What's in Your Kete?

We caught up with local arts practitioner Natasha Matila-Smith (Ngāti Kahungunu, Ngāti Hine, Samoa, Pākehā) during the Summer break and ahead of her exciting global travels.

Natasha shares how she’s exploring new ideas in her art, her love of pop culture, and what’s been on her mind lately.

Artist. Thinker. Pop Culture Connoisseur. She’s not afraid to shake things up! 

🎺 Delbert Anderson is a Diné (Navajo) jazz trumpeter, composer, and educator whose music bridges indigenous traditions with contemporary soundscapes. From traditional Navajo spinning songs to jazz improvisation, his work is a testament to resilience, innovation, and cultural pride.

We were honoured to have Delbert join us on the podcast ahead of his performance at Te Ahurei Toi o Tāmaki - Auckland Arts Festival.

Push play to hear about Indigenous storytelling through Diné music and jazz, the power of cultural identity, and his upcoming projects & international works. 

Thanks to the Auckland Arts Festival, we were honoured to kōrero with Lehua Kalima and Pono Fernandez from Kulāiwi, a collective of award-winning Native Hawaiian musicians, songwriters, and cultural leaders (including Kawika Kahiapo & Shawn Pimental).

We talk about: 
🎶 The power of mele (music) & hula 
🌏 The connection between Hawaiian & Māori artistry 
🫶🏾 What to anticipate at their #AAF2025 shows in Aotearoa and their hopes of cultural exchange and collaboration with Moana creatives while they're here in Aotearoa. 

Stay with us till the end, because we’re also joined by the phenomenal Kaumakaiwa, a powerhouse performer whose voice carries generations of tradition and mana. 🌊🐚 🎉

We are back with PART 2 of our special episode of What’s In Your Kete? with indigenous storyteller Paula Conroy and internationally celebrated adornment artist Neke Moa.

Tune in to hear about their experiences at FestPAC 2024; Neke shares insights about her practice, Paula speaks on the significance of Atua stories to Māori and other Pacific communities, and more.

In this special two part episode of What’s In Your Kete?, we talk to internationally celebrated adornment artist @nekemoa and indigenous storyteller ⁠@whaeapaula⁠ to hear about their involvement in the 2025 Munich Jewellery Week, reconnecting with taonga at the Museum Five Continents and more.

Alex Hawley is a Navajo textile artist and proud aunty whose academic journey brought her to Aotearoa on a Fulbright Fellowship.

Hit play to hear about the cross-cultural exchanges, creative inspirations, and the treasures Alex now carries in her kete!

In this powerful talanoa, Alana Tukuniu shares how Niue called her home and continues to shape her mahani  (way of being), healing practice, and sense of self.

Her journey is a reminder to trust your gut, honour your ancestors, and carry the gifts of the motu in your kete. 🧺💫

Melodie Turori shares her story about returning to the Cook Islands with her family for the first time; connecting to the land, feeling her tupuna and reflecting on her time in Aotearoa New Zealand.

She also shares highlights from her Pasifika Transmissions documentary project 'The Future Behind Us' and explains the importance of the Pacific festivals like Pacific Islands Festival Association (PIFA) and Festival of Pacifica Arts and Culture (festPAC) for the US diaspora.

🌺 Meet Leilani Faaiuaso – Proud Samoan and passionate advocate.

From her roots in Manurewa to her home in Palmy, Leilani’s journey is all about embracing culture, overcoming doubts, and inspiring her people.

🌺 Aloha kākou! In this special podcast episode, we share our kōrero with Thomas Koʻikūokalani Lum Jnr, who shares his interesting story of traveling to Ngāruawāhia, Aotearoa as a young man and meeting the Māori queen, Te Atairangikaahu.

🎙️ Join us as he reflects on the life-changing cultural exchanges at Tūrangawaewae Marae, and how those experiences shaped his deep appreciation for storytelling and the unbreakable bonds connecting us across Moana Nui a Kiwa.

This inspiring kōrero is a reminder of the rich heritage we all carry and the importance of preserving it for future generations.