Kiwi Yarns

It's Mental Health Awareness Week here in New Zealand so a warning: we will be discussing issues around mental health including suicide. My guest is Bryce Casey - a man who has done a remarkable job in this country at opening up about mental health struggles and by doing so has helped drop the stigma around talking about such a complicated issue. He’s also a very funny, talented broadcaster with a...

Raf Manji is a man who throws his heart and soul into the work he does. The former London investment banker and Christchurch City Councillor has spent the past 18 months working in a voluntary capacity directly with the victims and families of the March 15 Terror Attack in Christchurch - in what he describes as his hardest job to date. His next goal is to get fairer financial support for the victi...

What did you to celebrate your 40th birthday? Well Jo Kane (aka my Mum) decided that it would be the year she would swim the Cook Strait. It's an amazing story, considering she first set her sights on the notorious piece of water at age 16. Jo talks about the endurance training and mental toughness she built up over many years, and how she was able to turn around and complete the swim just weeks a...

Tanya Carlson has been a dominant fashion designer in New Zealand for over 20 years. One of the main reasons she has been successful for so long is because she's not afraid to move/pivot/change (you catch my drift) her label along with the ever-evolving fashion industry. Tanya remembers wanting to be involved in fashion as a young girl, dressing up to do her after-school chores - so it's no wonder...

Paula Bennett is literally sitting in the departure lounge waiting to walk out of a hugely successful 15 year career - a delayed election means she's having to hang on in there just a little longer. But she's pumped about her next career move (which she can't quite tell us about yet) and is well and truly done with politics. But we share some great laughs about her time in Parliament and talk abou...

Hamish Pinkham and his Rhythm and Vines team have just announced their line up for the three day festival in Gisborne at New Year's Eve. Here's the thing - 90% of tickets for this year sold out mere weeks after the 2019/20 festival had finished, and all tickets were gone before a single act was released. What's the secret? Well, Hamish talks through the 17 festivals that have got them to where the...

Joseph Parker is one of New Zealand's favourite sportspeople and it's not necessarily entirely down to his stellar boxing career. The former WBO Heavyweight Champ's humble and kind nature has been something that has set him apart from his opponents. He doesn't need a flashy entrance to a fight to prove who he is. Joseph also got himself a bit of a name this year for his hugely creative, very funny...

I have to admit a major bias towards this guest, because Hilary Barry has been a mentor to me over the years and during our last stint working together on Breakfast she was like my big sister. She's one of the country's most talented and loved broadcasters, through her utmost professionalism while on air, but also because it's so easy to see she cares. She's extremely hard working and passionate a...

Rob Nichol is the man behind the rugby players in New Zealand. He was a massive part of successfully bringing women's rugby into line with the men's conditions. But not just rugby, Rob has been an integral part of helping all types of professional sports people know their worth. Add to that, he was once a police officer, is a qualified accountant, and does ridiculously crazy adventure racing - the...

Mimi Gilmour Buckley has so much passion for the New Zealand Hospitality Industry - the restaurateur and businesswoman literally completes one successful project and is already plotting the next. She co-founded the burger empire that is Burger Burger (if you haven't got your chops around one I suggest you get there immediately) and as if making a large dent in a highly competitive industry wasn't...

Tangaroa Walker is a dairy farmer based in Southland. He has amassed a huge social media following thanks to his refreshing, down-to-earth online videos showing what life on the dairy farm is like. But Farm 4 Life isn't just designed to entertain, Tangaroa uses it to educate and inspire young people to get into the industry. His passion for being on the farm is enchanting, and he devotes so much o...

Comedian Tom Sainsbury is the guy that makes you sit on your phone laughing and cackling because his Snapchat characters are that damn good. His impersonations of people - from politicians to everyday New Zealanders - are so spot on that sometimes, they are more accurate than the actual person. Tom is also an incredibly talented actor, writer, producer, director and talks about the joys and challe...

Ruby Tui is a ridiculously talented woman who not only lights up the rugby field, but has the exact same effect when she walks into a room. Her warmth, generosity and humbleness makes her one of New Zealand's favourite rugby players. She's always worked incredibly hard to get to where she is - and does not take that for granted. Listening to Ruby's outlook on life and attitude towards the job she...

Two guys were sitting in a pub in London in 2008...over a couple of beers they decided they wanted to take New Zealand wine to the world. They came home and slowly chipped away at Invivo Wines. With an amazing crowdfunding success story, Tim Lightbourne and Rob Cameron then reached new heights by getting Graham Norton to drink their wine on his show. Fast forward to 2020, not only does Graham now...

Israel Dagg is an All Black who not only made his mark on the footy field, but it was his humour, his personality and his ability to let people get to know the humble lad who never thought he'd make the biggest sporting team in New Zealand. Izzy talks about the big highs and the massive lows around being a star rugby player - including being forced to retire due to injury in 2019. He share his hil...

If you love running, you hate running, you're not sure about running - then listening to Lydia O'Donnell speak about running will be just what you need I promise. If I could bottle up her story and her message and sell it I would. Lydia explains why running will always be so much more to her than a time, a placing or a medal (even though her times and placings and medals are something to be very p...

Nadia Lim - the woman who graces us in our very own kitchens with her charm, her passion and epic knowledge of food. She's come a long way since winning Masterchef in 2011, but apparently she's still got big grand plans (and yes believe it or not bigger than My Food Bag). Hear how she nearly burnt down a rich man's house while cooking duck, and how she once dreamed of making a TV Show with Jamie O...

Monty Betham has had a stunning sporting career in Rugby League and Boxing but it's perhaps his outlook on life and the simplicity of getting out of bed with the right attitude that intrigued me the most. Oh, and the fact that he kept his boxing career secret from his wife for a period of time which resulted in him buying her a new kitchen! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adch...

She's just been promoted to Deputy Leader of New Zealand's National Party just months out from an election. She's also aware of the battle her party has on their hands to take on one of the most popular Prime Ministers this country has seen in Jacinda Ardern. Nikki Kaye talks about how getting breast cancer in 2016 completely changed how she now operates as a politician and what motivates her to d...

Mark Dye is one of those guys that never seems to stay in the same place for very long. By his own admission, he's always looking at what he can do next. It's that outlook on life which has seen him travel all around the world, lead a very successful broadcasting career from ZM days, to Newstalk ZB to hosting Heartbreak Island. Mark is also co-founder and chief executive of NUBU Pharmaceuticals -...

I sit down with Lisa Carrington the 30-year old kayaking legend (yes absolutely a legend at 30) to talk Olympic gold medals, how she's working through the next stage of her career given the Tokyo Olympics were postponed. We discuss her love of the water, and how terrified she gets before a race. Lisa is the epitome of humble, and says the best of her is still to come. Learn more about your ad choi...

Kathryn Wilson designs shoes in a way that makes you walk into the shop where you had no intention of buying said-shoes, go weak at the knees and walk out with said-shoes. Her story from starting her own brand of footwear at the age of 22 is nothing short of remarkable. Kathryn's dedication to helping others succeed in business makes her a truly special Kiwi. Learn more about your ad choices. Visi...

Sit back, relax, and get ready for some great yarns with some great New Zealanders! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices