Real Life With John Cowan

Nicola Toki is a New Zealand conservationist and Chief Executive of Forest & Bird since 2022. Born in Invercargill, she grew up exploring the South Island, moving often for her father’s work as a ski-plane pilot. With a background in zoology, ecology, and natural history filmmaking, Nicola has held various roles at the Department of Conservation, including Threatened Species Ambassador and Eas...

Miriama Kamo is a Christchurch-born journalist, author, and TV presenter of Ngāi Tahu and Ngāti Mutunga descent. She’s spent over two decades telling powerful stories on  Sunday  and  Marae , earning top awards for her work in current affairs. She’s also a celebrated children’s author, known for her Matariki-inspired books, and co-founder of Kotahi Rau Pukapuka, a project publishing...

Alan Thorp is the Group Chief Executive Officer of Habitat for Humanity New Zealand, a role he’s held since 2021. With a background as a Chartered Accountant and a Master’s in Theology from Regent College in Vancouver, Alan brings a unique mix of head and heart to his leadership. Since joining Habitat in 2007, he’s taken on key roles including CFO, COO, Deputy CEO, and National Director. Alan is p...

Brian Kelly MNZM has been named a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit for his services to broadcasting. Raised in Whanganui, he began his career in 1970 with the New Zealand Broadcasting Corporation, selecting songs for national radio. He later moved into sports journalism and broadcasting, building a career that has spanned 55 years. Kelly has been a prominent voice on Coast FM and has spent...

2025 Billy T Award winner Hoani Hotene (Ngāti Hauā) is a comedian from Petone, Lower Hutt. Bursting onto the Wellington comedy scene in 2020, Hoani quickly made a name for himself with his high-energy, alternative style. He won Best Newcomer at the 2021 Wellington Comedy Awards, took out the 2022 Wellington Raw Quest final, and was crowned Funniest New Comedian of the Year after winning the Raw Co...

Siân Simpson is an award-winning global businesswoman, community builder, and broadcaster. She is a sought-after public speaker and whose online content has received around 10 million views in the past year. Sian is founder of Public Rally and Bountifull Media. Public Rally is a community and content agency with globally focused clients in the technology, music, AI, crime, legal and education sect...

Andrew Little was born in New Plymouth in 1965 and attended New Plymouth Boys' High School. He started working young—his first job was digging trenches for a methanol plant as part of the “Think Big” project. He later worked in timber yards and security before heading to Victoria University of Wellington to study law, philosophy, and public policy. At university, Andrew became ac...

Derek Lind has been writing songs and making music since the late 1970s, with seven albums to his name — including his latest,  SOLO  (2015). His songwriting has earned him two NZ Music Awards and a nomination for the APRA Silver Scroll, thanks to his honest, thoughtful lyrics that connect personal stories with bigger, universal themes. Critics have praised him for his humanity, compassi...

Rachel’s debut novel,  See How They Fall , will be published this year by Hachette in Australia and New Zealand and by Penzler Publishers in the United States. The screen rights have been optioned by a Hollywood production company, and Rachel is part of the 2024/2025 International Thriller Writers Debut Authors Program. She holds a Master of Creative Writing (First Class Honours) from the Uni...

Buzz Moller is a New Zealand musician and actor, originally from Upper Hutt. He went to Upper Hutt High School, Rathkeale College and later studied at the University of Auckland. He met longtime collaborator Andrew “Mac” Macaskill, and the pair formed the beginnings of the band Voom after jamming at the Sweetwaters Festival in the early '80s. Since then, Buzz has led the band through decades of in...

Adam Kay is a BAFTA-winning author, screenwriter, comedian, and former junior doctor, best known for his brutally funny memoir  This is Going to Hurt . The book became a global sensation, spending over a year at number one in the Sunday Times bestseller list, selling millions of copies, and being adapted into a hit BBC/AMC series starring Ben Whishaw, which earned Adam a BAFTA for Best Drama...

Josephine Bartley has been showing up for the Maungakiekie-Tāmaki community for over a decade — first on the Local Board, then as a city councillor. She’s the first Pacific woman elected to Auckland Council, and she’s not afraid to get stuck in, whether it’s helping clean up after floods, pushing for fewer liquor stores, or standing up for safer streets. She grew up in Māngere, raised by hardworki...

Born in Wellington in 1944, Peter struggled at school with what would now be recognised as dyslexia. He left Wellington Tech at age 15 and worked as a telegram delivery boy before securing his first butchery job in Seatown, where he learned the trade. After moving to Auckland, Peter opened his own butchery on Rosella Road, where a sign outside his store reading "Rosella Meats, home of the Mad Butc...

Kahira Olley (Ngāti Rongomai, Ngāti Pikiao, Ngāti Toa), after experiencing family violence for 25 years, established the Save Our Babies Charitable Trust and initiated programmes to support and empower victims of domestic violence and sexual abuse in Rotorua. Her initiatives offer a safe space for women and girls to talk about their experiences and receive guidance and support. As well as support...

Paul Goldsmith is a dedicated New Zealand politician, currently serving as the Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage, Minister of Justice, Minister for Media and Communications, and Minister for Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations. Born in Mt Eden and educated at Auckland Grammar, he now lives in Epsom with his wife and four children. Elected to Parliament in 2011 off the National Party list, Paul h...

Ruby Wax, born on April 19, 1953, in Evanston, Illinois, is a British-American actress, comedian, writer, and mental health campaigner. She gained fame on TV shows like  Girls on Top  (1985–1986) and  The Full Wax  (1991–1994) and worked as a script editor on  Absolutely Fabulous  (1992–2012). Wax holds dual citizenship and has lived in the UK since the 1970s. She ear...

Delaney Davidson, from Auckland, New Zealand, is a multi-talented singer-songwriter, producer, and instrumentalist. The son of John William Davidson and Glyn Ellen Abbott, he grew up in Christchurch and was educated at the Christchurch Rudolf Steiner School. His musical journey began in punk and blues bands before moving to Melbourne after being expelled from school. Davidson is known for his...

Commissioner Janine Donaldson is the Territorial Commander for The Salvation Army in New Zealand, Fiji, Tonga, and Samoa, and serves as the Chair of the Territorial Governance Board. With 38 years of experience in The Salvation Army, she has held senior leadership roles in New Zealand, Zambia, South Africa, Australia, and the UK. Janine's most recent role was at The Salvation Army’s International...

Peter Wolfkamp’s passion for carpentry began at the age of one and has only grown over the years. He is a Licensed Building Practitioner with extensive experience, including restoring historic properties and working on modern builds. His professional development includes NZGBC Homestar Home Coach training, and he’s also worked internationally, such as on a 16th-century farmhouse in France. Peter i...

K'Lee (Kaleena Renae McNabb, born 1984) is a New Zealand pop singer who rose to fame in the early 2000s with hits like "Broken Wings" and "Can You Feel Me?" Her debut album, released in 2002, peaked at No. 4 in New Zealand. After a 10-year break, she returned in 2012 with the single "Tables Have Turned." In addition to her music career, K'Lee worked as a popular radio host on Flava FM and Mai FM f...

Nathan Haines is a renowned New Zealand jazz musician, born in 1972 in Takapuna, Auckland. Growing up in a musical family, with his father Kevin being a leading jazz bassist and his brother Joel a guitarist, Nathan was immersed in music from a young age. He moved to New York City in 1991 to study jazz, and by 1994, he had released his first solo album, Shift Left. Over the years, Nathan's car...

Jonathan Fletcher has extensive experience in fundraising, partnerships, and business development, with a focus on supporting vulnerable children. Since March 2013, he has worked with World Vision New Zealand in roles including Head of Fundraising Partnerships and Head of Church Partnerships, where he managed church collaborations. Prior to this, Jonathan held the position of Business Development...

Jack Tame is a New Zealand television and radio journalist. He is the host of TVNZ’s political show  Q+A  and a presenter at Newstalk ZB. Tame grew up in Christchurch as the eldest of four siblings and attended St Martin's Primary School, Cashmere High School, and the New Zealand Broadcasting School at CPIT. Throughout his career, Tame has worked as TVNZ’s United States correspondent, co...

Pam Corkery is a broadcaster and former MP, known for her roles on Dancing with the Stars and Intrepid Journeys, as well as hosting The Last Word in 2003. She also presented Inside New Zealand documentaries on topics like gangs, crime, and alcohol culture. In 2014, she made headlines after a controversial incident while handling press for the Internet Mana party. In  2012, Corkery aired A Dru...

Dan, born and raised in Auckland, left high school at 15 and completed a butchery apprenticeship. He earned a Bachelor of Arts and a Bachelor of Commerce (Hons) from the University of Auckland, and a Master of Public Policy in Economics from Harvard University on a Fulbright Scholarship. Elected to Parliament in 2018 and re-elected in 2023, Dan is the Chair of the Māori Affairs Select Committee an...