Conversations With Wāhine

The YWCA is a proud feminist organization championing gender equality around the world. YWCA’s Wellington Branch board-people Isabel and Rhianna come on the show to promote the fund they’re launching for young women, E-hine fund. Listen in to learn what it provides funding for and how Wellington women can apply.  Interviewed by Harita Gandhi-Kashyap

Not so fun fact: every 10 years your period might cost you around $4000 in products that will also cost the environment untold damage if they’re non-biodegradable. Tackling period poverty and the environmental catastrophe at the same time, Shuari Naidoo is an award-winning social entrepreneur on the show to tell her success story of launching Moraka Menstrual Cups. Interviewed by Harita Gandhi-Kas...

We take the opportunity during Wellington’s Fringe Festival of luring a roaving theatre producer into the studio. Jenoveva Roberta is producer of and actor within three plays during the Festival. We’re interested to know more about a theatre production and stage-acting lifestyle and whether it’s as romantic as it sounds. Interviewed by Harita Gandhi-Kashyap

Suzanne Tamaki, AKA Native Sista, is the acting City Events manager for Wellington City Council and as luck would have it for the Council, a brilliant artist in her own right. She founded Pacific Sisters, a collective of artists of the Wellington Pacific community, and comes on the show to talk about the challenge of supporting Wellington to embrace Māori and Pacific culture through public arts an...

Wellington has a long history of theatre and Amy Mclean is a passionate new member of this vibrant community. She’s recently graduated in Theatre and Film from Victoria University, and now aspires to continue her studies in New York. She discusses the feminist themes in her most recent work and how influential women are within theatre today. Interviewed by Ayesha and Lily

If we want to have an inclusive society, we have to improve our Crimes Act. Dr. Neda Salahsour analyses the government’s crackdown on hate speech with its six proposals to amend the law, including increasing the number of groups protected to include pregnancy, disability, employment status, sexual identity and ethnic beliefs. Does it go far enough? Listen in to hear what Dr. Salahsour has to say....

Cath Wallace, Vice Chair of the Environment and Conservation Organisations, a peak body for working to protect the environment, has plenty to say about New Zealand’s position on climate change action, following Minister James Shaw’s trip to COP 26. New Zealand’s emissions reduction plan is inadequate, vested less in action and more in buying credits; Cath likens this to kicking a can down the road...

Sue Kedgeley, former New Zealand politician for the Green party, a longstanding food campaigner and environmentalist but as her recently published book '50 years a feminist' makes clear, a longstanding successful fighter for women’s rights. Sue discusses her book and reflects on the second wave of feminism she was part of starting. Interviewed by Harita and Prudence

Jenny, a Nurse Manager and Debby, a Nurse Team Leader, both work in aged residential care (ARC) and want to point out they deserve to be paid the same as DHB nurses. The fact that aged care is a specialist field even suggests ARC nurses could demand more in a pay parity claim. Interviewed by Prudence

Young female leadership in advocacy and activism is breaking new ground around the world. Here in Wellington, we invite Katherine and Hana, two leaders of the Free Fares Campaigners calling for legislation to make public transport free for children, young people, and students, and everyone carrying a community services card. What’s it like running a campaign and how can listeners get involved? Int...

What's it like to curate an exhibition in the National Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa? This year Lizzie Bisley brought Surrealism to Wellington and notes how active women were in the Surrealist movement and how complex  the movement's attitudes were to women's bodies. She then discusses the challenges she faced trying to emphasize women's impact on the movement inside...

What is it like to be a journalist? Vandhna Bhan is a field reporter for TVNZ with a background in local radio, on the show to tell us about the field and what her role entails. She notes the workplace culture has come a long way in encouraging gender and ethnic diversity among reporting staff, but not necessarily the audiences.  Interviewed by Ayesha.

Hear from candidates for Wellington mayor in the upcoming election on issues that matter for women. We ask the candidates for Mayor: If you are elected Mayor of Wellington City, how will you prioritise issues regarding wai, wāhine and Te Tiriti o Waitangi? Local body elections will be held later this year. In Wellington City, this means registered voters will have the right to vote in a new Mayor....

Rebecca Mathews is a Wellington City Councillor running again this year in local elections as a Labour candidate. Rebecca got involved in politics as a longstanding champion of the Living Wage Movement, getting the Wellington Council to commit to paying its contracted employees salaries that afford them the cost of living. We ask her what’s next if she’s elected back in later this year. Interviewe...

Iona Pannett is a Wellington City Councillor running again this year in local elections as a Green candidate. Iona is always involved in the Tick for Kids movement every national election and is a staunch environmentalist and children’s rights activist. We ask her the priorities she focuses on next if she’s elected back in later this year 2022. Interviewed by Prudence Stone and Ayesha Asif

Afnan Al-Rubayee kiwi Iraqi mother, a professor at Victoria University running for Wellington City Council as a Labour candidate. If elected she will be the first ever refugee Councillor for Wellington and is keen to discuss how she plans to champion Te Tiriti o Waitangi and the Poneke Promise.  Interviewed by Ayesha Asif and Harita Gandhi

Tory Whanau is a mayoral candidate in the Wellington City Council elections! She is former Green Party Chief of staff and her transition from behind the scenes party strategist to the local govt election podium makes an interesting story. We ask her what the burning issues are in her campaign. Fun Fact: Tory was NZ's youngest lotto winner back in 2003.  Interviewed by Prudence and Harita.