Weaver and educator Karen Clark in Waitara is taking her weaving into more artistic directions. As the owner of KareNZ Kitz, she also shares some valuable business tips. Check out Karen’s gorgeous weaving in the ARTSpace in the Top Town mall throughout September!

September is Basic Education and Literacy Month. Lillian Haskins from The Rural Youth & Adult Literacy Trust and former farmer Michael Kingpotiki, who learned to read for his grandkids and wrote a book about it, talk about the power of literacy. We also meet Holly, Stratford’s certified canine pet therapy and library dog, and her owner Jane Roguski.

Mikaela caught up with Suzette Goldsmith at WOMAD’s World of Words earlier this year. We talk about gardens, natural heritage and Suzette’s book of essays, Tree Sense: Ways of Thinking About Trees (2021), which emerged out of her PhD studies. Suzette reads an excerpt from the book.

Barbara Mullins, Eileen Fitzpatrick and Leslie Ault from the Embroiderers’ Guild talk about the ins and outs of embroidery and the strong interest among young people for sewing skills. Check out the Guild’s fabulous exhibition in the ARTSpace until the end of August!

This week features four of Taranaki’s contemporary women artists in the State of Nature – Picturing the Silent Forest exhibition at Puke Ariki. Sarah Lee Good, Michaela Stoneman, Coral Dolan and Tabatha Forbes have responded to the botanical paintings of artist Fanny Bertha Good (1860-1950)

Andrew Doehring’s exhibition ‘Wednesdays with Andrew’ opens at the Gover St Gallery on 5 August. Jan Huijbers has been mentoring Andrew over the past year, just like Andrew’s grandfather, George Boys, once mentored Jan. Mikaela and Jan talk about the things being passed down through generations, and the uniqueness of these talented artists.

Talei Mangioni, a Youngsolwara activist and researcher, shares her insights into the history of the Pacific grassroots movements for a Nuclear Free and Independent Pacific and its relevance today, mentioning Japan’s intention to dump millions of tonnes of treated nuclear wastewater.

Mikaela hitches a ride with Te Waka Puka Puka /the Mobile Library bus with Walter Crawshaw. In this episode we visit Waitoriki, Norfolk, Ratapiko and Kaimata rural schools. Later, we head up the coast to Mimi, Uruti and Ahititi schools and meet a hardcore book club at Tongaporutu. (Part 2 of 2).

Mikaela and Zeal Taranaki rangatahi get into zines with Coco Solid. Of Ngāpuhi, Sāmoan and German descent, Coco Solid (a.k.a. Jessica Hansell) is an inspiring multimedia artist, producer, film-maker, rapper, musician and writer. Her novel How to Loiter in a Turf War (2022) is a lucid, genre-bending work of autobiographical fiction.

Sobranie Ngarin is the ARTSpace artist for July. She shares her love for harakeke and positive mindset. We also talk about the Waitara Artists Cooperative and the upcoming Puanga exhibition.