Voices: Recent Episodes
RNZ
Over a quarter of people who call New Zealand home were born overseas. So how do culture, identity and equity shape the New Zealand experience beyond confines of the 'diversity' checkbox? Produced and host by Kadambari Raghukumar.
Since forming in 2017, food redistribution charity EKTA has had more volunteers join and has seen steady growth - but the queues of people it serves has almost doubled. Keeping it all going in the face of a cost crisis, are it's reliable force of volunteers, often made of a mix of people - new migrants, refugees, retirees to former beneficiaries of the charity's help.
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Often when diaspora or indigenous communities interact with civic spaces—hospitals, libraries, universities—the architecture itself can sometimes either signal belonging or a sense of alienation. Three Resene Student Design Award winners want to shift this by centering more Pasifika values and concepts into built environments and housing in New Zealand, to reflect the diversity of people that inhabit them. This episode features Mila Makasini, Amelia Lee Chee and Sarah McLeod-Venu in conversation with Kadambari Raghukumar.
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Samantha Krieg went from chef de partie at one of Canada’s top restaurants by age 20, to a doctoral research in structural engineering and earthquake resilience, at the University of Canterbury. Underpinning in all, was a feminist passion for shifting gender bias and breaking barriers for women at the workplace. The Order of the White Rose scholarship recipient, joins Kadambari Raghukumar in this episode.
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L'Aurore a bilingual French English class has been seeing an growing interest in Christchurch with some parents wanting to raise their children in full immersion of the language. Rachel Graham went to check out how it all works.
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Professor Alex Tan's entire life's work has centred around creating 'sophisticated citizenry' when it comes to global issues and awareness, specifically in the Indo-Pacific region. He spoke to Rachel Graham in this episode.
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Mandy Bell fled the immigration crackdown in the US with her Kiwi husband and their two children, and Sara Gibson watched from Auckland as protestors in her Minnesota hometown were killed by ICE agents. Gwen McLure speaks to them in this episode.
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Creating platforms where independent writers' works can be amplified and shared, is what drives spaces like Spoor and Nowhere, some of Auckland's up and coming bookstores featuring writers from across Asia. In this episode, Blessen Tom chats with the people behind the bookstores.
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It wasn't until Francesca Contaldo lived in New Zealand that she actually began to explore the realms of ancient tattoo art from her part of Italy, Puglia. In this second episode on tattooing, she joins Kadambari Raghukumar to chat about how that came to be.
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The Khmer connection runs deep for Cambodia-born tattooist Buntheun who joins us in this episode to talk about exploring the ritualistic art in his homeland.
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Brothers Tapan and Donny Mukerji became part of the Big Buddy programme to mentor boys without father figures in their lives and found their lives changing for the better, alongside. There are currently more than 100 boys across Auckland waiting to be matched with a Big Buddy through this programme and the brothers hope more men will consider stepping forward.
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Africa Day is marked in May and this year Kadambari Raghukumar is out meeting people dedicated to strengthening community wellbeing understanding of mental health. This episode features DRC born Genevieve Kayembe and Zimbabwe-born Dr Michelle Musakwa.
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Every year, Kai Rotorua's kumara harvest attracts a group of volunteers keen to connect with sustainable practices and te ao Maori. This year, the harvest circle widened even further, with students from across South Asia joining the mahi on a spring day.
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That moment when 'ink kisses paper' is every letterpress artist's most anticipated. In this episode, Kadambari Raghukumar revisits a Wellington printery that's been working with the craft for over 60 years. She's joined by book historian Sydney Shep, archivist and Guy Ngan's daughter Liz Ngan.
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In her latest work, A Chop that Breathes, printmaker Kerry Ann Lee incorporates letterpress and typographic ornaments that once belonged to artist Guy Ngan. Talking of her longstanding love for type and letterpress as a tool for exploring stories of identity, Kerry Ann Lee joins Kadambari Raghukumar in this episode.
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Music, mental health and a real ‘maker’ mentality – key words in everyday life for Carlos Reigelhuapt Landreani, who is exploring new frontiers of using music therapy for mental health and treatment. There are fewer than 100 registered music therapists across New Zealand, and in this episode, the Nicaragua-born registered therapist talks about how he arrived at this relatively uncommon career choice.
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Cuba has been under US trade sanctions since 1962 and the past few months have further challenged the Caribbean nation, with tightened economic blockades by America. University of Canterbury lecturer Dr Josephine Varghese and Ambassador Luis Morejon Rodriguez talk to Kadambari Raghukumar in this episode.
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This week, from RNZ's Country Life, Gianina Schwaneke takes us from Italy to Wellington's south coast. Growing and eating great food is central to the Cuccurullo family who've been cultivating tomatoes from seeds first sourced in Capri in the 1960's.
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Booker Prize winner of 2022, Shehan Karunatilaka is in conversation with Kadambari Raghukumar about his plans after returning to New Zealand.
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Rajni Kumar landed in New Zealand from small-town Punjab about 20 years ago with zero English and no idea what she would end up doing for work. Over the years since, she's grown her thriving seedling business from ground up – NZ Veggies, successfully navigating the landscape and language all at once.
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The bombings on Iran come after weeks of negotiations between Iran and US. Iranians living in New Zealand talk to Kadambari Raghukumar about their views on the war that's killed over 1000 people so far.
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Born in Japan, Mayu Tangaito traveled across the globe to join the Royal New Zealand Ballet 2012. She’s since become one of the most recognizable faces of New Zealand ballet. In this episode she talks to Kadambari Raghukumar about making a come back after injuries and becoming a mother.
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Multi-instrumentalist Esmail Fathi grew up during the early years of the Islamic Revolution of Iran, when most music came under a ban. In Christchurch, today he leads the Persian traditional music ensemble Simurgh—alongside fellow multi-instrumentalist Liam Oliver. In this episode Esmail reflects on a wealth of his memories, at a time of turmoil and transition in Iran.
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Enhancing aural and oral health in New Zealand is what's been driving selector, curator and DJ GoldTooth after migrating from the UK. In this episode, GoldTooth talks to Kadambari Raghukumar about growing up as Eelam Tamil immersed in the global sounds of London.
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From Rio Grande Do Sul in southern Brazil, singer and musician Henrique Morales joins Kadambari in this episode of Back to Basics - sounds that he grew up with.
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Back to Basics delves into the foundational music artists grew up with, before moving to New Zealand. In this episode, Kadambari Raghukumar is in conversation with Auckland-based, Nigeria-born singer Ch!nonso. From Ijebu Pleasure club to releasing music under his own name, Ch!nonso is now an unmistakable voice in Auckland’s music scene with a style that bridges his worlds. Starting off in church choirs and university boy bands in Nigeria, Ch!nonso was a 2025 APRA Silver Scroll finalist in New Zealand with artist Mazbou-Q's 'Torque'.So, when we go back to basics what were the foundational sounds for Ch!nonso?
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To wrap up the year, some of the conversations on the podcast that took us from Trinidad to Spain and Germany to Zimbabwe - some of our fave Here Now episodes from across the year.
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Growing up, Ankur Bassi was certain he would one day play cricket for India, and he worked hard every day to get there. But a freak injury meant it would never happen. So, Ankur found a new dream - as a coach - and a new home, too, at Eastern Suburbs Cricket Club in Wellington, New Zealand.
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The Dalmatian community in Auckland has embedded itself in Westie Culture, but it wasn’t always so. The Dallies as they call themselves have faced considerable discrimination, bias and resistance - Phil Vine with this episode.
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A marathon in its second year brings Kiwis and Afghans together - former refugees, community members, and allies—who are crossing the finish line not just for themselves, but to keep a vital movement alive, celebrating Afghan culture one stride at a time.
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Self-published children’s author and a keen student of the local Salsa Club, Argentina-born Adriana Litchfield joins Justine Murray to talk about her culture and creative outlets in a new community.
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Today, in Darfur, we are seeing history tragically repeat itself as the RSF carries out atrocities across the region. From afar in NZ, families who once escaped the violence of 2003, share a sense of grief and hope over the current conflict in Sudan.
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A Nelson makes cheese the way their family would - in Italy. Flavia and Flavio Spena made a career shift along to bring Italian tradition to the region and have successfully turned their artisan cheese brand into a local hit.
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30 years ago a set of instruments from Bali were brought to University of Canterbury and formed the first Gamelan ensemble in Christchurch, under the guidance of Professor Elaine Dobson. Three decades on, after a short period of disuse the ensemble was reestablished in 2017 under Justin DeHart and celebrates a milestone this month. The podcast features Prof Justin DeHart and I Made Kartawan who's visiting from Bali, where he is faculty at ISI - The Indonesian Institute of Arts. Gamelan is cultural taonga with spiritual roots in the Hindu, Buddhist and Muslim histories of the islands of Bali, Java and Sumatra. With its hypnotic and sometimes haunting sounds, the Gamelan makes for quite a remarkable sight - a set of percussive instruments intricately carved, sometimes painted bright red and gold, and struck with hammer-like mallets. Gamelan is more than just music or entertainment but a seen as a vehicle for spiritual connection and an integral part of rituals, worship and tradition.
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Filmmaker Shamin Yazdani tackles a personal dilemma in her latest documentary - to freeze her eggs or not. She chats to Kadambari Raghukumar about the journey she went on as she explores the topic through conversation with some close ones.
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A collective of former refugee women come together in Christchurch to share stories, kai and community.
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As home-based early childcare picks up in popularity, Barnardos-employed mother and daughter duo Iman and Hanin Taqieh speak about how it helped change their lives as new mums. Making shifts in their careers to become homebased educators was a decision that gave them flexibility and purpose after their family moved here from Jordan. Hanin Taqieh is community coordinator with Barnardos where she leads the home-based portfolio supporting over 40 home-based educators in Auckland – including her own mum Iman, who's herself, been with Barnardos for twenty years as an educator. In this episode - what's the incentive, both for parents and educators?
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Last week, New Zealand upped its ante by lowering the cap on Russian crude oil as part of its sanctions, while about 20,000 people rallied in Auckland calling for sanctions against Israel.In this episode, what's the sentiment on the ground when it comes to sanctions against Israel and Russia? Kadambari Raghukumar talks to Alex Kirichuk, Taimor Hazou, Katrina Mitchell Kouttab and Juliet Moses.
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Breaking Bread this week features Kadambari Raghukumar in conversation with Agha Naqshbandi and his wife Wahida Niazi, who are mastering with pride, their Afghan skills of breadmaking in the South Island.
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The humble pide, is a historic staple from Anatolia and at this bakery in West Auckland, Mustafa Suphy and Anil Ozbal sing praises of their Turkish traditions of baking while enjoying a fresh pide, washing it down with a Turkish coffee.
Credits:
Video and images:
DOP/Editor - Craig Gladding
Director/ Producer - Ka
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No Ethiopian meal is complete without this fermented staple accompaniment and in today’s podcast, Kadambari Raghukumar is breaking bread with her Ethiopian friends in West Auckland at Goju, with injera.
Credits:
Video and images:
DOP/Editor - Craig Gladding
Director/ Producer - Kadambari Raghukumar
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This one's for the carb connoisseurs amongst us - Breaking Bread features our community's beloved bakers and in this first part, master baker Meinolf Kraeling is in conversation with Kadambari Raghukumar, about his deeply ingrained German love for bread.
Credits:
Video and images:
DOP/Editor - Craig Gladding
Director/ Producer - Kadambari Raghukumar
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What started out an a backyard experiment for Nelson-based Yuki Fukuda, her patch of rice paddy is now showing promise of growing further. Yuki’s an ecologist and is deeply concerned with the state of world when it comes to climate change. Growing food, rice, particularly, is an extension of her consciousness around the topic
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Rami Riachi's love for chess is creating a generation of players in Nelson through his workshops and classes throughout the region. How did the Argentinian win the hearts and minds of chess fanatics here in New Zealand?
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Dr Phoebe Li and Cameron Sang talk to Kadambari Raghukumar about their contribution toward constructing a more nuanced picture of how New Zealand's Chinese community grew beyond goldfields.
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We all love a good crunchy apple – but how do they stay like that for months after being picked? Find out in this episode featuring South African-born scientist Nicolette Neiman in Hawkes Bay. We may be well out of apple picking season but there's no dearth of the fruit when it comes to our tables even in the thick of winter – here or overseas through exports for that matter. For plant physiologists like Nicolette the thrill is in finding ways to make that possible – delivering to the world, a crunchy fruit fix practically anytime of the year.
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In our final part to the series, Leandro Vasques (cavaco), Jay Moyo (bass) and Manjit Singh (tabla) meet for the first time for a session in RNZ's studio.
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For so many of us in the diaspora the music we grew up immersed in and for some, trained in, remains a bedrock to our lives here in New Zealand. Whether its Samba, gospel or Hindustani classical music, the sounds of our childhood continue in ways to inform choices, stir up memories and for many help actually make new tracks in a new home. Jabulani a.k.a Jay Moyo, talks about his musical upbringing in this episode.
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In what’s being called the 12 Day War, 627 people have been killed in Iran by Israeli strikes and nearly 5000 injured, and Iran's retaliatory bombardment has killed 28 in Israel. In this episode, we're taking a break from the ongoing series Back to Basics, to speak to two Iranian New Zealanders who've spent the last few weeks in despair and worry about the fate of their families in Iran and that of their homeland.
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In our second part to this series, we dive into another sonic universe - the fascinating connection between ancient Indian musical tradition and the more modern sounds of Indian film and folk music. While Bollywood and Bhangra are an inextricable and now cliched part of the modern Indian music experience, the real bedrock upon which all that is built really is classical Indian music. Join Manjit Singh and Kooshna Gupta as we look at Indian music beyond bhangra and Bollywood.
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The unmistakable sounds of Brazil, even to the untrained ear are an instant invitation into the world of carnival and caipirinhas – but that’s the good stuff. Some of these sounds come from places of struggle and solidarity and in this first part of Back to Basics, Leandro Vasques talks about the history behind some genres, his musical influences and what life as a Brazilian muso in Auckland is like for him.
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With his latest book, globally renowned skin cancer surgeon Dr Sharad Paul, reflects on habits and tweaks that may just allow us to hack into genomics to optimize our performance. Produced by Kadambari Raghukumar.
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Pepa Torre first came to New Zealand in the mid 90s. In her recent multimedia art installation called "23, 24, 25…Life U-Turns...Fate?", Torre looks back at 25 years of exploring time and experiences that define her idea of self.
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In our final episode of Accidental Comics - We're with guests Sameena Zehra and Eddy Rodriguez both of whom stepped into the world of comedy after coming to New Zealand.
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This week, Scotland to Auckland was a circuitous route for comic David Stuart who came seeking love and a laugh - he's gets there in the end. Produced by Kadambari Raghukumar.
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In part two of our series with funny folk, we're joined by Summer Xia and Annie Guo who found comedy through chance in New Zealand. Produced by Kadambari Raghukumar.
When Summer Xia and Annie Guo came to New Zealand, performing in front of a crowd was certainly nowhere on their model minority dreams.
Not taking themselves too seriously helped with their Kiwi orientation. Roasting friends, family and their new immigrant selves eventually lef them to the world of standup comedy. So in this second part to Accidental Comics, Annie Guo and Summer Xia speak to Kadambari Raghukumar about what humour is to them; how it manifests in their bilingual brains and when do jokes on our collective immigrant experience run out of steam?
They both take to the stage at the NZ International Comedy Festival this May, to share their jokes on navigating life as first-gen Chinese immigrants in New Zealand.
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In this four-part series, Kadambari Raghukumar talks to folks with jokes - people from overseas who’ve ended up as stand-up comics out of chance - their comedy, an outcome of coming to New Zealand. Edd Rivera came to New Zealand thinking it was somewhere in Europe. True story and he’s been here eight years on. Comedy by chance, comedy to cope with moving countries. Produced by Kadambari Raghukumar.
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Javier Murcia's got his hands full rather literally. The sculptor is a master at casting in clay and bronze, the intricacies and subtleties of the human form. In this episode, he chats with Kadambari Raghukumar about his explorations in form and beyond.
Hearing Javier Murcia talk about his process as he breaks down each step of making from clay, a human figure, sounds like a class in anatomy. It's close.
In this episode of Here Now, Kadambari Raghukumar chats to the sculptor in his studio at Avalon Studios, Lower Hutt, about everything from Spain to Wellington, traversing his personal and artistic journey.
Between recording his 5 hour long full-render sessions for his online sculpting workshops, to casting hundreds of his signature figurative pieces, Javier Murcia has been up against time, and that’s nothing new. A scan around his studio and it’s easy to see how prolific he has been. Javier’s best known for figurative sculpture, a testimony to his acute understanding the human body and movement – from the poses to the proportion.
Murcia was born in Spain and moved to New Zealand to explore work in the film industry, ending up at Weta Studios for several years in an "amazing bubble" as he calls it.
Working with the human form though, goes back to an interest from his childhood, growing up surrounded by books on anatomy, thanks to a physiotherapist father. While it could seem figurative sculpting is more relatable the more realistic it is to the real human form, but that’s not the case Javier says – whether, distorted or keeping with reality, it’s a language unique to the maker.
Part of Javier's more recent exploration is a newer collection that plays with with enamel, sand, epoxy resin, and a diametric move away from his work with human form. He calls it MaTI – or Matter and Time - they're large, intriguing, circular pieces of illuminated and textured work - outcomes of his curiosity to see where, if pushed, his skills and artistic language can take him.
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Reggae artist Protoje who graced The Bowl stage at WOMAD Aotearoa this year, speaks to Kadambari Raghukumar in this episode on all things from patties to performances.
The world’s awash with so many mixed messages about Jamaica but what makes the intrigue endure is this incessant stream of positivity, upfulness and the calibre of music that the country puts out.
One of Jamaica's reigning reggae icons Protoje performed at The Bowl stage at this year's WOMAD Aotearoa and Kadambari Raghukumar got to chat with him, pre-show. The conversation goes from chatting about his parents, politics, patties of course, to the idea of why most people nowadays may associate Jamaican music just dancehall.
"People here today they're gonna see me a reggae music artist from Jamaica, their perception of what Jamaican music is going to be also that and other stuff. I think it's just visibility. It's about doing the work, being on the ground, playing the shows, being active and spreading that energy globally. it's action, you know? I can do it by going out there and playing music and letting people see the type of songs we have to offer, which we do on a global scale."
Protoje along with other artists like Kabaka Pyramid, Lila Ike are all part of a group of artists emerging out of Jamaica responsible for spearheading what's been a roots reggae revival of sorts, focussed on conscious music.
"I think we all have some message and if we listen to each other, I'm sure we can decipher the message that all of us have. I just feel that I've been fortunate to have a platform and to share the thoughts that come up in my head on lonely nights and people get to hear it."
Born Oje Ken Ollivierre and raised in St Elizabath, Jamaica, both of Protoje’s parents were reggae and calypso singers - Lorna Bennett and Mike Ollivierre - but there's no sense of pressure when it comes to him carrying forward a legacy he said.
"I don't look at it like that. It's all a good cycle. I'm My parents live within me, I just do the music that I do. I'm privileged to work with my mum. She's my manager. So she gets a second time to live through music and she's excited."
Protoje's even keel attitude is hard to ignore, unaffected and unperturbed by the high energies of a festival like WOMAD.
"It's life sometimes. Your emotions up and down. For me, especially if I have a show. I'm chill, I'm easy. I save my energy for stage because it's real energy. You're giving your energy to people. So I try to just keep it balanced, as low key as possible."
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This year's WOMAD Aotearoa saw reggae icon Queen Omega draw crowds - she spoke to Kadambari Raghukumar about how it began for her.
One of the hottest female reggae artists on the scene right now, born Jenelle Osbourne,Queen Omega, chats to Kadambari Raghukumar in this Here Now episode at WOMAD Aotearoa.
While the carnival in Trinidad And Tobago may have been and gone earlier in March, she came flying that Trinny flag high at the festival in Taranaki.
Born in San Fernando, Queen Omega's rise to reggae fame has been a slow burn of sorts. She's been performing all her life but for people who haven't quite followed her journey or aren't reggae fanatics as such, it could seem like that viral reel, the Little Lion Sound dub plate with the Dr Dre tune, made the world sit up and notice her.
"For me, it really did a great thing because a lot of people who don't listen to reggae get to know who Queen Omega is. I was grateful because it feels good to know that after all that years that I'm now getting some traction."
But beyond that one dub plate, Queen Omega, Queenie, she's also called fondly, has taken on this role of blazing a trail for female artists in reggae, performing alongside greats like Buju Banton, Don Carlos - people she grew up listening to.
"I give thanks for the pioneers before because if it wasn't for Bob Marley and all the legendary singers before, I grew up listening to Skatellites, Don Carlos, I grew up to listen to Burning Spear all the foundation artists. If it wasn't for them, I would not get the inspiration to do reggae.
"It's just brick upon brick, and I'm also leaving my legacy behind. Because when a lot of women see me now, then they would know we could do it.We don't have to show skin. We could perform."
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Making that settling-in process a little easier, the small and welcoming Happiness House has been making an big impact on several lives in Queenstown.
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Here Now looks back at some the conversations we had with women this past year on the series across all sorts of topics - Colombian stereotypes, medicine, comedy and academics.
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Over 7000 people have been killed since January this year in the conflict that's ongoing in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Kadambari Raghukumar talks about the impact of the war with Congolese with family members in the east of the country.
Congoloese diaspora in Auckland gathered at a rally last month to bring attention to ongoing conflict in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo where since January this year alone, nearly 7000 people have been killed.
About the size of Western Europe, Democratic Republic of Congo – the DRC - has almost 72 % of the world’s coltan resources and a wealth of other mineral resources from gold to zinc.
Vying for control over the east’s vast mineral reserves are more than 100 armed groups.
Precious untapped minerals in Congolese soil have globalized impact of the conflict. Several multinational corporations are vested in the resources while Congolese minerals are an inextricable part of our own everyday lives from phones, batteries, electric cars.
For the past 30 years, DRC has been racked by multiple conflicts that have been called the First and Second Congo Wars that took seed in 1996 contested between ethnic and militant groups on the frontiers with Rwanda and Uganda, and the protracted Kivu conflict in the east, that’s now intensified.
Amongst all the armed groups fighting in the region, the most prominent is the M23 – whom the UN as well as the US and several other countries allege are backed by Rwanda – is violently taking control of the resource-rich territory, Kivu. It's a region nearly five times the size of Rwanda.
M23 are mostly led by ethnic Tutsis, who say they needed to take up arms to protect the rights of the minority group in the east of DRC.
Rwanda rejects allegations that it supports the group with arms and funding.
In this episode of Here Now, Kadambari Raghukumar talks to Congolese in Auckland on how the ongoing conflict in their homeland is affecting them.
The conversation features Redoland Tsounga, Eddy Mokonzi and Nyota.
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Artist Nadia Freeman's performance, The Girmit, explores a slightly unconventional approach to telling the story of how Indians came to be taken to Fiji in the 1800s.
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What does culture-centred communication look like in a suburb of Palmerston North trying to shift narratives around it's reputation? Professor Mohan Dutta and Venessa Pokaia join Kadambari Raghukumar in this second part to the conversation on CARE's work.
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Exploring cultural communication around sex and health, Fullbright scholar at Massey University Prof Angela Cooke-Jackson talks to Kadambari Raghukumar about her experiences as an academic working with Black and indigenous communities.
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Ahilan Karunaharan returns with his final in a trilogy of plays - A Mixtape for Maladies with Ambika GKR in a leading role. Kadambari Raghukumar talks to them about the making of the play that premieres at the Auckland Arts Festival this March.
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As New Zealand courts India seeking deeper bilateral ties, what does the ideal relationship look like and what's in it for us? Sunit Prakash talks to Kadambari Raghukumar on his views as a tech consultant going between the two countries.
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As the year comes to an end, five activists in the diaspora reflect on the wars in Palestine, Sudan and Lebanon and how it has affected them. This episode features Eva Maria, Avigail Allan, Rana Hamida, Ala Farah and Fatima Sanussi.
This week, we hear the personal reflections of 5 women who this past year have organized or participated in activism over crisis and conflict far from Aotearoa.
How has it personally affected them? What have they learned? And what comes next?
We hear from Aucklanders Fathima Sanussi and Dr Ala Farah from Sudan - where over 8 million are said to be displaced as the fighting between the Rapid Support Forces and the government army has continued for over a year now.
As the year comes to an end with Christmas cheer, the war in Gaza continues, as do the rallies in downtown Auckland, calling for an end to it. In this episode we talk to Israel-born Avigail Allan, Lebanon-born Eva Maria and Syrian-born Palestinian Rana Hamida, on their activism this past year.
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Finally getting to forge their futures on New Zealand soil is a long-awaited moment for so many would-be Kiwis at the citizenship ceremony. Ruwani Periera went to one to find out what that is all about.
Finally getting to forge their futures on New Zealand soil is a long-awaited moment for so many would-be Kiwis at the citizenship ceremony. Ruwani Periera went to one to find out what it's all about.
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The nail salon industry is booming but still largely unregulated. Vietnamese couple Tri Phung and Ngi Dinh are trying to challenge the status quo by turning their focus on the health and safety of both, client and their nail techs.
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Musician Vallé talks to Kadambari Raghukumar about rediscovering his connection to Papua New Guinea, his music and running his barbershop alongside everything else.
WATCH A VIDEO ON THIS STORY HERE
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Christine Keller was the Head of Textiles at the Otago Polytechnic for 5 years, but things changed in 2010 when her role was made redundant. Turns out it was the perfect time to chase her aim to find sustainable alternatives to period care and started Sew On Period Care to involve the community and make reusable sanitary pads.Karthic SS chats to her in this episode.
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Combating climate change, protecting biodiversity and sustaining food systems of the world were top of the agenda at the COP16 in Cali, Colombia. In this episode, Kadambari Raghukumar was in Colombia to talk to two New Zealanders attending the worlds largest bidoversity conference, with aim to bring a Kiwi perspective to some of the world's biggest challenges.
Canterbury's Polish history goes back over a century and in this episode, Kadambari Raghukumar sits down with two of the community's most active history enthusiasts to learn about how bogs became fertile vegetable gardens thanks to the blood, sweat and tears of early Polish settlers.
Two young Sri Lankans talk to Phil Vine about a film-making voyage of discovery in their homeland - telling stories of farming hardship and investigating where our food really comes from.
In Wellington this month and next, a series of public programmes mark the 50th year of the Dawn Raids. In this episode of Here Now Kadambari Raghukumar talks to artist Liana Leiataua and Pacific historian Rachel Yates Pahulu around their thoughts and experiences of events of the 70s that inform their work.
This week on Here Now, Kadambari Raghukumar checks out some arts and culture events lined up in the capital for the next few weeks ahead. The podcast features chats with musicians performing at Wellington Jazz Festival - Alda Rezende and Seth Boy; and Abhi Chinniah about her photography on display in the NZ Portrait Gallery.
What's a New Zealand citizenship ceremony really like? For hundreds of new citizens each year, this is a long-awaited milestone event - one of which producer Ruwani Pereira attends in this episode, alongside would-be Kiwis about to forge their future on New Zealand soil.
A hundred years ago Haining and Frederick Streets in central Wellington were the heart of the capital's Chinese quarter. Today, all but a few fragments are gone. Wellington Chinese Historian Lynette Shum takes producer William Ray on a tour of the Wellington's long lost Chinatown.
As the cost of living hits home, what practical, money-saving tips can we learn from some of New Zealand's diverse cultures? In this cross-over episode with RNZ's money saving podcast, Thrift, Katy Gosset joins a cooking class at Canterbury's Refugee Resettlement and Resources Centre.
Canterbury-based botanists Dr Julie Barcelona and Pieter Pelser met in the US in the mid 2000s and it was their shared love for plants in tropical jungles that brought them together. What ensued has been years of botanical discovery and adventure - and some peculiar romantic gestures.
Leandro Vasquez of Abada Capoeira Auckland joins Kadambari Raghukumar in this episode to talk about celebrating the sense of community, art and camaraderie born out of this art.
Scientists are looking for ways to adapt salmon fisheries for climate change. In this episode we talk to UK-born Dr Jane Symonds about how to save the industry from mass fish die-offs. Produced by Kadambari Raghukumar
Using natural build techniques, a group of Takaka-based social entrepreneurs are excited about getting closer to the finish line of their cohousing project in development. Produced by Kadambari Raghukumar.
A group of South American migrants spoke out recently about allegedly misleading job contracts they signed with the Auckland construction company Buildhub as part of New Zealand's Accredited Employers Work Visa (AEWV) scheme. On Voices, Kadambari Gladding sits down for an exclusive interview with Buildhub's commercial administrator Ricardo Corona-Perez.
Supporting their families back home in Samoa is the main drive of a group of ten young men. Some of them feature in this episode of Voices, produced by Justine Murray.
After a three-year absence, the most powerful images from professional photojournalists across the globe are now showing in Auckland at the World Press Photo Exhibition. RNZ's Justin Gregory speaks to the exhibition’s curator Marika Cukrowski (who is visiting from Amsterdam) and one of the winning contestants, Egyptian photographer Mohamed Mahdy.
This week, timpani and his love for classical music - Steven Logan of the Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra talks about all this and more with Kadambari Raghukumar.
Sheila Nguyen talks to Kadambari Raghukumar about the focus on sustainability in this FIFA Women's World Cup.
In part 2 of our conversation around yoga and it's commodification, we talk more to Megan Sety and Vinny Lohan about their views on the topic. Produced by Kadambari Raghukumar.
Yoga - the appreciation versus the appropriation of it. In this 2-part episode we talk to some practitioners and teachers in New Zealand about the sentiments the commodification of yoga is stirring up. Produced by Kadambari Raghukumar.
Mexico and New Zealand first began bilateral relations in 1973. 50 years on, what does this connection mean to both the diaspora living here in New Zealand and the for Mexico?
Jess Karamjeet talks to Kadambari Raghukumar on finding comedy through her time in New Zealand.
Growing up in Germany, researcher Mirjam Schindler always had an interest in how green spaces shape the way people interact with each other and spaces around them. In this episode, she talks to Kadambari Raghukumar about the future of New Zealand's urban geography.
In the events in the early 1990s after the collapse of Yugoslavia Vukan Cavor's family to fled to Aotearoa. In this Voices episode we meet Vukan about keeping up his connection to his home country of Montenegro.
This International Day for Elimination of Violence against Women, Latin American feminists in Auckland spoke to Kadambari Raghukumar about the issues the community faces when it comes to violence against women, in the context of the violent killing of Juliana Bonilla Herrera in Christchurch earlier this year.
Witnessing a powhiri for some of the Bay of Plenty's newest residents is a pretty special occasion. Justine Murray was part of it all, in this weeks Voices episode.
Exactly 20 years ago this month, Vivio Ramos decided to make a life in New Zealand bringing with him his infectious love for Cuban dance. He speaks to Kadambari Raghukumar in this episode on growing up in Cuba, studying dance, and making a life in New Zealand.
In this episode, UC Research Medal awardee Misko Cubrinovski talks to Kadambari Raghukumar about all things seismic, and a journey of studying quakes that began in former Yugoslavia.
Almost 40 percent of New Zealand households experience food insecurity, while 19 percent of children live in households that experience food insecurity. in this episode, Kadambari visits EKTA in Wellington, a non-profit distributing food every Saturday morning, rain or shine.
What are Pacific values and how can they be incorporated into the classroom to help Pacific students thrive? iIn this Voices episide, Kadambari Raghukumar talks to the co-authors of a book that examines this.
Caribbean-Kiwi playwright Estelle Chout's confronting and comedic new play Po' Boys and Oysters wrapped on a high last week. Kadambari Raghukumar speaks to the cast about what it means to be black creatives in Aotearoa New Zealand.
The WOW Awards are back this year in Wellington - so what's it been like for the host of international designers who finally got to attend and show their designs after a two-year wait in limbo?
In this episode of Voices, Afghan rugby players Bilal Slaimankhel and Mohammed Safi speak to Kadambari Raghukumar on what the game has come to mean to them in recent years.
In this episode of Voices, in the run up to Mental Health Awareness week we talk to South Asian mental health advocate about the gaps and challenges they see in the community. Produced by Kadambari Raghukumar.
Marking six years since New Zealand's oldest surviving Chinese type collection came under the guardianship of Victoria University, the Wai-te-ata Press, celebrates 'full form' script that the New Zealand Growers Journal was once printed in.
The Pacific Food Lab is a social enterprise aiming to change the way we think about, create and consume food with the hopes of improving our health and the environment. Big goals. This week on Voices, we meet two of the passionate people behind this cause.
International education has been forever changed by the pandemic. Now that borders have fully reopened, we hear from two students about their experiences and find out what the future looks like for the sector.
Marine mammals suffer several direct impacts of coastal development, in particular the development of ports. America-born scientist Deanna Clement's research has been a deep-dive into the lives of whales and dolphins as they forage and migrate around New Zealand's waters. Produced by Kadambari Raghukumar.
Yuanyuan Liang's fascination with young adult literature took her down a very niche path of study - following one very celebrated Kiwi writers fantastical stories. She speaks to Kadambari Raghukumar in this episode of Voices.
Two linguists delve into the mysteries of English grammar with their new book on more than just misplaced apostrophes - asking fundamental questions like what is good grammar or correct form anyway with evolving languages?
Daren Kamali's hair over a period of 25 years has now been woven into a traditional Ulumate, to be preserved for many years to come.Voices talks to the artist about the revitalizing of this ancient tradition, thanks to spaces like the Auckland Museum.
A Canterbury refugee centre is starting up its own driving programme, taught in the native language of migrants. It's another step towards breaking down some of the barriers to getting a drivers licence. It comes as the Government has announced Budget funding of 86.5 million dollars to help 64,000 people get behind the wheel. Katy Gosset finds out how that funding could trickle down and meets some migrants whose driving journey has just begun.
After a two year hiatus recovering from an injury, Wellingtonian and former-refugee Ali Mashal is back to chasing his dream of professional boxing.
With rising sea temperatures affecting our fisheries and marine ecosystem, how does Cawthron Institute's Dr Norman Ragg see research helping understand shellfish coping mechanisms better?
In this episode, writer and performer Jacob Rajan talks to Kadambari Raghukumar about his journey starting in 1997 with his debut, Krishnan's Dairy.
Helping shift the refugee and immigrant experience one conversation at a time, is Tanya Nock and her space - Cultural Conversations. In this last Voices episode of a month-long series on former refugees resettled across New Zealand, Kadambari visits Nelson.
On World Refugee Day, Kadambari Raghukumar speaks to the first family of Kayan refugees to ever arrive in Nelson, back in 2008. How has life changed for the family over the years?
Sepak Takraw has helped some former refugees tap into a taste of home despite challenges to keep the sport going in Auckland. Produced by Kadambari Raghukumar
From Vancouver to Auckland: violinist Andrew Beer prepares to debut a major new work in his adopted home.
At 22, David Huang founded his first AR startup called Oasis AR, continuing the 20-year-old lineage of such startups from University of Canterbury's HIT Lab. He spoke to Kadambari Raghukumar in this Voices episode.
Two best friends who started a finance podcast at the start of the pandemic look back two years later. Simran Kaur and Sonya Guptham talk to Kadambari Raghukumar in this episode of Voices.
Growing up in Ireland with a fascination with stormwater, set Aisling O'Sullivan on a lifelong mission to keep waterways free from pollutants, even here in New Zealand. She speaks to Kadambari Raghukumar in this episode of Voices.
How did Pedro Ilgenfritz go from accounting to clowning? He talks to Voices producer and presenter Kadambari Raghukumar about his love for acting - and a growing theatre mask collection.
How did a stint in the army lead Canterbury scientist Hussam Razzaq to wanting to change lives through research? He spoke to Kadambari in this week's episode of Voices.
How does being a master distiller and Honorary Consul come together when your country is being ravaged by war? Kadambari Raghukumar talks to Oleksandr Kirichuk in this week's episode of Voices.
Inter-ethnic prejudice and discrimination were the subjects on the table at a recent online hui attended by a collective of New Zealand creatives and activists. Organisers and participants of the hui talk to Voices about highlighting and tackling these issues via honest dialogue and reflection.
Nigerian-born Aucklander Esther Olatunbosun has taken her sweet tooth to the Dubai World Expo. One of just three young chefs chosen to represent New Zealand, she has big dreams and one heck of a pav.
Zimbabwe-born saxophonist Thabani Gapara talks to Voices producer and presenter, Kadambari Raghukumar, about his journey over the years and how storytelling has been so central to his work, particularly with his recent EP.
In this episode, we're talking football, inclusivity, visas and the opportunities to play in an amateur league when you're an immigrant in New Zealand. Kadambari Raghukumar talks to Waiheke United and players from other clubs affected by the foreign-player regulation.
Growing up in a farming family in Zimbabwe, scientist Emmanuel Chakwizira talks to Kadambari Raghukumar about the differences in crop culture literally, and his work here in Canterbury.
Myint Aung San talks to Kadambari Raghukumar in this Voices episode about his dreams to change the refugee experience in camps by changing the way they're built.
In this Voices podcast, botanist and associate curator at the Auckland Museum, Yumiko Baba, shares her long-standing love for a particular native tree. Produced and presented by Kadambari Raghukumar.
in 2022's first episode of Voices, writer Shriya Bhagwat talks to Kadambari Raghukumar about exploring patriarchy and challenging stereotypes through her debut play, Kamasutra Chronicles, stalled twice before it finally premiered this month.
2021 was yet another year riddled with Covid-19 lockdowns, endless queues for MIQ spots and families separated by border closures. As the year draws to an end, we look at what this year has meant for immigrants in Aotearoa.
Auckland's diversity found a new space in the Tāmaki Paenga Hira Auckland Museum this year. Kadambari chats to the people involved in making this a dynamic, community-driven space.
Two weeks after moving up from Raglan to Auckland to get busier with his music, Muroki speaks to Kadambari Raghukumar in this episode, about his journey so far as a musician.
In this episode, Auckland-based pianist Ben Fernandez, speaks to Kadambari Raghukumar about his journey growing up a very musical family in Mumbai, to arriving in New Zealand to study jazz.
What was life in the Fijian town of Levuka like for two young girls from the Indo-Fijian community? Two elders reflect in a casual conversation switching effortlessly between Hindi, Fijian and English. Produced by Kadambari Raghukumar
As Sudan goes through a coup and the dissolving of the transitional government, how does diaspora in Aotearoa feel as two years of hopes for democracy in their home country seem dashed? Produced by Kadambari Raghukumar
Everyday New Zealanders will soon be given the chance play a bigger role helping new refugees settle in, thanks to a new Community Organisation Refugee Sponsorship (CORS) scheme that will soon be rolled out.
Film festival programmer Vicci Ho explains why a career watching movies is harder than it seems and how she picks films to reflect a culture.
For 165,000 people waiting to become New Zealanders, the government's recent decision to fast-track visas has come just in the nick of time. But what about those who've spent years here working and studying, but still don't qualify?
Workplace Bullying - The Beat Up, Anendra Singh's debut novel, was published earlier this year. During Mental Health Awareness Week, he spoke to Kadambari Raghukumar about what more needs to be done to combat New Zealand's high rates of workplace bullying.
After her first year of being in New Zealand, Somali former refugee Fatema Mohamed, now considers started a process that could help her restore a long-lost link. Produced by Kadambari Raghukumar.
Women's rights have come a long way in Afghanistan over the last 20 years. Will the recent Taliban takeover unravel all that hard work - and worse.
In the second part of stories from Afghanistan, Kadambari Raghukumar speaks to one Afghan waiting in Kabul for evacuation to New Zealand, and one woman who recently arrived in Auckland from Afghanistan in the first week of the Taliban's takeover.
Kadambari Raghukumar talks to Zahra Hussaini and Mahsheed Mahjor both originally from Kabul and now live in Christchurch - how has the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan affected the lives of their family and friends living there?
Tough lessons in survival and strategy led Alan Chew to become a leader in innovation and philanthropy. The 66-year-old's now garnering applause for his role in helping New Zealand combat Covid-19.
In the second part to the story of Auckland's Kings Academy martial arts club, Kadambari Raghukumar speaks to rising star kickboxer, Ethiopia-born Hayellom Tesfay.
A city-centre gym prolifically training rising stars in the kickboxing scene, prides itself on training as one large mixed family. Kadambari Raghukumar spoke to the Iran-born director, Vahid Unesi.
This week on Voices, a group of young activists get together to present an interactive timeline on the history of Palestine. Produced by Kadambari Raghukumar.
One of Auckland's orginal squeegee stars, Sky, talks to Kadambari Raghukumar reflecting on his life growing up in the States to arriving in Auckland in the early 90s.
In Voices today, several businesses in South Auckand serving mainly Indian diaspora clients are struggling to find workers of the right profile to help at their shops.
Going between painting, installation and sculpture, Korea-born artist Seung Yul Oh talks to Kadambari Raghukumar about his practice.
A new report paints a pretty detailed picture on youth well-being amongst East and South Asian students - and some of the stats are not pretty. Produced by Kadambari Raghukumar
This week on Voices, Umar Zakaria, Wellington-based jazz composer and double-bassist talks to Kadambari Raghukumar about his interpretations of Malay music through jazz improv.
Arriving in New Zealand seeking refuge to finally officially becoming one - Kadambari Raghukumar talks to Colombian, Jose Tombe about what compelled him to leave his hometown of Cali.
Commemorating their golden jubilee this month, Polynesian Panther member Tigilau Ness speaks to Kadambari Raghukumar about the significance of the groups activism over the years.
Amnesty International's report on repression of Muslims in Xinjiang was released last week. Kadambari Raghukumar spoke to the Auckland-based sister of one detainee whose case features in the report.
Artist Claudia Kogachi talks to Kadambari Raghukumar about what it's been like exploring her personal family relationships and dynamics through creative work.
An internationally-recruited doctor formerly based in provincial New Zealand, talks about professional isolation and racism that she and others like her face. Produced by Kadambari Raghukumar.
More than a year since he became a free man and has been living in New Zealand, Kurdish novelist, journalist and activist Behrouz Boochani talks to Kadambari Raghukumar about decolonial thinking and his life in New Zealand.
This last week of Ramadan Kadambari Raghukumar talks to two women athletes observing the fast during the Holy Month.
Travel restrictions between India and New Zealand have been loosened but thousands of Indian families are still separated. Katy Gosset hears how the situation has rocked one Christchurch household.