Here Now

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. Last month as the Taliban took over control of Afghanistan district by district, Nowrozali and his family have been on the move, desperately been trying...

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? Empty streets almost devoid of traffic except for Taliban vehicles, paint an eerie picture of how Kabul has changed dramatically in recent weeks. It's the kind of quie...

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. Amidst profound deprivation, Alan Chew's illiterate parents raised him to become a leader in innovation and helping those in need. Listen to Alan Chew's full story FOLLOW Voices on Apple Podca...

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. Hayellom Tesfay starting training when he was 18. At 22, he's one of the rising stars of kickboxing from Kings Academy. LISTEN to Hayellom's full inteview on the Voices podcast: FOLLOW Voices on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, iHeart...

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. Vahid Unesi looks proudly around his inner-city Auckland gym and breathes in the smell of linament. "We have almost 50 different nationalities here in the gym." And that's no exaggeration...

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. A group of young activists produced an interactive walk-through exhibit telling the history of Palestine for an exhibition at Auckland's Corban Estate. FOLLOW Voices on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, iHeart Radio or wherever you listen to you...

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. "I can honestly say to this day, joining the US Marines was the best decision I ever made" says Sky, as he empties the bucket of soapy water he's just cleaned an Auckland cafe's windows with. "That's how...

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. Navtej Randhawa runs Radio Spice, a Punjabi radio station, along with running his family business - a grocery store that's been here at Hunters Corner for several years - acutely understaffed these days. "This are is uniqu...

Going between painting, installation and sculpture, Korea-born artist Seung Yul Oh talks to Kadambari Raghukumar about his practice. Going between painting, installation and sculpture, Korea-born artist Seung Yul Oh talks to Kadambari Raghukumar about his practice. FOLLOW Voices on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, iHeart Radio or wherever you listen to your podcasts. Seung Yul Oh is known for his public a...

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 FOLLOW Voices on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, iHeart Radio or wherever you listen to your podcasts. A new report, Youth19, is the latest in the Youth2000 survey series which asks more than 7000 students about everything from fa...

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. As a child, when Umar Zakaria saw the double-bassist play in an army band in New Zealand, he almost immediately knew that was the instrument he wanted to take up. FOLLOW Voices on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, iHeart Radio or wh...

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. Jose Tombe, 36, worked with vulnerable youth in his hometown of Cali, Colombia. Jose thrived in his work despite knowing that activism and social work is a dangerous vocation in Colombia. Social workers, who in Colom...

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. The Polynesian Panther Party was founded on 16 June 1971 in Auckland by Will 'Ilolahia, Fred Schmidt, Nooroa Teavae, Paul Dapp, Eddie Williams and Vaughan Sanft. They were later joined by Tigilau Ness, Lupematasila M...

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. For the past four years, Rizwangul NurMuhammed (Riz) has been seeking justice and answers. In 2017, Riz's brother, Maiwulana, was arrested on charges of separatism - charges Riz denies - and detai...

Artist Claudia Kogachi talks to Kadambari Raghukumar about what it's been like exploring her personal family relationships and dynamics through creative work. Artist Claudia Kogachi talks to Kadambari Raghukumar about what it's been like exploring her personal family relationships and dynamics through creative work. It's mid-morning and Claudia Kogachi is busy wielding her carpet gun in...

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. FOLLOW Voices on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, iHeart Radio or wherever you listen to your podcasts. "We're going to have to address this in a far more systemic way," says Dr Carolyn Providence abo...

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. Follow Voices on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Radio Public and iHeart Radio or wherever you listen to your podcasts. In November 2019, Behrouz Boochani arrived at Aucklan...

This last week of Ramadan Kadambari Raghukumar talks to two women athletes observing the fast during the Holy Month. Mariam Bahar has been fasting during Ramadan each year since she was 9 years old while growing up in Sri Lanka. I meet Mariam at 5am just as she's finishing her sahur or sehri - a pre-dawn meal before starting the day's fast. She's in her workout gear and will start h...

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. There should be three children in this picture but two of them are stuck in India. New Zealand's border closed just one day before toddlers, Nimrat and Tarman Kaur, were due to join their parents i...

In this episode, a 23-year-old New Zealander shares her story - a poetic journey asking questions of identity, harm, and home, while revealing the realities of living as a child in the world's refugee camps. They used to call Bhutan the "Happiest Country in the World," says Shreejana, a 23-year-old living in Christchurch. There was plenty of land, cattle, and crops growing everywhere. He...

What does 20 years of graffiti in Aotearoa look like? One graffiti crew decided to pull together as a collective to create an exhibition that looks at old and new works and the people involved in the scene over the years. Dr Bobby Hung, who is also known as Berst, first started painting graffiti as a teenager and was given a garden wall by his mother, to keep him from tagging on the streets. That...

Since November 2020 thousands from Ethiopia's Tigray region have been caught in conflict and fighting. Produced by Kadambari Raghukumar. Since 4 November last year, conflict and fighting between between the Ethiopian federal government and the Tigray regional government ruling party, Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF) has forced nearly 27,000 refugees out of the region of Tigray in the n...

What does celebrating Pride month mean to a former refugee whose journey coming out ended up even shaping their career? Kadambari Raghukumar talks to Ives Rose. Follow Voices on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Radio Public and iHeart Radio or wherever you listen to your podcasts. This Pride month, after a bit of a hiatus from performing, Drag Queen Black Mamba took to the stage once more. While...

When Ajaz Patel immigrated to New Zealand at the age of 10, he greeted his Kiwi cousins at Auckland airport dressed in a dinner suit and top hat. 20 years later he made his successful debut for the New Zealand national team. When Ajaz Patel immigrated to New Zealand at the age of 10, he greeted his Kiwi cousins at Auckland airport dressed in a suit and top hat. Over a 20 year period of hard graft...

Bringing her vast farming knowledge from Africa to West Auckand, Olive Minani's organic garden is a cause to go green with envy. Wesley market on Tuesday buzzes with a cross-section of Sandringham's communities and the produce being sold reflects that equally. Olive Minani arrives at the market at 6.30am each week to set up her stall to sell her organic produce. Subscribe to Voices for free o...