Aotearoa New Zealand has one of the largest voluntary and charity sectors in the world. How are these thousands of organisations resourced, and what are the trends over time in terms of funding priorities? Our guests Lani Evans, Ta'ase Vaoga and Duncan Matthews bring long-term engagement with and expertise in the philanthropic and funding sectors to this korero.

Conversations on human rights in our country

The proposed changes to secondary education will mean Outdoor Education (along with several other subjects) will become a 'vocational pathway'. How might this change impact the teaching of this subject, and why is getting out and learning in the outdoors so critical to our tamariki and rangatahi? We hear from Outdoor Education enthusiasts who bring a range of experiences to the discussion: high school students Jessie Smith and Dela Beardsley, teacher Phil Washbourn, Mark Bruce-Miller (CE of Whenua Iti Outdoors) and Fiona McDonald (CE of Education Outdoors NZ).

We don't often consider sleep a human right - yet, it is fundamental to our physical and mental wellbeing, as well as our day-to-day cognitive and social functioning. Guests Dee Muller (Sleep/Wake Research Centre), Jasneek Chawla (Child Health Research Centre, University of Queensland; Australiasian Sleep Association) and Sally Staton (Queensland Brain Institute) discuss the importance of sleep, and how sleep is both shaped by and perpetuates social inequities.

Celebrating 50 years of Te Wiki o Te Reo Māori!

Sally talks with husband and wife duo Te Ataahia and Davide about the ways in which they value and give life to language, raising their tamariki in Aotearoa with Italian and Māori languages and whakapapa. They share personal reflections on the importance of Te Reo for tangata whenua and tangata Tiriti alike, as well as practical tips for learning a language and raising a family with multiple languages.

July/August 2025 marks 80 years since the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, and 40 years since the bombing of the Rainbow Warrior here in Aotearoa. What do these anniversaries mean in the context of 2025, with the ever-greater escalation of global tension and a new nuclear arms race occurring alongside the seeming impotence of the UN and other international bodies? Guests Kate Dewes, David Robie, Karly Burch and Susan Bouterey bring passion, a wealth of knowledge and decades of anti-nuclear advocacy to this discussion.

Guests Josiah Tualamali'i and Daniel Mataki Jr discuss the Dawn Raids and their legacies, four years on from the official government apology.

This year, we celebrate both Matariki and World Refugee Day on 20 June - a perfect opportunity to think about the significance of stars and constellations in different cultures. Carla Millar provides an introduction to Matariki, then guests talk about stars, constellations and associated celebrations in their cultures: Sen Nhiang (Jarai ethnic group from central highland Vietnam), Marianna Boless (Assyrian) and Naomi Peters (Japanese).

What is 'whiteness', and how does it play out in the context of Aotearoa New Zealand? Guests Ella Henry and Elizabeth Ann Cook engage in honest and lively discussion on the concept and what we can all do to examine our own positioning and work towards a more harmonious society.

Conversations on human rights in our country