Here Now

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. One of the main human-made noises that can permanently or temporarily injury marine mammal he...

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. Ten years since Margaret Mahy died in July 2012, her body of writing continues to inspire, and intrigue. Dr Yuanyuan Liang's niche is analysing the trauma aspect of char...

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? What happens when a Romanian and British academic meet in New Zealand? They co-author a book about linguistics of course. Bucharest-born Dr Andreea Calude and Dr Laurie Bauer re...

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. Cutting his dreads off marked the start of this project for Fiji-born Daren Kamali. Working with Joana Monolagi, heritage Fiji artist based in Auck...

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...

After a two year hiatus recovering from an injury, Wellingtonian and former-refugee Ali Mashal is back to chasing his dream of professional boxing. Fighting for a future and his freedom, led 23-year-old former refugee Ali Mashal to boxing. He dreams of representing NZ one day in the feather or lightweight class. The past two years have been a long and hard hiatus for him after a serious injury to...

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? Scientist Dr Norman Ragg has spent the past 25 years working with abalone after a passion for paua brought him to New Zealand - but not before collecting both samples and experiences from South London to Colombia...

In this episode, writer and performer Jacob Rajan talks to Kadambari Raghukumar about his journey starting in 1997 with his debut, Krishnan's Dairy. "When I first put that mask on, I can almost sense the audience lean forward. There's a childlike wonder that is kind of released in them. They're given that permission to imagine." It's been a quarter century since Jacob Raja...

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. Each year Nelson receives about 8-12% of New Zealand yearly quota of refugees. In 2019 when Tanya Nock set out to create Cultural Conversation...

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? 12 years ago in Nelson, Dr Kay Sneddon decided to help a group of former refugees from Myanmar feel more settled in Nelson. The family were the first Kayan people to be settled in Nelson back in 2008 after being given re...

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 Sepak Takraw isn't officially recognized as a sport in New Zealand, but that hasn't stopped Karen players in Auckland. The former refugees have been getting their skills up to a level where they now are off to the World championshi...

From Vancouver to Auckland: violinist Andrew Beer prepares to debut a major new work in his adopted home. FOLLOW Voices on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Radio Public and iHeart Radio or wherever you listen to your podcasts. Violinist Andrew Beer's day job is concertmaster for the Auckland Philharmonia (APO). As the musical leader of the orchestra, he sits just to the left of the conducto...

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. FOLLOW Voices and LISTEN on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Radio Public and iHeart Radio or wherever you listen to your podcasts. Over the past few years, NZ has been steadily pushi...

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. When Simran Kaur and Sonya Gupthan set out to start their finance podcast Girls That Invest, they hadn't quite expected it would become such a hit two years later. The podcast today is one of the world&#x27...

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. When Aisling O'Sullivan was a child in Ireland, tracing the journey of stormwater run-off was a source of endless fascination. In this episode of Voices, she looks...

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. Pedro Ilgenfritz went from counting to clowning in his career and has never looked back since. While studying accounting as a 20-year-old in his hometown in Brazil, Florianopolis, Pedro discovered acting. Listen t...

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 did a stint in the army lead Canterbury scientist Hussam Razzaq to changing lives through research? He tells his story in this week's episode of Voices. In 1986, Hussam Razzaq had just arrived back in his hometown Baghdad,...

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. Oleksandr Kirichuk is a master distiller, sailor and the Honorary Consul of Ukraine in New Zealand. On most days, he's busy distilling and bottling his vodka, whiskey and rum at his fully solar-run dis...

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. Inter-ethnic prejudice and discrimination were the subjects on the table at a recent online hui attended...

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. The breathless promotional videos promise a "celebration of human brilliance" and "a making of a new world", but for chef Esther Olatunbosun, Expo 2020 in Dubai is a place to make...

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. Zimbabwe-born saxophonist Thabani Gapara tells Voices why storytelling is so central to his music. FOLLOW Voices on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Radio Public and iHeart Ra...

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. Kadambari Raghukumar meets amateur football players feeling shut out by New Zealand regulations. Listen to the story FOLLOW Voices...

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. "The biggest shock coming here was seeing forage brassica fed to animals. It's for human consumption where I come from, all of a sudden you come here and see a paddock full growing for animals" laugh...

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. "I'm trying to tackle a problem. It's a way to create a sense of belonging, remove that sense of alienation and use their skills." Listen to this episode of Voices Auckland based architecture graduate Myint San Aung, i...

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. "They're beautiful plants. The flowers are fringed, like a tutu, a ballerina's costume" Detail is the biggest deal for Japan-born Botanist Yumiko Baba; and one New Zealand native t...