Here Now
Episodes
A refining moment: Seung Yul Oh on painting
18 Jul 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Going between painting, installation and sculpture, Korea-born artist Seung Yul Oh talks to Kadambari Raghukumar about his practice. Going between pai...
Breaking the homogeneity of 'Asian': Report on inequities among students
11 Jul 2021
Contributed by Lukas
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. Produc...
Umar Zakaria and Fearless Music
04 Jul 2021
Contributed by Lukas
This week on Voices, Umar Zakaria, Wellington-based jazz composer and double-bassist talks to Kadambari Raghukumar about his interpretations of Malay ...
Asylum-seeker to refugee: Jose Tombe's journey
27 Jun 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Arriving in New Zealand seeking refuge to finally officially becoming one - Kadambari Raghukumar talks to Colombian, Jose Tombe about what compelled h...
Polynesian Panther Party of Aotearoa - 50 years on
20 Jun 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Commemorating their golden jubilee this month, Polynesian Panther member Tigilau Ness speaks to Kadambari Raghukumar about the significance of the gro...
Mass detention in Xinjiang: 'My brother's fault is just being Uighur'
13 Jun 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Amnesty International's report on repression of Muslims in Xinjiang was released last week. Kadambari Raghukumar spoke to the Auckland-based sister of...
Claudia Kogachi - There’s No I in Team
30 May 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Artist Claudia Kogachi talks to Kadambari Raghukumar about what it's been like exploring her personal family relationships and dynamics through creati...
This is not culture shock - it's more than this
23 May 2021
Contributed by Lukas
An internationally-recruited doctor formerly based in provincial New Zealand, talks about professional isolation and racism that she and others like h...
We see a process of decolonisation in New Zealand - Behrouz Boochani
16 May 2021
Contributed by Lukas
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 Ka...
Keeping fasts, staying fast - Muslim women athletes and Ramadan
09 May 2021
Contributed by Lukas
This last week of Ramadan Kadambari Raghukumar talks to two women athletes observing the fast during the Holy Month.Mariam Bahar has been fasting duri...
Border restrictions - Families kept apart
02 May 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Travel restrictions between India and New Zealand have been loosened but thousands of Indian families are still separated. Katy Gosset hears how the s...
Getting here
18 Apr 2021
Contributed by Lukas
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 rea...
The Most Dedicated - An Aotearoa Graffiti Story
11 Apr 2021
Contributed by Lukas
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...
Conflict in Tigray - despair downunder
28 Mar 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Since November 2020 thousands from Ethiopia's Tigray region have been caught in conflict and fighting. Produced by Kadambari Raghukumar.Since 4 Novemb...
Proud and out - Ives Rose
22 Mar 2021
Contributed by Lukas
What does celebrating Pride month mean to a former refugee whose journey coming out ended up even shaping their career? Kadambari Raghukumar talks to ...
From top hat to Black Cap - Ajaz Patel
14 Mar 2021
Contributed by Lukas
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 y...
The rare treasures in Olive's Garden
28 Feb 2021
Contributed by Lukas
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 Tuesd...
Myanmar - a former child soldier looks back
21 Feb 2021
Contributed by Lukas
As Myanmar continues to be under the grip of the latest coup, we look at the impact of military rule on the life of a former refugee who now lives in ...
Myanmar coup - a response from diaspora in New Zealand
14 Feb 2021
Contributed by Lukas
After nearly 50 years of military rule, the recent coup of 1 February has brought an end to Myanmar's 10 year experiment with democracy. What has the ...
Covid19 Curveball for Central Interceptor’s Italian Crew
31 Jan 2021
Contributed by Lukas
The specialist Italian workforce building Auckland's 1.2 billion dollar Central Interceptor have met with unexpected hardships in the past year. Liz G...
To spray or not to spray - from cotton fields to codling moth
24 Jan 2021
Contributed by Lukas
For an American scientist in Hawkes Bay, his experience on working with pest management on cottonfields lent itself to research in NZ's orchards. Pro...
The One Lamington to Rule Them All
20 Dec 2020
Contributed by Lukas
In Voices this week, we meet the Auckland couple who smashed the Guinness World Record for baking the world's biggest lamington.New Zealand's lat...
Planting for posterity
13 Dec 2020
Contributed by Lukas
After nearly 14 years of planting native bush, a massive former dairy farm is now thriving forest overlooking the Kaipara. Produced by Kadambari Raghu...
Dealing with a crunch - the fruit industry's labour shortage
04 Dec 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Despite 2000 more seasonal workers due to arrive in New Zealand from January 2021, things aren't looking too rosy according some growers in the Hawkes...
Winning a title through transition
29 Nov 2020
Contributed by Lukas
The first transgender contestant to compete in the Miss New Zealand pageant talks to Kadambari Raghukumar about her journey with identity, gender reas...
Au Revoir to Au Pairs
22 Nov 2020
Contributed by Lukas
International Au Pairs are becoming a rare commodity in New Zealand as the closed borders mean the outgoing nannies can't be replaced. Liz Garton fin...
No shortcuts to success
19 Nov 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Two Syrian brothers of former refugee background find a new life in Newtown after discovering some hidden talent. Produced by Kadambari Raghukumar. Su...
Hitting Covid-19 Out Of The Park
08 Nov 2020
Contributed by Lukas
As New Zealand heads into a truncated baseball season, a Taiwanese big hitter (pitcher, really) is leading the charge. Liz Garton heads out to a pre-s...
US elections - the view from afar
01 Nov 2020
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of Voices, three Aucklanders originally from the US talk to Kadambari Raghukumar about their views on the upcoming election in the Sta...
For the love of language
18 Oct 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Helping teach children this ancient language with roots in Mesopotamia are a group of passionately protective custodians both young and old in Welling...
21 years of the 'Way of the Sword'
11 Oct 2020
Contributed by Lukas
After waiting out two Covid-19 lockdowns the 21st national tournament for this Japanese martial art that's growing in popularity, finally took place t...
Feeding the soul - all roads lead to ramen
04 Oct 2020
Contributed by Lukas
A close contender to Sushi for Japan's national dish, turns out Kiwis too have a soft spot for ramen - the iconic bowl of soul. Produced by Kadambari ...
Creating NZ's First Asian Cabaret
27 Sep 2020
Contributed by Lukas
A Singaporean New Zealander is working on this country's first Asian Cabaret. Voices finds out what that will look like. Produced by Liz GartonThe wom...
Mali-born New Zealand resident reflects on recent coup d'etat
20 Sep 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Malian-New Zealander Boubacar Coulibaly reflects on the significance on the latest coup in Mali in August 2020. Produced by Kadambari Raghukumar.Subsc...
Making a choice - a New Zealand resident's journey with euthanasia in the Netherlands
13 Sep 2020
Contributed by Lukas
What do you do when you're faced with approving of a loved one's decision to end their life? A Holland-born New Zealand resident shares her journey. P...
Essential services - Sikh temple volunteers step up
07 Sep 2020
Contributed by Lukas
When it comes to mobilizing helping hands at this south Auckland gurdwara, there's no dearth of volunteers. Produced by Kadambari Raghukumar.Subscribe...
Acts of charity in the alert level 3 lockdown
30 Aug 2020
Contributed by Lukas
During the alert level 3 lockdown, a group of blood donors didn't back down from stepping up to help. Produced by Kadambari Raghukumar.Subscribe to Vo...
Preserving the past
23 Aug 2020
Contributed by Lukas
A restoration studio in Auckland has been drawing on the skill of people from different arts cultures to help preserve and restore Kiwi antiques. Prod...
Sentencing: Christchurch Mosque Attacks - Seeking Closure with Sentencing
16 Aug 2020
Contributed by Lukas
With the sentencing of the gunman is due to start in Christchurch, Widows of Shuhada's writer and producer, Lana Hart, catches up with some of the wid...
Cooking up a change
09 Aug 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Drawing from their personal experiences and childhood, two chefs help further the social cause of an Auckland-based restaurant pop-up. Produced by Kad...
Black Lives Matter - activism, mentorship and rallying together against racism
02 Aug 2020
Contributed by Lukas
How did a group of young activists in Auckland find the right mentors to help guide them while organising their first rally against racism? Kadambari ...
Responding to racism
26 Jul 2020
Contributed by Lukas
In this epidode, we're speaking to Filipino comedian, James Roque, on his involvement with the Human Rights Commission's latest campaign - "Racism is ...
'Dances with Death' - recounting a lifetime of reporting in the Middle East
19 Jul 2020
Contributed by Lukas
After decades spent reporting on Israel-Palestine conflict, Tuma Hazou, the former BBC and ABC journalist has lived in Auckland since the late 1990s. ...
A leap of faith
12 Jul 2020
Contributed by Lukas
In today's episode we meet a young couple whose personal journey with Islam led them to their business idea. Produced by Kadambari Raghukumar. It was ...
A different stroke - a calligrapher's journey
05 Jul 2020
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, we're talking to one of the recipients of this years Ambassador's Commendation Award from Embassy of Japan in New Zealand. Produced b...
From Nepal to Nelson - a former refugee gets behind the wheel to change her life
28 Jun 2020
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode we meet a Nepali Bhutanese woman who came to Aotearoa as a refugee and decided to get behind the wheel and break all moulds. Produced ...
Switching up the game - celebrating inclusion through football
21 Jun 2020
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of Voices, combatting challenges of social inclusion through football - we meet a team in Auckland that's switching things up for the ...
Covid-19 claims champion of Waikato's refugee community
14 Jun 2020
Contributed by Lukas
The Waikato refugee and Muslim community lost one of its prominent leaders, Ismail Dirye Gamadid, to Covid-19 last month. We look at the legacy of his...
From Russia with love
07 Jun 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Melana Khabazi's love affair with dance helped the 26-year-old Russian discover her spiritual home half a world away from where she was born. Melana...
Growing food, growing community
24 May 2020
Contributed by Lukas
A Filipino photographer's new life in Aotearoa was turned around after he discovered a new way to grow connections with community and land. Produced b...
Linking two worlds during lockdown
17 May 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Raising funds to help those in need during Ramadan can be even harder in lockdown. That certainly isn't stopping three people from across the world wh...
The legacy of the Girmit
10 May 2020
Contributed by Lukas
141 years ago on 14 May, the Leonidas arrived in Fiji - the first ship carrying indentured workers from India. Reflecting back on that day, what signi...
Qawwali, ghazals and the lockdown
03 May 2020
Contributed by Lukas
With a string of gigs cancelled and being compelled to stay home during lockdown, how are touring musicians coping? Lockdown Gharana shows that in col...
Lending a hand in lockdown
19 Apr 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Newly resettled former refugees who've just begun to find their feet in their new communities across New Zealand are getting by in lockdown with the h...
Remembering Rwanda
05 Apr 2020
Contributed by Lukas
How do you mark and reflect upon a life-changing event while in lockdown? April 6th 1994 - the day when brewing ethnic hatred came to a head in Rwanda...
Covid-19 - the lockdown and communities
29 Mar 2020
Contributed by Lukas
How is the Covid-19 lockdown affecting some vital cultural and social spaces within the communities? For an Auckland woman whose entire life revolves ...
Irish nun shares her two cents on becoming a centenarian
22 Mar 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Sister Irenaeus just recently turned a grand 100 years old. Reflecting on what it means to have seen an entire century's worth of events unfold, she s...
A bus ride to bust stereotypes around different faiths
15 Mar 2020
Contributed by Lukas
What happens when three women - a Jew, Christian and Muslim, meet on a bus? A deep exchange on feminism and faith ensues to foster understanding of ea...
Poetry and partnership sparked by Christchurch mosque attacks
08 Mar 2020
Contributed by Lukas
After the mosque attacks in Christchurch on March 15 - a year ago this week - two former refugees from across two generations had their paths intersec...
Conversations with My Immigrant Parents: We Can't Speak the Same Language
28 Feb 2020
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of Voices; the hosts of the podcast series Conversations with my Immigrant Parents turn their mics on their own mums. Produced by Sara...
Mission Mangareva: Saving an endangered language
23 Feb 2020
Contributed by Lukas
What use is a language no-one else in New Zealand can speak? Ena Manuireva has the answer and is on a Mangareva mission that looks close to impossible...
Decoding the language of love
16 Feb 2020
Contributed by Lukas
The 21st-century dating scene is a fast-paced environment that's equally as flaky as it is fun. Apps like Tinder and Bumble have been a game-changer f...
Paris Bake queen of the bowling green
09 Feb 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Paris Baker only wanted to go to the mall. But her father's illness changed not only his life, but hers as well. Now the 21 year-old Tongan-New Zealan...
Jack Lum's 50 fruitful years under threat from supermarkets
02 Feb 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Jack and Carrie Lum are celebrating 50 years of love, family and hard work among the fruit and vege cartons, but their livelihood is under threat from...
Deportation fiasco stops environmentalist emigration
26 Jan 2020
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of Voices; we meet an elderly couple who say outdated immigration rules are unfair and need an overhaul. Produced by Sara Vui-Talitu.R...
New found freedom of refugee women drivers
19 Jan 2020
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of Voices; we find out how one driving school is making a real difference to the lives of refugee learners. Produced by Sara Vui-Talit...