The Third Space with Naisi Chen

In this episode of The 3rd Space, Naisi speaks with Nirupa George about an exceptional career journey shaped by courage, clarity, and self-worth. From the Green Party to becoming Chief of Staff in Auckland’s former Mayor’s Office in her early 30s, then moving into senior roles at SkyCity and now the fisheries sector, Nirupa has navigated politics, public service, and corporate leadership on her ow...

In this episode, we dive deeply into a conversation with May Tien, exploring her unique multicultural upbringing and career in communications. From her early years in Taiwan and Guam to her professional life in New Zealand, May shares poignant reflections on navigating diverse cultures, the significance of storytelling, and the role of food in connecting people. She also discusses her experiences...

In this inspiring conversation, we sit down with Eric Ngan , one of Aotearoa’s most influential cultural event producers, to unpack what it means to build legacy through culture . Drawing on decades of experience producing some of New Zealand’s largest cultural festivals — from the Auckland Lantern Festival to multi-arts city activations — Eric shares his philosophy on culture as a force for ident...

Summary In this episode, Naisi sits down with Mingchun Wu, whose career spans teaching, policy, and governance across multiple government agencies and regulatory boards. Mingchun reflects on how she moved from the classroom into the policy world, what it was like entering Wellington’s public service as one of the few Asians at the time, and the realities of working inside New Zealand’s policy and...

In this episode of The 3rd Space with Naisi Chen, we sit down with Simon Bridges, former leader of New Zealand’s National Party and author of National Identity: Confessions of an Outsider. This conversation goes beyond politics to interrogate what it means to belong in Aotearoa, personally and culturally. Bridges uses his own story to challenge stereotypes, navigate the complexities of whakapapa a...

In this episode, we sit down with Franky Wang — Head of Asia Business Activation at Bank of New Zealand (BNZ), a China-born New Zealand business leader shaping Asian growth strategy across the motu. Franky leads a nationwide team supporting Asian clients and steers work spanning deal origination, policy review, and stakeholder engagement. He shares how cultural intelligence, Asian leadership, and...

In this bonus episode of The Third Space , we sit down with Kai, a newly elected member of the Howick Local Board, to talk about his journey into local politics. Recorded while he was still on the campaign trail, we explore what drives him — from growing up between New Zealand and China to studying in the U.S. and finding his place in community service. We talk about identity, belonging, and break...

In this episode of The Third Space , we sit down with Venice — a musician whose new album Moon Landing marks a major moment in her creative journey. We talk about individuality, belonging, and how she weaves together Western and Eastern influences to tell her story through music. Venice opens up about the inspiration behind her songs, including her powerful track Home Country , and shares her expe...

In this episode of The Third Space , we sit down with Bobby Shen — architect and former Mt Roskill local board member — to talk about what it means to serve the community while navigating life as a Kiwi Asian. From speaking Cantonese on the playground to shaping Auckland’s urban landscape, Bobby shares how learning te reo Māori and embracing tikanga have deepened his understanding of identity and...

Welcome to the very first episode! This week we welcome Andrew Mei to the couch— now a Red Influencer with over 50K followers — shares his journey of navigating identity, ambition, and family expectations as an Asian New Zealander. He reflects on how diversity shaped his career in law, strategy consulting and corporate. A conversation about walking into the unknown, how to survive corporate and fi...

We present to you: The 3rd Space with Naisi Chen. This is a podcast made by Kiwi Asians, for all people creating their 3rd culture to support our personal and professional journeys in Aotearoa. It’s for anyone learning to embrace both sides of their cultural identity, wanting to connect with community, and seeking to feel empowered to influence the world around them. Every week, we talk with inspi...