Conversations With Wāhine

In recognition of May - Menstrual Awareness Month, join us for a conversation with Ragnar Anderson, Senior Research and Policy Advisor at Sexual Wellbeing Aotearoa. Ragnar’s work and research explore sexuality, wellbeing, and parent-child communication around bodies, relationships, and reproductive health. Among other things, we chat about the Wheel of Fertility and the importance of early menstru...

A few of our co-hosts interview some 2026 Newtown festival-goers!

Harita interviews Kristin Paulse. Kristin Paulse is a South African–born, Auckland–raised performer now based in Melbourne. She  is deeply grateful and incredibly proud to be returning home to join the New Zealand company of  &Juliet . After spending the past three years working and touring extensively across Australia, this homecoming holds special significance as she steps onto New Zealand s...

"Wellington's best kept secret" Joana Joy has rapidly established herself as a formidable presence as a comedian and MC in Antipodean comedy. With a background as a professional dancer and cabaret performer, she brings physical comedy, easy charm and witty authenticity to every room. With over 12 years industry experience, JJ has performed at large scale events such as WOMAD (NZ), T...

Harita interviews Imogen Stone. Born and raised in Te Whanganui-a-Tara, Wellington, New Zealand, Imogen Stone is a multi-disciplinary performing artist, aerialist, creator, director & producer. Over the past 13 years her career has taken her all over the world, performing within some of the largest Arts Festivals including the Edinburgh Fringe and Glastonbury Festival.  Closer to home, her bro...

Eleonora interviews Rachel Macindoe Baker. Rachel is the creator of Chrysalis, is an artist and animator based in Wellington. She studied Media Design at Victoria University of Wellington, where she loved experimenting with mixed media in her projects and finding new ways to tell stories visually. Rachel started her career in 2021 as an animator at Wētā FX. While her professional background is roo...

Harita interviews Anji Kreft. Long time Kiwi, but originally from England, Anji has been performing since she was a kid. As an adult, she’s performed in London's West End, national & international T.V – Director, TV & Radio Presenter, Vocalist, Voice Over Artist, Actress, Comedienne. You may have seen her in Coronation Street back in 2006 or when she was a childrens TV presenter.  She...

In this episode, Laura and Sophie chat with Melissa Hannan. From the workshop floor to empowering women across New Zealand, Melissa shares how she’s breaking barriers in the automotive world through Girls ’N’ Gasoline, creating a supportive, no-judgement space where women can learn, build confidence, and take control of their vehicles.

Harita chats to musician, Georgia Knight. Banished Music proudly welcomes Georgia Knight back to Aotearoa, following her standout solo performance at The Others Way. After captivating audiences with a spellbinding set that lingered long after the final note, Georgia brings her singular world of sound back to New Zealand stages, expanded, immersive, and more powerful than ever, this time with her f...

Harita and Eleonora interview Jacqueline Coats and Fifi Colston. Jacqueline directs, and Fifi is doing the costumes and design for, a new children's play, HELP! A Monster Ate My Story, which is heading to Wellington’s Circa Theatre from 7 to 19 April.  Fifi is a multi-disciplinary artist, costumier, novelist, and children's book illustrator, with over 50 published and award-winning title...

In this episode, Laura is joined by Nadine Tereora, Chief Executive Officer of the New Zealand Automobile Association.  They explore her career journey, the defining traits of impactful leadership, and the realities of women stepping into C-suite roles. Nadine also shares candid insights on staying grounded, protecting your energy, and building a career that doesn’t come at the expense of your lif...

#LadiesKickBrass! The Hoot'n'Annies, Wellington’s all-wāhine second line band, bring New Orleans jazz, funk, and bold pop covers to CubaDupa. Their dynamic blend of brass and percussion will ignite the streets, sparking dance and joy. Join the party - feel the beat, feel the power! In their seventh year of playing, the Hoot'n'Annies are a collective of non-professional musician...

Author, Aisling Ní Bhaldraithe and Illustrator, Bex Falconer sit down with your hosts, Eleonora and Haley Rachel Rolls for a refreshing, and at times, hilarious chat. Aisling and Bex have created a picture book that’s playful on the surface but grounded in bigger ideas about identity, confidence, and representation in children’s media. Peter the Colourful Panda; He doesn’t look the way he’s expect...

Eleonora and Laura talk to Sara Dore, Director of Empower Physio & Pilates on the Kāpiti Coast, and one of New Zealand’s most experienced DMA Clinical Pilates clinicians. With over 30 years in physiotherapy, Sara has spent nearly two decades teaching physios across New Zealand, Australia, Hong Kong, and Singapore. She specialises in pelvic health, breathing retraining, and rehabilitation, and...

Harita chats to South African comedian and actor, Schalk Bezuidenhout, ahead of his NZ tour, about his life as a comedian who tours the world, and what growing up in South Africa was like. You can follow him on IG here: Instagram He will be performing his latest show, Hey Hey Divorce, in Wellington on 11 March and Auckland on 13 March as part of the NZ comedy festival.  You can buy your tickets he...

Join Laura and Eleonora for a beautiful kōrero with Te Ataahia Hurihanganui . We explored the responsibilities that come with cultural visibility, as a māmā first and foremost, but also through her growing consulting business, and her recent mahi with the NZ Festival of the Arts….but especially through the fear of unintentionally sparking a “fashion” of moko kauae in a tiny fishing village in Sici...

Laura and Harita talk to Dr Siouxsie Wiles, a microbiologist by training and a passionate science communicator with decades of experience working with the media and collaborating with artists, designers, and illustrators.  In 2019, she was made a member of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to microbiology and science communication. Siouxsie became a household name in New Zealand for her...

Harita chats to Meilani Payne and Madelain Vai-Little who are co-directors of this years Shooting Stars Pasifika Youth Initiative programme, Taula. Meilani Payne is a Master's of Cross-cultural Psychology Student at Victoria University of Wellington going into her thesis year. From the island of Enuamanu, Atiu in the Cook Islands, she shows her dedication to equitable outcomes for her communi...

Harita and Sophie sit down with activist and 2023 Young New Zealander of the Year, Shaneel Lal.

Harita interviews Aotearoa artist Karra Rhodes following the release of her new album Hometown Therapy .

Laura and Harita are joined by Anna Osborne, Sonya Rockhouse, and director Rob Sarkies to talk about the Pike River mine story, a journey of loss, courage, and the enduring fight for justice.

Harita and Haley chat with the wonderful Suzy Cato, one of Aotearoa’s most loved children’s entertainers, for a heartfelt chat about her life, career, and the magic she’s brought to generations of Kiwi kids.

Eleonora and Harita sit down with author Murdoch Stephens to talk about his book Visa Now and the inspiring work he’s doing to advocate for refugees.

Harita and Reesha chat with radio personality Jay-Jay Feeney about her career in radio, her personal journey, and what she’s learned from sharing her life so openly with listeners.

Harita and Haley talk with journalist Alison Mau about the stories that shaped her career and the deeply personal journey behind her latest book, “No Words for This”.