temples catering to specific cultural and language needs, yet strong relationships and cross-participation in religious celebrations continue. “These events connect us to our culture and to each other,” Priscilla says. “They bring out the best in everyone—from forgiveness and sharing to a sense of community.”
Engaging in Buddhist practices, she says, is about compassion, mindfulness, reflection, and slowing down from all the “running around.” With her signature laugh, she adds, “Running around. Yes. That’s what I do.” And she intends to keep doing it for as long as she can.
“Happiness comes when your work and words are of benefit to yourself and others.”
— Gautama Buddha
