In the vibrant punk scene of Wellington, New Zealand, an unconventional love story began with a Star Trek uniform and a cleverly designed Dalek poster. Kate Logan and Tom Box have now built an eighteen-year relationship founded on shared passions, activism, and mutual respect.
The Punk Gig Meeting
Back in 2007, Kate Logan attended a punk gig where she first laid eyes on Tom Box. Standing out in a sea of black-clad punks, Tom wore a pale blue Star Trek uniform that initially appeared to Kate like pyjamas. Though they didn't speak that night, the visual impression lingered.
Kate recalls, "There in a sea of black-clad punks, jumping up and down at the front of the mosh pit, was this guy in a pale blue Star Trek uniform. To me, as a person unfamiliar with Star Trek, he looked like he was wearing pyjamas."
The Dalek Poster Strategy
Living in a squat while working as a theatre set designer, Kate created set pieces that resembled Daleks from Doctor Who. When a friend mentioned that his housemate Tom - the same Star Trek enthusiast from the gig - would appreciate them, Kate devised a clever plan.
She created a poster stating "Free to a good home, something vaguely resembling a Dalek!" and included her phone number. After initially placing it in the wrong alleyway, she corrected her mistake and received a response within 24 hours.
Their text exchange quickly became playful and humorous, with Tom initially suspicious about potentially being lured by a stranger using Dalek bait. Once Kate confirmed Tom's identity through mutual friends, their banter continued to flourish.
Building an Unbeatable Partnership
Their first dates involved pool, pinball, and roller disco outings where they discovered their incredible chemistry as a team. "Sometimes we'd play doubles at pool and would be so on fire no one could beat us," Kate remembers.
As their connection deepened, Kate experienced mixed emotions. While recognising they were an "unbeatable duo," she also felt sadness about potentially ending her exploration of relationships with women and leaving her carefree squat lifestyle.
She describes sitting on her squat's back porch, feeling "a pang of fear that my life would never be the same again - but I already knew we were an unbeatable duo."
Shared Passions and Costumes
From the beginning, the couple enjoyed dressing up together, with Tom particularly appreciating the gender-bending aspects of costumes. They developed an annual tradition of creating calendar photos featuring Tom as various masked characters.
Their creative collaborations extended to road trips where they'd seek out perfect locations for their character photos, whether derelict houses for "Creepy Bunny" or farm machinery for "Pigeon Head."
Eighteen Years of Growth
Now celebrating eighteen years together, the couple has built a life that combines their individual strengths and shared values. Tom works as a gardener regenerating native bush, drawing on his background as a forest blockader - an activism path Kate understood well from her own experiences.
Kate works in the film industry, often traveling around New Zealand while Tom maintains their home. They've purchased a house together and shared their lives with several cats over the years.
Reflecting on their connection, Kate notes, "With Tom, something felt different. It was as if we'd been on the same path the whole time - like we'd always been heading towards this moment."
The couple continues to balance time apart with joyful reunions, maintaining the adventurous spirit that characterised their early dating days while building what Kate describes as their "lovely life together."
