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-season practice to meet Cola Yeh New Zealand's baseball season usually starts about mid-October, but after a winter of Covid-19 disruptions there's a lot of uncertainty about how it will roll out. Subscribe to Voices for free on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Radio Public and iHeart Radio or wherever you listen to your podcasts. While the local ...
Nov 08, 2020•12 min•Ep. 39
In this episode of Voices, three Aucklanders originally from the US talk to Kadambari Raghukumar about their views on the upcoming election in the States. Subscribe to Voices for free on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Radio Public and iHeart Radio or wherever you listen to your podcasts For Ian Hoffmann, Ira Munn and Maya Henderson watching the election campaign unfold in their home country, the US, has been a bag of mixed feelings. Hoffman, a union organiser originally from New York, arrive...
Nov 01, 2020•17 min•Ep. 38
Helping teach children this ancient language with roots in Mesopotamia are a group of passionately protective custodians both young and old in Wellington. Produced by Kadambari Raghukumar. Helping teach children this ancient language with roots in Mesopotamia are a group of passionately protective custodians - both young and old, in Wellington. After a long hiatus of Covid-19 lockdowns, Assyrian language classes are finally up and running again this month. Subscribe to Voices for free on Apple P...
Oct 18, 2020•11 min•Ep. 37
After waiting out two Covid-19 lockdowns the 21st national tournament for this Japanese martial art that's growing in popularity, finally took place this month. Produced by Kadambari Raghukumar Martin Lee has been practicing the martial art of Kendo for over 20 years. The traditional Japanese style of fencing with a two-handed bamboo sword was derived from the fighting practices of the Samurai who adopted Kendo as a way of cultivating discipline and building character. For 51-year-old Martin it ...
Oct 11, 2020•12 min•Ep. 36
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 Raghukumar Ramen. Few things beat this steaming bowl of soupy, noodle-y goodness on a cold night. A close contender to Sushi for Japan's national dish, it turns out Kiwis too have a soft spot for this iconic bowl of soul. After the lockdown, it seems that Aucklanders just can't get enough of the comfort food. For Auckland-based Yuki and her father ...
Oct 04, 2020•11 min•Ep. 35
A Singaporean New Zealander is working on this country's first Asian Cabaret. Voices finds out what that will look like. Produced by Liz Garton The woman writing New Zealand's first Asian cabaret is planning a new and possibly confronting look for the genre. Listen to Amanda Grace Leo on Voices Subscribe to Voices for free on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Radio Public and iHeart Radio or wherever you listen to your podcasts. Amanda Grace Leo who starred in the Proudly Asian Theatre producti...
Sep 27, 2020•14 min•Ep. 34
Malian-New Zealander Boubacar Coulibaly reflects on the significance on the latest coup in Mali in August 2020. Produced by Kadambari Raghukumar. Subscribe to Voices for free on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Radio Public and iHeart Radio or wherever you listen to your podcasts. For Boubacar Coulibaly these are days that bring back several memories. In 1989 when he immigrated to New Zealand to be with his Kiwi wife Jenny, his country was under the authoritarian government of Moussa Traor&...
Sep 20, 2020•12 min•Ep. 33
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. Produced by Kadambari Raghukumar. Subscribe to Voices for free on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Radio Public and iHeart Radio or wherever you listen to your podcasts. "For Mum there was no other option. She would have died in pain or lonely. This was the perfect ending, I can't say it any other way." About a year ago, Dutch immigrant to New Zea...
Sep 13, 2020•12 min•Ep. 32
When it comes to mobilizing helping hands at this south Auckland gurdwara, there's no dearth of volunteers. Produced by Kadambari Raghukumar. Subscribe to Voices for free on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Radio Public and iHeart Radio or wherever you listen to your podcasts. Each Wednesday and Sunday, the Takanini Sikh Gurdwara sees hundreds of cars driving into its gates to pick up free food bags. Volunteers line up, open the boots and load up bottles of milk, bags of fresh veg and fruit an...
Sep 07, 2020•11 min•Ep. 31
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 Voices for free on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Radio Public and iHeart Radio or wherever you listen to your podcasts. Lovedeep Sharma is pretty cheerful for someone with a large needle stuck in his arm. It's 6pm on a Monday and he's at the Manukau centre of New Zealand Blood Service as part of a group of Indian blood donors across New Zealand...
Aug 30, 2020•11 min•Ep. 30
A restoration studio in Auckland has been drawing on the skill of people from different arts cultures to help preserve and restore Kiwi antiques. Produced by Kadambari Raghukumar Subscribe to Voices for free on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Radio Public and iHeart Radio or wherever you listen to your podcasts. In 1944, Karangahape Road in Auckland became home to a unique hospital that opened after the war - a doll's hospital. It was set up by a local couple, the Lawsons, who did most of the...
Aug 23, 2020•11 min•Ep. 29
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 widows. We talk to some of the widows of the Christchurch mosque attacks of 2019. The sentencing of the gunman is due to start in Christchurch next week. Widows of Shuhada's writer and producer, Lana Hart, catches up with some of the widows as the sentencing date draws near. Subscribe to VOICES on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Stitcher, iH...
Aug 16, 2020•15 min•Ep. 28
Drawing from their personal experiences and childhood, two chefs help further the social cause of an Auckland-based restaurant pop-up. Produced by Kadambari Raghukumar. https://www.facebook.com/RadioNewZealand/videos/322066729224291 Subscribe to Voices for free on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Radio Public and iHeart Radio or wherever you listen to your podcasts. Each Wednesday, the Everybody Eats food van pulls into the driveway of the Onehunga eatery, loaded with rescued food, collected a...
Aug 09, 2020•11 min•Ep. 27
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 Raghukumar speaks to the group behind the second Black Lives Matter rally in Auckland. On 14 June 2020, Queen Street resounded with the sound of over 2000 people who came together calling for an end to racism. This second Black Lives Matter rally in Auckland saw a sea of people gathered at Aotea Square in the afternoon in solidarity with victims of...
Aug 02, 2020•15 min•Ep. 26
In this epidode, we're speaking to Filipino comedian, James Roque, on his involvement with the Human Rights Commission's latest campaign - "Racism is no joke". Produced by Kadambari Gladding Subscribe to Voices for free on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Radio Public and iHeart Radio or wherever you listen to your podcasts. People who say there's no racism in New Zealand aren't listening to the communities saying they're being hurt, Filipino comedian James Roque says. Roque is the face of the...
Jul 26, 2020•11 min•Ep. 25
After decades spent reporting on Israel-Palestine conflict, Tuma Hazou, the former BBC and ABC journalist has lived in Auckland since the late 1990s. This month, Tuma, 85, finally published his stories from his time as a journalist in the Middle East. Produced by Kadambari Raghukumar. Subscribe to Voices for free on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Radio Public and iHeart Radio or wherever you listen to your podcasts. The idea for Tuma Hazou's book Dances with Death, was born on a Christmas di...
Jul 19, 2020•11 min•Ep. 24
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 through discovering Islam that Veronika Edali found herself on a journey that eventually led her and husband Volkan to set up their business designing and selling "modest active wear" - a line of swim leggings, tunics, hoodies and of course, colourful, breathable sports hijabs. Veronika arrived in New Zealand as a 15-year-old international student ...
Jul 12, 2020•11 min•Ep. 23
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 by Kadambari Raghukumar Akiko Crowther is New Zealand's only Grandmaster in Japanese calligraphy - it's a title bestowed in Japan and earned through years of dedication to this very meditative practice. Subscribe to Voices for free on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Radio Public and iHeart Radio or wherever you listen to your podcasts. https://ww...
Jul 05, 2020•12 min•Ep. 22
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 by Kadambari Raghukumar Rose isn't exactly your typical truck-driver - she's small and petite but packs a punch wrangling her Class 4 freight truck. Not quite what she expected to end up doing when she left the refugee camp she lived in for 20 years in Nepal. Subscribe to Voices for free on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Radio Public and iHeart...
Jun 28, 2020•10 min•Ep. 21
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 win. Produced by Kadambari Raghukumar. "It's the world's game. It's called the beautiful game because it can bring countries and bring people together." Hone Fowler is a man on a mission - to make football accessible to all and create elite pathways in the sport that encourage and tap into Aotearoa's diverse sporting talent. Subscribe to Voices for...
Jun 21, 2020•11 min•Ep. 20
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 life. Produced by Kadambari Raghukumar. The Covid-19 pandemic claimed Waikato's much-loved and prominent refugee leader last month. Ismail Diriye Gamadid passed away in Mogadishu, Somalia on 25 May after a three-week struggle with Covid-19. He was on a humanitarian visit to flood victims in an area also affected severely by Covid-19. At the time o...
Jun 14, 2020•9 min•Ep. 19
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 Khabazi's passion for dance has seen her travel the world and helped her find her place in it - Aotearoa. "I think dance is amazing and an outstanding way of expressing yourself. The plan wasn't to go and stay here, the plan was to study, and go back to Russia, but obviously that didn't happen." Listen to the story here Subscribe to Voices for free ...
Jun 07, 2020•11 min•Ep. 18
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 by Kadambari Raghukumar "When I started growing, it was crazy how my neighbours started reacting. I started to make a lot of friends with them. I had passersby saying thank you for growing these sunflowers!" I had 30 sunflowers extending their heads over the fence at one time." "It's all about extending your love - not just to your family, but beyon...
May 24, 2020•12 min•Ep. 17
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 who call New Zealand home. Produced by Kadambari Raghukumar Lockdown and Ramadan make for a very unusual combination. The month of Ramadan is distinctly marked by gatherings - for prayers, the cooking and sharing of meals at the end of a long day of fasting. Beginning 23 April this year for most Muslims in New Zealand observing the fast in lockdown h...
May 17, 2020•14 min•Ep. 16
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 significance does that painful history hold for the community navigating challenges of their unique identity as Fiji Indians? Produced by Kadambari Raghukumar 'Girmit Day' is marked on 14 May each year by the Fiji Indian community in New Zealand as a day to reflect on their shared past - the British colonial indenture system in Fiji. It's also a day tha...
May 10, 2020•13 min•Ep. 15
With a string of gigs cancelled and being compelled to stay home during lockdown, how are touring musicians coping? Lockdown Gharana shows that in collaboration lies their coping mechanism. Produced by Kadambari Raghukumar. Like most musicians and artists across the world, Wellington-based tabla player Chetan Ramlu had a string of gigs cancelled with the onset of lockdown level 4. Not before long he started looking at how he can keep himself musically engaged and productive - and so he got start...
May 03, 2020•12 min•Ep. 14
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 help of volunteers from Red Cross. Produced by Kadambari Raghukumar. David Jebanayagam met Naing Minh Aung in February this year for the start of Naing's community orientation activities, but for now their only interaction is a few phone calls each day. "As a volunteer, I'm learning how to effectively support a community member, a former refugee, fr...
Apr 19, 2020•10 min•Ep. 13
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 and opened the floodgates for a massacre lasting 100 dark days. 4 people whose lives had been impacted by that day, reflect on their experiences while under the Coronavirus lockdown here in New Zealand. Produced by Kadambari Raghukumar "On Wednesday when we went under lockdown and the emergency alert came through on our phones, suddenly my mind wa...
Apr 05, 2020•15 min•Ep. 12
How is the Covid-19 lockdown affecting some vital cultural and social spaces within the communities? For an Auckland woman whose entire life revolves around community - running, organizing and managing such vital spaces, the lockdown is a challenging and uncertain time. Produced by Kadambari Raghukumar. For a woman whose entire life revolves around serving the community, the Covid-19 lockdown is a challenging time compelling her to make hard calls that affect several people in the community - of...
Mar 29, 2020•9 min•Ep. 11
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 shares the secret of her long innings. Sister Irenaeus Murphy says that turning one-hundred is "just another birthday". As she talks, she has a twinkle in her eye and a kind smile. She is very humble and doesn't like fuss, especially if it's over her. "I've always been quiet" she says in her very present Irish accent. The youngest of nine, Sister Ir...
Mar 22, 2020•12 min•Ep. 10
