Asia Insight

Our guests on the podcast today are two leading experts of Asia security issues, in Wellington NZ for the Asia Symposium hosted by the Asia New Zealand Foundation. This episode's a deep dive on Asia politics, and replete with the various associated acronyms. So if you aren't familiar with The IP4, The Quad, or ASEAN and Japan's OSA - a quick Google of the terms will make for a more rewarding listen.

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Malaysia’s Institute of Strategic and International studies one of the country’s most high-profile think tanks, known widely as ISIS  

Professor Mohd Faiz Abdullah is its Executive Chairman and Chief Executive 

His diverse career spans media, law enforecement, education and three decades as a lawyer.

He’s also currently an advisor to Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibraham. 

A small delegation from the Institute has been in Wellington this week and we sat down with Faiz for a wide ranging chat on all things Malaysia and New Zealand, and the current state of the world.     

Website asiamediacentre.org.nz
Email us at [email protected]

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Charlotte Glennie is a name with a rather special place in the New Zealand media history, as the country’s only former foreign correspondent based in Asia. 

She’s spent more than two decades in the media, and as well as New Zealand outlets – notably TVNZ , she’s also worked with the BBC and ABC Australia. 

She’s just released an autobiography called “Every Second Counts” , running through her life and times in journalism – the stories, the people, the stress and strain of being a one-woman news machine in Asia. 

I sat down with Charlotte in Wellington this week for a chat about the book, and a life in journalism.

Website asiamediacentre.org.nz
Email us at [email protected]

Whakawhetai mo te whakarongo .. thanks for listening !

Mycotech is an Indonesian startup based in the central Javanese city of Bandung, and since about 2016 its been in the business of mycelium leather, the mushroom based alternative that is taking on the traditional leather goods industry. 

One of the company’s founder is Adi Nugroho, who has been in the country recently courtesy of the Asia New Zealand Foundation. We sat down for a chat about the development of the company, and the huge possibilities in the animal-free leather market. 

Website asiamediacentre.org.nz
Email us at [email protected]

Whakawhetai mo te whakarongo .. thanks for listening !

Dr Samir Saran is President of the Observer Research Foundation (ORF), India’s premier think tank. ORF puts together the Raisina Dialogue, a global geo-politics conference held in New Delhi annually, attracting analysts, politicians and journalists from around the world. Samir's been back in NZ as a Prime Minister’s Fellow, and we sat down for a chat about India in 2025, the India -Russia relationship, climate change, technology, and what’s next for the Raisina Dialogue, to be held in early March 2026

Website asiamediacentre.org.nz
Email us at [email protected]

Whakawhetai mo te whakarongo .. thanks for listening !

Prof Joseph Liow is Dean, and Professor of East Asian Affairs, at the prestigious Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy, at Singapore’s National University.

He’s been in New Zealand this week as the inaugural Non-Resident Fellow at the Asia New Zealand Foundation.

Professor Liow is one of Singapore’s leading scholars on international affairs, known for his incisive analysis of Southeast Asian politics and the role religion plays in the region. 

Website asiamediacentre.org.nz
Email us at [email protected]

Whakawhetai mo te whakarongo .. thanks for listening !

 Last month, the Asia New Zealand Foundation Te Whītau Tūhono released its 28th Perceptions of Asia and Asian Peoples survey – the longest-running dataset tracking New Zealanders’ views of Asia and our connections to the region. 

Today on the podcast, the Foundation's Director of Research and Engagement,  Julia MacDonald, is joined by VUW's Jason Young and Foundation fellow Raf Manji to discuss this year's findings and what they reveal about the developing NZ-Asia relationship.

Website asiamediacentre.org.nz
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Recently six New Zealand sports leaders joined Kirsty Sharp, Manager of the the Asia New Zealand Foundation's Sports programme, for a trip to Singapore  and Malaysia to meet with and learn about the sports ecosystems in both countries.

Today on the podcast Kirsty catches up with Sport New Zealand's Claire George, who was one of the delegates  -to hear her observations and reflections post -trip.

Website asiamediacentre.org.nz
Email us at [email protected]

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The ASEAN Secretary-General Dr Kao Kim Hourn has been in New Zealand to mark the 50th Anniversary of the dialogue relationship. Today we catch up with him to discuss the role of ASEAN in turbulent times, where the organisation is headed, and the importance of the enduring links between ASEAN and Aotearoa. 

Website asiamediacentre.org.nz
Email us at [email protected]

Whakawhetai mo te whakarongo .. thanks for listening !

This week we join Raf Manji, a Non-Resident Fellow at the Asia New Zealand Foundation, in conversation with Dr Reuben Abraham, the CEO of Artha Global, a Mumbai and London-based public policy organisation advising governments  around the world. The pair take a deep dive into the new India - economics, trade, technology, and foreign policy. -as NZ embarks on the latest round of talks towards a Free Trade Agreement. 

Website asiamediacentre.org.nz
Email us at [email protected]

Whakawhetai mo te whakarongo .. thanks for listening !