Here Now

As Myanmar continues to be under the grip of the latest coup, we look at the impact of military rule on the life of a former refugee who now lives in Wellington. Produced by Kadambari Raghukumar. Yan lets out a nervous laugh as he begins to recount a childhood memory - not one of playing games or going hunting but rather of real guns and his forced recruitment into the Tatmadaw, the Burmese army,...

After nearly 50 years of military rule, the recent coup of 1 February has brought an end to Myanmar's 10 year experiment with democracy. What has the NZ diaspora been doing in response to the coup and the civil disobedience movement taking place? Produced by Kadambari Raghukumar. Since 1 February Myanmar has been in the grip of a coup staged by the army commander-in-chief Min Aung Hlaing. After No...

The specialist Italian workforce building Auckland's 1.2 billion dollar Central Interceptor have met with unexpected hardships in the past year. Liz Garton heads out to Mangere to meet some of the crew. When Ghella Abergeldie won the contract to build a new waste water pipe for Auckland, they expected it would be just another day in the office. But then the global pandemic struck. Ghella Abergeldi...

For an American scientist in Hawkes Bay, his experience on working with pest management on cottonfields lent itself to research in NZ's orchards. Produced by Kadambari Raghukumar As a Peace Corp volunteer in Malawi, Tim Vandervoet developed a passion for using agriculture and science as a tool for social change - reducing insecticide use through more biological control of pests being one way. Vand...

In Voices this week, we meet the Auckland couple who smashed the Guinness World Record for baking the world's biggest lamington. New Zealand's latest Guinness World Record holders know the sweet taste of success thanks to a massive lamington, weighing more than 2700 kilograms, topped with 200 kilograms of jam, 200 kilograms of coconut and literally buckets of chocolate sauce. Listen to this e...

After nearly 14 years of planting native bush, a massive former dairy farm is now thriving forest overlooking the Kaipara. Produced by Kadambari Raghukumar. In 2006 when Thomas and Mahrukh Stazyk bought the 24 hectare property overlooking the Kaipara Harbour, it was disused and bare pasture land. 14 years later, today, the property is covered in thriving young native bush and bird song is everywhe...

Despite 2000 more seasonal workers due to arrive in New Zealand from January 2021, things aren't looking too rosy according some growers in the Hawkes Bay region. Produced by Kadambari Raghukumar. Jaswinder Singh, Jass for short, has been growing apples and pears for the past 15 years as well as running a labour supply company in Hawkes Bay. He's been struggling to make sure all his clients h...

The first transgender contestant to compete in the Miss New Zealand pageant talks to Kadambari Raghukumar about her journey with identity, gender reassignment and winning the Miss Intercontinental NZ title. At 26, Arielle Keil is the first trans contestant and first Filipina to win the Ms Intercontinental New Zealand title and next year hopes to be competing on the global stage. Subscribe to Voice...

International Au Pairs are becoming a rare commodity in New Zealand as the closed borders mean the outgoing nannies can't be replaced. Liz Garton finds out more in this episode of Voices. Luise Kreisel and Jule Riggers made New Zealand home in 2020, but they could be some of the last international au pairs to do so for some time. Subscribe to Voices for free on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, R...

Two Syrian brothers of former refugee background find a new life in Newtown after discovering some hidden talent. Produced by Kadambari Raghukumar. Subscribe to Voices for free on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Radio Public and iHeart Radio or wherever you listen to your podcasts. On a Saturday afternoon in Newtown, the barberhops are busy. Here at Cultural Cuts, run by Mohummed and Raed Aldan...

As New Zealand heads into a truncated baseball season, a Taiwanese big hitter (pitcher, really) is leading the charge. Liz Garton heads out to a pre-season practice to meet Cola Yeh New Zealand's baseball season usually starts about mid-October, but after a winter of Covid-19 disruptions there's a lot of uncertainty about how it will roll out. Subscribe to Voices for free on Apple Podcas...

In this episode of Voices, three Aucklanders originally from the US talk to Kadambari Raghukumar about their views on the upcoming election in the States. Subscribe to Voices for free on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Radio Public and iHeart Radio or wherever you listen to your podcasts For Ian Hoffmann, Ira Munn and Maya Henderson watching the election campaign unfold in their home country, t...

Helping teach children this ancient language with roots in Mesopotamia are a group of passionately protective custodians both young and old in Wellington. Produced by Kadambari Raghukumar. Helping teach children this ancient language with roots in Mesopotamia are a group of passionately protective custodians - both young and old, in Wellington. After a long hiatus of Covid-19 lockdowns, Assyrian l...

After waiting out two Covid-19 lockdowns the 21st national tournament for this Japanese martial art that's growing in popularity, finally took place this month. Produced by Kadambari Raghukumar Martin Lee has been practicing the martial art of Kendo for over 20 years. The traditional Japanese style of fencing with a two-handed bamboo sword was derived from the fighting practices of the Samurai who...

A close contender to Sushi for Japan's national dish, turns out Kiwis too have a soft spot for ramen - the iconic bowl of soul. Produced by Kadambari Raghukumar Ramen. Few things beat this steaming bowl of soupy, noodle-y goodness on a cold night. A close contender to Sushi for Japan's national dish, it turns out Kiwis too have a soft spot for this iconic bowl of soul. After the lockdown, it...

A Singaporean New Zealander is working on this country's first Asian Cabaret. Voices finds out what that will look like. Produced by Liz Garton The woman writing New Zealand's first Asian cabaret is planning a new and possibly confronting look for the genre. Listen to Amanda Grace Leo on Voices Subscribe to Voices for free on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Radio Public and iHeart Radio or...

Malian-New Zealander Boubacar Coulibaly reflects on the significance on the latest coup in Mali in August 2020. Produced by Kadambari Raghukumar. Subscribe to Voices for free on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Radio Public and iHeart Radio or wherever you listen to your podcasts. For Boubacar Coulibaly these are days that bring back several memories. In 1989 when he immigrated to New Zealand to...

What do you do when you're faced with approving of a loved one's decision to end their life? A Holland-born New Zealand resident shares her journey. Produced by Kadambari Raghukumar. Subscribe to Voices for free on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Radio Public and iHeart Radio or wherever you listen to your podcasts. "For Mum there was no other option. She would have died in pain or lonely....

When it comes to mobilizing helping hands at this south Auckland gurdwara, there's no dearth of volunteers. Produced by Kadambari Raghukumar. Subscribe to Voices for free on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Radio Public and iHeart Radio or wherever you listen to your podcasts. Each Wednesday and Sunday, the Takanini Sikh Gurdwara sees hundreds of cars driving into its gates to pick up free food...

During the alert level 3 lockdown, a group of blood donors didn't back down from stepping up to help. Produced by Kadambari Raghukumar. Subscribe to Voices for free on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Radio Public and iHeart Radio or wherever you listen to your podcasts. Lovedeep Sharma is pretty cheerful for someone with a large needle stuck in his arm. It's 6pm on a Monday and he's a...

A restoration studio in Auckland has been drawing on the skill of people from different arts cultures to help preserve and restore Kiwi antiques. Produced by Kadambari Raghukumar Subscribe to Voices for free on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Radio Public and iHeart Radio or wherever you listen to your podcasts. In 1944, Karangahape Road in Auckland became home to a unique hospital that opened...

With the sentencing of the gunman is due to start in Christchurch, Widows of Shuhada's writer and producer, Lana Hart, catches up with some of the widows. We talk to some of the widows of the Christchurch mosque attacks of 2019. The sentencing of the gunman is due to start in Christchurch next week. Widows of Shuhada's writer and producer, Lana Hart, catches up with some of the widows as the...

Drawing from their personal experiences and childhood, two chefs help further the social cause of an Auckland-based restaurant pop-up. Produced by Kadambari Raghukumar. https://www.facebook.com/RadioNewZealand/videos/322066729224291 Subscribe to Voices for free on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Radio Public and iHeart Radio or wherever you listen to your podcasts. Each Wednesday, the Everybody...

How did a group of young activists in Auckland find the right mentors to help guide them while organising their first rally against racism? Kadambari Raghukumar speaks to the group behind the second Black Lives Matter rally in Auckland. On 14 June 2020, Queen Street resounded with the sound of over 2000 people who came together calling for an end to racism. This second Black Lives Matter rally in...

In this epidode, we're speaking to Filipino comedian, James Roque, on his involvement with the Human Rights Commission's latest campaign - "Racism is no joke". Produced by Kadambari Gladding Subscribe to Voices for free on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Radio Public and iHeart Radio or wherever you listen to your podcasts. People who say there's no racism in New Zealand aren't listen...