A Respectable Veneer

Ruby continues adjusting to life at Salon Vardo, where new expectations and strict standards begin to reshape her world. As Edie does her best to behave, Ruby faces fresh pressures at work and at Arcadia House, navigating complicated relationships and the constant need to keep their future on track. Small encouragements offer hope, but the cost of respectability grows heavier by the day.

Content Warning: Contains elements of violence and references to child abuse.

Made with support from NZ On Air, the Earle Creativity and Development Trust, and Manawatū People’s Radio.

Ruby begins her first full day at the elegant millinery salon. With Edie in tow, she tries to balance the pressures of new employment, strict expectations, and the constant need to keep her daughter quietly out of sight. As Ruby navigates the delicate world of high‑class hatmaking, she discovers both new challenges and small moments of hope.

Content Warning: Contains elements of violence, references to child abuse, and some profanity.

Made with support from NZ On Air, the Earle Creativity and Development Trust, and Manawatū People’s Radio.

Ruby steps into an elegant millinery shop and finds herself briefly transported far from the hardships of Arcadia House. A chance encounter there may offer her a way forward, even as life back at the boarding house remains chaotic and unpredictable. Ruby and Edie continue to navigate their fragile new circumstances, testing Ruby’s resolve to build a safer, more stable future for them both.

Content Warning: Contains elements of violence, references to child abuse, and some profanity.

Made with support from NZ On Air, the Earle Creativity and Development Trust, and Manawatū People’s Radio.

Ruby returns to Arcadia House and finds herself once again navigating its chaotic kitchen, its colourful residents, and the quiet bargains required to stay afloat. As opportunities seem scarce, an unexpected offer forces Ruby to weigh gratitude against obligation, while a glimpse of hope in a shop window hints at a possible way forward.

Content Warning: Contains elements of violence and references to child abuse.

Made with support from NZ On Air, the Earl Creativity and Development Trust, and Manawatū People’s Radio.

Ruby continues navigating life at Arcadia House while searching for steady work in town. As she and Edie juggle crowded bathrooms, chaotic breakfasts, and the pressures of starting over, Ruby faces difficult choices about how to support them both without slipping into old dangers. A day of job‑hunting brings new challenges, small indignities, and a reminder of just how precarious their fresh start truly is.

Content Warning: Contains elements of violence and references to child abuse.

Made with the support of NZ On Air, the Earl Creativity and Development Trust, and Manawatū People’s Radio.

Ruby and Edie navigate another morning in their precarious new lodgings. A simple search for a hairbrush leads to uneasy encounters, fraying nerves, and small moments of kindness as Ruby readies herself to find work and build a safer future for her daughter. Meanwhile, the bustling chaos of Arcadia House reveals both the challenges and unexpected allies in their new environment.

Content Warning: Contains elements of violence and references to child abuse.

Made with support from NZ On Air, the Earl Creativity and Development Trust, and Manawatū People’s Radio.

In this week’s episode of A Respectable Veneer, Ruby and Edie continue adjusting to life inside the shabby Arcadia House. Ruby remains cautious of the well‑meaning but troubled Mr Woods while trying to keep Edie safe and prepare her for a fresh start. With money tight and their future uncertain, the pressures of beginning again weigh heavily on Ruby, bringing both tender moments and rising tensions between mother and daughter.

Content Warning: Contains elements of violence and references to child abuse.

Produced by Manawatū Peoples Radio with the support of New Zealand on Air.

In this week’s episode of our Monday Serial, A Respectable Veneer—written by Rachel Dore, published by Upstart Press, and narrated by Romy Hooper—we return to Ruby and Edie as they attempt to settle into their new temporary lodgings. Supported by the Earl Creativity and Development Trust in collaboration with Manawatū People’s Radio, this serial explores love, courage, and the quiet determination needed to start over.

Picking up from last episode, Ruby and Edie have found a room in a tired boarding house, but the realities of their situation quickly become clear. The small space offers little comfort, and Ruby must navigate unfamiliar surroundings, wary strangers, and the constant need to stay unnoticed. As mother and daughter try to regain a sense of normalcy—washing up, preparing for dinner, and finding their footing—Ruby’s protective instincts and inner resolve are tested in subtle but meaningful ways.

Content Warning: This story contains elements of violence and references to child abuse.

Manawatū People’s Radio launches the first episode of A Respectable Veneer, written by Rachel Dore, published by Upstart Press, and beautifully narrated by Romi Hooper. Supported by the Earl Creativity and Development Trust, this serial brings to life a moving tale of reinvention, resilience, and maternal determination.

Set in 1954 New Zealand, the story follows Ruby, a single mother travelling with her young daughter Edie as they arrive in a new town—hoping for a fresh start and a more “respectable” life. Their journey begins on a long train ride from Auckland, where shifting landscapes mirror Ruby’s mix of fear, hope, and exhaustion. Upon reaching Palmerston North, Ruby must quickly navigate the realities of finding shelter, staying unnoticed, and maintaining dignity in unfamiliar surroundings.

Content warning: This story includes elements of violence and references to child abuse.