Asia Insight

Asia Insight : Prof Mohd Faiz Abdullah

Thu, 23 Apr 2026 20:00:00 +1200

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.

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Website asiamediacentre.org.nz
Email us at media@asianz.org.nz

Whakawhetai mo te whakarongo .. thanks for listening !

Asia Insight : Charlotte Glennie

Tue, 31 Mar 2026 16:00:00 +1300

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.

Tweet us at @AsiaMediaCentre
Website asiamediacentre.org.nz
Email us at media@asianz.org.nz

Whakawhetai mo te whakarongo .. thanks for listening !

Starting Up With Asia : Adi Nugroho

Fri, 27 Feb 2026 15:00:00 +1300

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.

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Website asiamediacentre.org.nz
Email us at media@asianz.org.nz

Whakawhetai mo te whakarongo .. thanks for listening !

Asia Insight : Dr Samir Saran

Fri, 12 Dec 2025 17:00:00 +1300

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

Tweet us at @AsiaMediaCentre
Website asiamediacentre.org.nz
Email us at media@asianz.org.nz

Whakawhetai mo te whakarongo .. thanks for listening !

Asia Insight : Professor Joseph Liow

Fri, 28 Nov 2025 14:00:00 +1300

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.

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Website asiamediacentre.org.nz
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Whakawhetai mo te whakarongo .. thanks for listening !

Perceptions of Asia 2025 : Jason Young & Raf Manji

Thu, 03 Jul 2025 17:00:00 +1200

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.

Tweet us at @AsiaMediaCentre
Website asiamediacentre.org.nz
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Whakawhetai mo te whakarongo .. thanks for listening !

Asia Experience : Claire George

Sat, 28 Jun 2025 06:00:00 +1200

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.

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Website asiamediacentre.org.nz
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Whakawhetai mo te whakarongo .. thanks for listening !

ASEAN & New Zealand : 50 Years of Dialogue

Fri, 16 May 2025 17:00:00 +1200

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.

Tweet us at @AsiaMediaCentre
Website asiamediacentre.org.nz
Email us at media@asianz.org.nz

Whakawhetai mo te whakarongo .. thanks for listening !

Asia Right Now: Dr Reuben Abraham & The New India.

Wed, 30 Apr 2025 13:00:00 +1200

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.

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Whakawhetai mo te whakarongo .. thanks for listening !

Asia Right Now: Do Hung Viet

Wed, 12 Mar 2025 15:00:00 +1300

Today on the podcast Dr Julia Macdonald, head of Research and Engagement at the Asia New Zealand Foundation, sits down with Vietnam’s Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs, Do Hung Viet, who earlier this year visited New Zealand as an ASEAN Prime Minister’s fellow.

Mr Viet was appointed Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs in 2022, following a diplomatic career that has focused on international organisations. He has held positions as Assistant Foreign Minister, Director-General of the Foreign Ministry’s International Organisations Department, and Deputy Permanent Representative to the United Nations. He will take up the position as Viet Nam’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations in mid 2025.

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Website asiamediacentre.org.nz
Email us at media@asianz.org.nz

Whakawhetai mo te whakarongo .. thanks for listening !

Asia Unfiltered: Nathan Taylor

Thu, 27 Feb 2025 17:00:00 +1300

In this episode of Asia Unfiltered, our host Arina Aizal chats to Nathan Taylor about his experiences growing up living in Indonesia as a teenager, and later living as an adult in China.

Digressions include the unique experience of going from homeschooling in New Zealand to being dropped into the middle of a remote Indonesian jungle, a deep dive into the power of accents within linguistics, and how translation work is rather difficult when working with the made-up mystical worlds of Chinese video games.

Asia Unfiltered is an exploration of the stories and experiences of young Kiwis abroad in Asia. Each episode will feature conversations between members of the Asia New Zealand Foundation Te Whītau Tūhono’s Leadership Network, and one of our two fellow Leadership Network hosts: Kii Small and Arina Aizal. This is the last episode of this season - we've hoped you've enjoyed the episodes so far!

The Leadership Network is a global professional network equipping the next generation of New Zealand leaders with the know-how to strengthen the New Zealand-Asia relationship.

Tweet us at @AsiaMediaCentre
Website asiamediacentre.org.nz
Email us at media@asianz.org.nz

Whakawhetai mo te whakarongo .. thanks for listening !

Asia Unfiltered : Yik Kun Heng

Sat, 18 Jan 2025 07:00:00 +1300

In this episode of Asia Unfiltered, our host Arina Aizal chats to Yik Kun Heng about his experiences living… well, everywhere! Yik Kun has lived in Beijing, Hong Kong, Malaysia, New Zealand, Thailand, Vietnam, Switzerland, and now Chile.
What's it like navigating identity as someone with a multicultural, international background, or to represent New Zealand in Wushu: the Chinese martial art, and how does political science blend into guidance counselling...??

Asia Unfiltered is an exploration of the stories and experiences of young Kiwis abroad in Asia. Each episode features conversations between members of the Asia New Zealand Foundation Te Whītau Tūhono’s Leadership Network, and one of our two fellow Leadership Network hosts: Kii Small and Arina Aizal.

The Leadership Network is a global professional network equipping the next generation of New Zealand leaders with the know-how to strengthen the New Zealand-Asia relationship.

Tweet us at @AsiaMediaCentre
Website asiamediacentre.org.nz
Email us at media@asianz.org.nz

Whakawhetai mo te whakarongo .. thanks for listening !

Asia Unfiltered: Marcus Coll

Wed, 27 Nov 2024 11:00:00 +1300

In this episode of Asia Unfiltered, our host Kii Small chats to Marcus Coll about his many experiences living in Japan over the years. Digressions include the power of learning a second language, how strange twists of fate can completely alter the course of your life, and how he uncovered a hidden hub of nuclear disarmament activism in Christchurch, New Zealand.

The Leadership Network is a global professional network equipping the next generation of New Zealand leaders with the know-how to strengthen the New Zealand-Asia relationship.

Tweet us at @AsiaMediaCentre
Website asiamediacentre.org.nz
Email us at media@asianz.org.nz

Whakawhetai mo te whakarongo .. thanks for listening !

Asia Summit : Asia & The New Zealand Media

Sat, 23 Nov 2024 06:00:00 +1300

A few weeks ago the Asia New Zealand Foundation celebrated its 30th Anniversary with an “Asia Summit” at Parliament in Wellington. Among the speakers and the panels on the day was a session looking at the NZ media’s relationship with Asia.

The panel comprised the Washington Post’s Asia-Pacific Editor Anna Fifield, Newsroom’s National Affairs Editor Sam Sachdeva, and journalist Jean Lee, currently working at the East-West Centre in Hawaii, but also a past bureau chief in North Korea for the Associated Press, and co-host of the award-winning podcast "Lazarus Heist" podcast on the BBC World Service.

Tweet us at @AsiaMediaCentre
Website asiamediacentre.org.nz
Email us at media@asianz.org.nz

Whakawhetai mo te whakarongo .. thanks for listening !

Asia Experience: ASEAN Aust-NZ Dialogue

Sat, 09 Nov 2024 06:00:00 +1300

The Asia New Zealand Foundation recently led a delegation on a Track II diplomacy visit to Malaysia for the 16th ASEAN Australia/New Zealand Dialogue.
Foundation Trustee Hone McGregor and economist Brad Olsen were on the trip, and sat down with RNZ's Colin Peacock to discuss the key takeaways from their first Track II experience in Kuala Lumpur.

Tweet us at @AsiaMediaCentre
Website asiamediacentre.org.nz
Email us at media@asianz.org.nz

Whakawhetai mo te whakarongo .. thanks for listening !

Asia Insight : NATO, NZ and the Asia Pacific

Sat, 02 Nov 2024 06:00:00 +1300

Today we welcome NATO permanent representatives Scott Oudkirk (US), Anita Nergaard (Norway) and Maris Riekstins (Latvia), who have been in Wellington to discuss the alliance's partner networks in the region, and the strengthening of the long-standing relationship with New Zealand.

Tweet us at @AsiaMediaCentre
Website asiamediacentre.org.nz
Email us at media@asianz.org.nz

Whakawhetai mo te whakarongo .. thanks for listening !

Asia Unfiltered: Magdeline Huang

Tue, 29 Oct 2024 12:00:00 +1300

In this episode of Asia Unfiltered, our host Kii Small chats to Magdeline Huang about her experiences living in South Korea. Digressions include unpacking cultural differences between New Zealand and South Korean life, what it’s like to work as a software engineer, and how you can combine being a woman in STEM with creative pursuits.

The Leadership Network is a global professional network equipping the next generation of New Zealand leaders with the know-how to strengthen the New Zealand-Asia relationship.

Tweet us at @AsiaMediaCentre
Website asiamediacentre.org.nz
Email us at media@asianz.org.nz

Whakawhetai mo te whakarongo .. thanks for listening !

Asia Right Now: Jean Lee

Thu, 24 Oct 2024 05:00:00 +1300

Jean Lee is a Korean American journalist and researcher based at the East-West Centre in Hawaii.

She has spent a large part of her career covering North Korea and Northeast Asian affairs, and is co-host of the award-winning “Lazarus Heist” podcast for the BBC World Service, which delves into the Lazarus Group, a shadowy consortium of cyber-criminals working on behalf of the North Korean state.

Jean was in New Zealand recently to speak at the Asia Summit, held in Wellington to mark the 30th Anniversary of the Asia New Zealand Foundation.

She sat down for a chat on the North Korea issue, and what’s at stake in 2024, dealing with leader Kim Jong Un and his regime.

Tweet us at @AsiaMediaCentre
Website asiamediacentre.org.nz
Email us at media@asianz.org.nz

Whakawhetai mo te whakarongo .. thanks for listening !

Asia Unfiltered: Leonard Hong

Thu, 26 Sep 2024 09:00:00 +1200

In this episode of Asia Unfiltered, our host Arina Aizal chats to Leonard Hong about his experiences currently studying his master’s in Singapore. Digressions include reflections on growing up in New Zealand as a Korean-Kiwi, what life is like as a bourgeoning political economist, and why you should stop what you’re doing and move to Singapore.

The Leadership Network is a global professional network equipping the next generation of New Zealand leaders with the know-how to strengthen the New Zealand-Asia relationship.

Tweet us at @AsiaMediaCentre
Website asiamediacentre.org.nz
Email us at media@asianz.org.nz

Whakawhetai mo te whakarongo .. thanks for listening !

Starting Up with Asia : Bicky Nguyen

Fri, 06 Sep 2024 14:00:00 +1200

In this episode Lingy Au speaks with entrepreneur Bicky Nguyen from Vietnam. Bicky was recently in the country as a keynote speaker at the ASEAN NZ Business Council Forum. She is the driving force behind "CricketOne, a leading global supplier in cricket ingredients as a form of alternative protein.

Tweet us at @AsiaMediaCentre
Website asiamediacentre.org.nz
Email us at media@asianz.org.nz

Whakawhetai mo te whakarongo .. thanks for listening !

Asia Unfiltered: Lucy Luo

Thu, 29 Aug 2024 09:00:00 +1200

In this episode of Asia Unfiltered, our host Arina Aizal chats to Lucy Luo about her experiences living in Singapore, Hong Kong, and China. Digressions include what it’s like to have a truly international job, how getting out of New Zealand and going abroad can fundamentally change your perspective on life, and how a background in law can be truly versatile.

The Leadership Network is a global professional network equipping the next generation of New Zealand leaders with the know-how to strengthen the New Zealand-Asia relationship.

Tweet us at @AsiaMediaCentre
Website asiamediacentre.org.nz
Email us at media@asianz.org.nz

Whakawhetai mo te whakarongo .. thanks for listening !

Asia Insight: Australasian Views on Asia 2024

Thu, 22 Aug 2024 17:00:00 +1200

Ryan Neelam is a former Diplomat and Director of Public Opinion and Foreign Policy at the Lowy Institute in Sydney. In this edition of Asia Insight he's in conversation with The Asia New Zealand Foundation's Research Director, Dr Julia MacDonald, looking at this year's public opinion surveys from both organisations. The annual "Lowy Institute Poll", and the Foundation's "Perceptions of Asia & Asian Peoples" poll are unique windows on how the public on both sides of the Tasman is seeing the greater region, and the current issues at play in foreign and domestic policy.

Tweet us at @AsiaMediaCentre
Website asiamediacentre.org.nz
Email us at media@asianz.org.nz

Whakawhetai mo te whakarongo .. thanks for listening !

Asia Experience: Zennon Wijlens

Tue, 20 Aug 2024 18:00:00 +1200

Zennon Wijlens is the co-owner and Head Chef at Paris Butter in Auckland. He was part of a delegation attending this years Ubud Festival in Bali, courtesy of the Asia New Zealand Foundation. Founded in 2015, the Festival is cross-cultural culinary adventure, showcasing Indonesia's diverse cuisine and extraordinary local produce. Zennon joined us to discuss the restaurant trade, his career in cooking, and what Indonesia brings to the table in NZ.

Tweet us at @AsiaMediaCentre
Website asiamediacentre.org.nz
Email us at media@asianz.org.nz

Whakawhetai mo te whakarongo .. thanks for listening !

Asia Right Now: China & NZ

Fri, 16 Aug 2024 16:00:00 +1200

The Asia New Zealand Foundation's Head of Research & Engagement Julia MacDonald is joined by Dr Henry Wang and Dr Mabel Miao, from the Centre for China & Globalisation in Beijing, to discuss the economic relationship between China and New Zealand, and the growing importance of growing people-to-people links between the two countries.

Tweet us at @AsiaMediaCentre
Website asiamediacentre.org.nz
Email us at media@asianz.org.nz

Whakawhetai mo te whakarongo .. thanks for listening !

Asia Unfiltered: Oliver Ibbetson

Tue, 30 Jul 2024 12:00:00 +1200

In this episode of Asia Unfiltered, our host Kii Small chats to Oliver Ibbetson about his experiences living in Taiwan for ten percent of his life. Digressions include the real pay-off that comes with putting up your hand for opportunities, what it was like to do a Masters degree in Asia during peak Covid, and the phenomenal effectiveness of the Taiwanese health and education system.

Asia Unfiltered is an exploration of the stories and experiences of young Kiwis abroad in Asia. Each episode will feature conversations between members of the Asia New Zealand Foundation Te Whītau Tūhono’s Leadership Network, and one of our two fellow Leadership Network hosts: Kii Small and Arina Aizal. The Leadership Network is a global professional network equipping the next generation of New Zealand leaders with the know-how to strengthen the New Zealand-Asia relationship.

Tweet us at @AsiaMediaCentre
Website asiamediacentre.org.nz
Email us at media@asianz.org.nz

Whakawhetai mo te whakarongo .. thanks for listening !

Asia Experience : Pahia Turia

Mon, 29 Jul 2024 05:00:00 +1200

The development and expansion of renewable energy alternatives was the subject of a recent NZTE study tour to South Korea and Japan for Māori representitives.

Many countries across Asia are searching to meet 2050 energy targets but don’t have the natural resources. Iwi/Māori entities in Aotearoa have access to natural resources but need investment to transform those resources to be exportable.

One of those on the trip was Pahia Turia of Ngā Wairiki Ngāti Apa, an iwi based in the Whanganui region, who recieved funding from Te Whitau Tuhono – the Asia New Zealand Foundation.

He sat down for a chat with Ronnie Thompson about the trip, and about the possibilities in renewable energy that Aotearoa has to offer.

Tweet us at @AsiaMediaCentre
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Whakawhetai mo te whakarongo .. thanks for listening !

Asia Right Now : Laurel E Miller

Thu, 25 Jul 2024 15:00:00 +1200

The Asia Foundation is a US-based nonprofit international development organization committed to improving lives and expanding opportunities across Asia and the Pacific. The Foundation’s work focusses on governance, climate action, gender equality, education and leadership, inclusive growth, and international cooperation.

TAF works in more than 20 countries with funding from a diverse array of bilateral and multilateral development agencies, foundations, corporations, and individuals.

Chief Executive Laurel E Miller was in New Zealand recently, and sat down for a discussion on US strategy in Asia, and the activities of the Foundation.

+This interview was recorded before the recent attempt to assassinate Donald Trump +

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Whakawhetai mo te whakarongo .. thanks for listening !

Asia Unfiltered: Wei-Wei Ng

Tue, 02 Jul 2024 09:00:00 +1200

In this episode of Asia Unfiltered, our host Arina Aizal chats to Wei-Wei Ng about her experiences living in Shanghai and Hong Kong. Digressions include the unique experience of growing up as a Chinese-Kiwi who moved to China, the successes and challenges of finding a job in Asia, and why a law degree may not be right for everyone.

The Leadership Network is a global professional network equipping the next generation of New Zealand leaders with the know-how to strengthen the New Zealand-Asia relationship.

Tweet us at @AsiaMediaCentre
Website asiamediacentre.org.nz
Email us at media@asianz.org.nz

Whakawhetai mo te whakarongo .. thanks for listening !

Perceptions of Asia: Natasha Hamilton-Hart & Paul Spoonley

Fri, 21 Jun 2024 17:00:00 +1200

The Asia New Zealand Foundation's 'Perceptions of Asia' survey was released earlier this month - it is a unique insight into how New Zealanders are feeling about Asia and its peoples, and a useful guide to future policy-making. Today we speak to Professor Natasha Hamilton-Hart from Auckland University's Dept of Management and International Business. Professor Hamilton-Hart is also director of the NZ Asia Institute at Auckland University . Also joining the podcast is Distinguished Emeritus Professor Paul Spoonley, Honorary Research Associate at Massey University, and a sociologist who has been following the Perceptions of Asia survey for many years.

Tweet us at @AsiaMediaCentre
Website asiamediacentre.org.nz
Email us at media@asianz.org.nz

Whakawhetai mo te whakarongo .. thanks for listening !

New Zealanders' Perceptions of Asia and Asian Peoples 2024

Tue, 18 Jun 2024 12:00:00 +1200

The Asia New Zealand Foundation's annual "'New Zealanders' Perceptions of Asia and Asian Peoples" survey is in its 27th year, detailing changing trends in the way New Zealanders regard Asian nations and the people who live there. The survey is out today, and for a quick run-through of some of the central themes in the report we're joined by Asia New Zealand Foundation Chief Executive Suz Jessep, and Dr Julia Macdonald, diector of the Foundation's Research and Engagement programme.

Tweet us at @AsiaMediaCentre
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Whakawhetai mo te whakarongo .. thanks for listening !

The Dilmah Story: Dilhan C. Fernando

Fri, 14 Jun 2024 06:00:00 +1200

This week we talk to Dilhan C. Fernando, CEO of Dilmah Tea, the family-owned Sri Lankan company that forged its own path in the marketing of tea in New Zealand, and around the globe.

Tweet us at @AsiaMediaCentre
Website asiamediacentre.org.nz
Email us at media@asianz.org.nz

Whakawhetai mo te whakarongo .. thanks for listening !

Asia Unfiltered: Alex Smith

Fri, 31 May 2024 09:00:00 +1200

In this episode of Asia Unfiltered, our host, Kii Small, chats to the Asia New Zealand Foundation’s very own Alex Smith, about her experiences living in Shanghai and Taiwan. Digressions include what it’s like to study Mandarin Chinese as a young woman living in East Asia, and how a guilty pleasure for East Asian trash television can catapult you on a profound, life and career changing journey.

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Asia Unfiltered is an exploration of the stories and experiences of young kiwis abroad in Asia. Each episode will feature conversations between members of the Asia New Zealand Foundation Te Whītau Tūhono’s Leadership Network, and one of our two fellow Leadership Network hosts: Kii Small and Arina Aizal.

The Asia New Zealand Foundation is New Zealand’s leading authority on Asia, providing experiences and resources to help New Zealanders thrive in Asia. The Leadership Network is a global professional network equipping the next generation of New Zealand leaders with the know-how to strengthen the New Zealand-Asia relationship.

Tweet us at @AsiaMediaCentre
Website asiamediacentre.org.nz
Email us at media@asianz.org.nz

Whakawhetai mo te whakarongo .. thanks for listening !

Asia Right Now: Aung Myo Min

Fri, 10 May 2024 07:00:00 +1200

Aung Myo Min is Minister/Representative for Human Rights in Myanmar's National Unity Government, and continuing to fight for an end to the current military junta which has ruled the country since Feb 2021. Recent reports indicate the junta has lost control of areas it once held, and men eligible for conscription have been barred from leaving the country amid a reported collapse in army morale. In New Zealand for a brief visit, he discusses the current military and human rights situation, and the future of his
country.

Tweet us at @AsiaMediaCentre
Website asiamediacentre.org.nz
Email us at media@asianz.org.nz

Whakawhetai mo te whakarongo .. thanks for listening !

Asia Right Now : Mike Green

Sat, 04 May 2024 08:00:00 +1200

Dr Michael Green is the 2024 Kippenberger Chair at the Centre for Strategic Studies at Victoria University in Wellington. He's held a string of high-profile US foreign policy positions over many years, including in the George W Bush White House and at the Centre for Strategic Studies, and he's also currently head of the United States Studies Centre at the University of Sydney. Mike joins us on the podcast today to talk about US strategy in the Western Pacific, China's rise, and the debate over New Zealand's possible admission to "Pillar II" of the AUKUS group.

Tweet us at @AsiaMediaCentre
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Whakawhetai mo te whakarongo .. thanks for listening !

Taiwan: A Track II Experience

Sat, 06 Apr 2024 08:00:00 +1300

This week we join University of Canterbury Professor Alex Tan to discuss a recent "Track II" delegation to Taiwan, to hold the 9th annual dialogue with the Asia New Zealand Foundation's dialogue partner, the Prospect Foundation, as well as catch up with leading think tanks, academics and journalists. Alex brings the delegates together one last time to look back on their key takeaways from the trip.

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Whakawhetai mo te whakarongo .. thanks for listening !

Asia Insight: Dr Reuben Abraham

Fri, 26 Jan 2024 16:00:00 +1300

Today we're joined by Dr Reuben Abraham. Reuben’s the CEO of Artha Global, a policy and research organization based in Mumbai and London. He’s a noted expert on India’s economic development, and is currently a Senior Fellow at New York University’s Marron Institute, an Asia Fellow at the Milken Institute in Singapore, and an Honorary Advisor to the Asia New Zealand Foundation. He was also awarded “Think-Tanker of Year” by Prospect magazine in London in 2021 for his work on the covid crisis in India

Reuben sat down for a chat India’s economic future, its digital transformation, the Modi Presidency, and its developing relationship with New Zealand.

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Whakawhetai mo te whakarongo .. thanks for listening !

Asia Infrastructure Investment Bank : President Jin Liqun

Thu, 02 Nov 2023 16:00:00 +1300

The AIIB is a multilateral development bank based in Beijing. It now has 109 members, including New Zealand. Its mission: to finance " infrastructure with sustainability at its core." Bank President Jin Liqun has been on a quick visit to NZ, and discusses the bank's goals and aspirations, as it continues to develop links to the Pacific.

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Whakawhetai mo te whakarongo .. thanks for listening !

ASEAN & The Multipolar Future in Southeast Asia

Thu, 05 Oct 2023 05:00:00 +1300

This week’s guest is Thomas Parks, the Asia Foundation’s country representative in Thailand, where he manages programme addressing inequality, education, digital tech, and international relations. He also oversees the Foundation’s regional cooperation programs in Southeast Asia, with a strong focus on ASEAN. He’s been based in Thailand since 2008, and has spent time in the Philippines, Myanmar, Indonesia, and Cambodia.

His latest book is entitled “Southeast Asia’s Multi Polar Future – Preventing a new Cold War.”

We spoke to Tom about the book on a recent visit to Wellington, and began by asking him to put the region's current developing multi-polar picture into an historical context..

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Whakawhetai mo te whakarongo .. thanks for listening !

Asia Right Now: Japan & The Indo-Pacific

Fri, 22 Sep 2023 15:00:00 +1200

In late 2022 Japan released its new security and defence policy. It swept away much of the self-restraint that had characterised Tokyo's attitude to security since 1945, and saw the Kishida Administration bringing defence and security issues to the fore. Today on the podcast we speak with Japanese foreign policy experts Professor Akiko Fukushima and Professor Ken Jimbo, on Japan's new national security strategy, the progress made on the "Free & Open Indo-Pacific" initiative (the FOIP) , and Japan's role in shaping the regional order.

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Whakawhetai mo te whakarongo .. thanks for listening !

Asia Right Now : Cris Tran

Thu, 07 Sep 2023 05:00:00 +1200

Cris D. Tran is a Vietnam-based digital strategist working with the Frontier Leader Institute, and a whole lot more besides. He's at the cutting edge of tech development across Asia, be it blockchain, AI , Web 2.0, or the vast array of tech advancements now impacting on business and consumers. Cris is in New Zealand to attend the Canterbury Tech Summit in Christchurch, and speaking on the topic of “Asymmetric Competition in Digital Age.” The Asia New Zealand Foundation's senior adviser (Business) Ethan Jones sat down with Cris for a chat about just where Asia is headed in the tech space, and how New Zealand might be best placed to take advantage of the opportunities on offer.

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Whakawhetai mo te whakarongo .. thanks for listening !

India's Nuclear Politics : Professor Ramesh Thakur

Fri, 18 Aug 2023 06:00:00 +1200

Ramesh Thakur is Emeritus Professor in the Crawford School of Public Policy at the ANU in Canberra. In NZ recently, he discusses Indian geo-politics in 2023, the Nuclear Suppliers Group, and Delhi's mercurial External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar.

Tweet us at @AsiaMediaCentre
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Whakawhetai mo te whakarongo .. thanks for listening !

Asia Right Now: Singapore's Andrew Tan

Thu, 27 Jul 2023 05:00:00 +1200

Singapore-based Andrew Tan has spent 28 years in the public sector where he's held key positions across various Singapore government agencies, from the Ministry of Information and the Arts, Ministry of Defence, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and in the Prime Minister’s Office as the Private Secretary to Lee Kuan Yew.

He is also a former CEO at Singapore’s National Environment Agency, and Chief Executive of the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore.

He's spent time as Director of Singapore's Centre for Liveable Cities, and has most recently been working as a managing director at global investment company Temasek.

He also finds time to be involved with the Singapore Management University, and the Singapore Business Federation.

Andrew was in New Zealand recently to address the China Business Summit held in Auckland, and following his address he spoke to Suz Jessep and James To from the Asia New Zealand Foundation about Singapore's development model, and the challenges ahead across the region.

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Whakawhetai mo te whakarongo .. thanks for listening !

Myanmar 2023: Dr Tun Aung Shwe

Fri, 07 Jul 2023 05:00:00 +1200

Myanmar's civil strife continues with opposition forces refusing to buckle amid a struggle that shows no immediate sign of ending. Meanwhile the junta insists nationwide elections can and will be held eventually. Dr Tun Aung Shwe is the NUG's representative in Canberra, and joins us to discuss the way forward in bringing democracy back to Myanmar.

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Whakawhetai mo te whakarongo .. thanks for listening !

Walking "The China Tightrope"

Fri, 23 Jun 2023 05:00:00 +1200

Journalist Sam Sachdeva discusses his new book "The China Tightrope", a detailed look at the China-New Zealand relationship: the good, the difficult, and the way ahead. How did we get here? And how can NZ best negotiate the minefield of trade pragmatism and principled foreign policy?

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Website asiamediacentre.org.nz
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Whakawhetai mo te whakarongo .. thanks for listening !

Asia Experience: Brent Strathdee-Pehi

Thu, 02 Feb 2023 17:00:00 +1300

After a Asia New Zealand Foundation trip to Indonesia in 2017, Northland teacher Brent Strathdee-Pehi had his eyes and ears opened to possibilities in and outside the classroom. He's now teaching at an International School in Timor Leste, and discovering more about the ties between Aotearoa and Asia, in language, music , and much more.

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Whakawhetai mo te whakarongo .. thanks for listening !

Asia Right Now: A "Scrambled Re-Globalisation" in Asia

Thu, 15 Dec 2022 05:00:00 +1300

Professor Nick Bisley is an international relations professor and the Dean of Humanities at Melbourne’s La Trobe University. He’s researched and written extensively on political economy and globalisation in Asia. Nick was in NZ recently for a series of lectures looking at the post-Covid economic reformation underway in Asia, he joins us to discuss what he describes as the “scrambled -re-globalisation" and how it will shape the future in Asia and elsewhere.

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Whakawhetai mo te whakarongo .. thanks for listening !

Asia Right Now: Dato Erywan Yusof

Thu, 08 Dec 2022 05:00:00 +1300

Brunei's 2nd Foreign Minister Dato Erywan Yusof was in New Zealand recently, and sat down for a brief chat on the current relationship between the two countries, the new upgrade to the ASEAN-Australia-NZ FTA, and the on-going challenge ASEAN is facing in de-fusing the Myanmar conflict.

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Whakawhetai mo te whakarongo .. thanks for listening !

Asia Insight: China's Economy 2022

Wed, 23 Nov 2022 05:00:00 +1300

Professor James Laurenceson is Director of the Australia-China Relations Institute at University of Technology in Sydney. Professor Laurenceson spoke to Graeme Acton about China's economy, its current economic woes, and why China's economic sanctions on Australia barely left a mark.

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Artist Profile : Lucy Marinkovich

Sun, 23 Oct 2022 05:00:00 +1300

Asia New Zealand Foundation arts director Craig Cooper chats with Lucy Marinkovich, New Zealand based contemporary dancer, choreographer and the artistic director of the Borderline Arts Ensemble. Lucy shares her experiences in Asia, her plans for the future, and her new dance work 'Nothing Is" , one of the Asia New Zealand Foundation's 2021 "IN TOUCH" digital arts commissions.

Tile image: HEMISPHERES - Mass Solitube by Sarah Foster-Sproull - Performed by Joshua Faleatua (Footnote) and Christy Poinsettia (Guangdong Modern Dance Company) - Photo by Eden Mulholland

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Asia Right Now: Dr Subramanyam Jaishankar

Fri, 14 Oct 2022 05:00:00 +1300

India's External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar has been in New Zealand for discussions with government officials and public events in Auckland and Wellington. It's the first visit by an Indian EAM for twenty years and he was keen to discuss India's future, its upcoming presidency at the G20, and how New Zealand and India can improve their relationship.

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Whakawhetai mo te whakarongo .. thanks for listening !

Artist Profile: John Williams

Fri, 23 Sep 2022 16:00:00 +1200

Documentary photographer John Williams has been exploring issues of faith and worship for a number of years. This has included several trips to India to photograph in- depth projects that explore aspects of pilgrimage and religious worship. Craig Cooper speaks to John about his photography, his travels across India, and his latest project – a digital reworking of his profound and moving “Pilgrimage" exhibition from 2016.

Tile image: HEMISPHERES - Mass Solitube by Sarah Foster-Sproull - Performed by Joshua Faleatua (Footnote) and Christy Poinsettia (Guangdong Modern Dance Company) - Photo by Eden Mulholland

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Whakawhetai mo te whakarongo .. thanks for listening !

Artist Profile: Allan Xia

Fri, 16 Sep 2022 17:00:00 +1200

Craig Cooper speaks to Allan Xia, a Chinese/ New Zealand multi-disciplinary storyteller whose works span a broad spectrum of mediums such as illustration, comics, photography, videography, videogames and virtual reality. He's the founder of Kognika Ltd - a boutique creative agency, and also founder and director of Chromacon New Zealand Indie Arts Festival - a biennial event that connects creatives and art-lovers. Allan is passionate about advocating for New Zealand's creative sector, the value of original creative IP, and bridging collaborations between China and New Zealand.

Tile image: HEMISPHERES - Mass Solitube by Sarah Foster-Sproull - Performed by Joshua Faleatua (Footnote) and Christy Poinsettia (Guangdong Modern Dance Company) - Photo by Eden Mulholland

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Whakawhetai mo te whakarongo .. thanks for listening !

Artist Profile : Chye-Ling Huang

Tue, 06 Sep 2022 17:00:00 +1200

Chye-Ling Huang is a Chinese-Pākehā writer, director, actress, and co-founder and director of the Proudly Asian Theatre Company in Auckland. She’s worked in television, on stage, in advertising and on podcasts and web series.

She's had a long association with the Asia New Zealand Foundation, and was one of ten artists selected in 2020 to work on a digital art project looking at their personal on-going connection to Asia, even during the Covid lockdown.

Asia New Zealand Foundation Arts Director Craig Cooper caught up with her to discuss, the arts, Aotearoa , and Asia.

Tile image: HEMISPHERES - Mass Solitube by Sarah Foster-Sproull - Performed by Joshua Faleatua (Footnote) and Christy Poinsettia (Guangdong Modern Dance Company) - Photo by Eden Mulholland

Tweet us at @AsiaMediaCentre
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Whakawhetai mo te whakarongo .. thanks for listening !

Australasian Perspectives : ASEAN, the Asia Pacific & Albo.

Thu, 25 Aug 2022 18:00:00 +1200

The new Australian government has signaled a few changes in policy towards its immediate neighbours in Asia and the Pacific. This week we're joined by International Relations experts Professor Alex Tan and Associate Professor Nicholas Khoo, to look at the new foreign policy dynamic in Canberra, and how New Zealand would benefit from renewing its outreach in a similar fashion.

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Whakawhetai mo te whakarongo .. thanks for listening !

New Zealanders' Perceptions of Asia

Thu, 11 Aug 2022 17:00:00 +1200

The Asia New Zealand Foundation's annual "Perceptions of Asia" survey asks New Zealanders for their views on Asia and its peoples, and supports an informed public conversation regarding New Zealand's engagement with the region. Now in its 25th year, the survey is a unique insight on the growing connections between New Zealand and Asia. In this Asia Insight we speak to Suz Jessep, Director of Research and Engagement, about the survey, and about the "Seriously Asia Revisited" project currently underway.

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Whakawhetai mo te whakarongo .. thanks for listening !

Asia Right Now: Shangri-La Dialogue 2022

Mon, 20 Jun 2022 05:00:00 +1200

It is the international defence summit meeting that takes its name from the Singapore hotel venue. The Shangri-La Dialogue is a gathering of politicians, analysts, diplomats and business leaders from around the world who come together to debate issues, with politicians also heavily involved in bilateral meetings. Graeme Acton chatted with attendees Professor David Capie from Victoria University in Wellington, and Newsroom correspondent Sam Sachdeva, to hear their impressions of the summit held earlier this month.

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Whakawhetai mo te whakarongo .. thanks for listening !

Starting Up With Asia: Sustainable Alternatives

Fri, 10 Jun 2022 05:00:00 +1200

In this episode, the Asia New Zealand Foundation's Alexis Allen speaks with Indonesian entrepreneur Adi Reza of Mycotech, and New Zealand entrepreneur Veronica Harwood-Stevenson of Humble Bee Bio, who are both creating innovative solutions in sustainability. Leather from mushrooms, and bioplastics from bees, it's all part of a sustainable future being built right now.

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Whakawhetai mo te whakarongo .. thanks for listening !

Asia Right Now: China in the Pacific

Wed, 08 Jun 2022 05:00:00 +1200

The Asia New Zealand Foundation's Graeme Acton speaks to Professor Bates Gill - China expert and author currently with Macquarie University in Sydney - about China's involvement in the Pacific. What's behind the latest moves? What should New Zealand do? And how will the Pacific change under the proposed closer economic and political relationship with China? Professor Gill's new book "Daring to Struggle: China's Global Ambitions Under Xi Jinping" is out now.

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Whakawhetai mo te whakarongo .. thanks for listening !

Starting Up With Asia: Tech Time

Fri, 03 Jun 2022 14:00:00 +1200

The Asia New Zealand Foundation's Adam McConnochie talks Asia and tech with two experts in the field: Bradley Scott and Cris Tran. Both are serial entrepreneurs with huge experience across a range of tech businesses in the region. For this chat, Brad joined Adam from Auckland, and Cris is in Vietnam. The discussion ranges across how to succeed in Asia in the tech world, how NZ companies are performing currently in the tech space, and where the new challenges are coming from?

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Website asiamediacentre.org.nz
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Whakawhetai mo te whakarongo .. thanks for listening !

Starting Up with Asia: The Big Breakfast

Thu, 28 Apr 2022 05:00:00 +1200

In this episode , Adam McConnochie speaks with Thai coffee entrepreneur Fuadi Pitsuwan, co-founder of specialty coffee company Beanspire - and Tesh Randall, founder of Raglan Food Co, currently supplying coconut yogurt into over 750 outlets across Asia. It's a breakfast match made in heaven ! Both are hugely successful business-owners, with high quality products, and a strong commitment to sustainability.

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Whakawhetai mo te whakarongo .. thanks for listening !

Starting Up With Asia: Weaving Connections Pt 2

Sat, 09 Apr 2022 06:00:00 +1200

The Asia New Zealand Foundation's Adam McConnochie continues his conversation with Kiri Nathan and Reese Fernandez-Ruiz, fashion entrepreneurs and collaborators - one in Auckland, one in Manila. Today's discussion picks up on Kiri's experiences in Asian textile and fashion markets, where Reese continues with her "Rags-To-Riches" enterprise, producing hand-made bags, clothing and homewares for international customers.

Tweet us at @AsiaMediaCentre
Website asiamediacentre.org.nz
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Whakawhetai mo te whakarongo .. thanks for listening !

Starting Up with Asia: Weaving Connections

Tue, 22 Mar 2022 05:00:00 +1300

From Aotearoa New Zealand to the Philippines, two talented and inspiring wāhine are weaving indigenous connections through fashion. In the first part of a two-part discussion we talk to Reese Fernandez-Ruiz, of fashion and design house Rags2Riches (R2R), which works with community artisans in the Philippines, and Māori fashion designer, weaver and artist Kiri Nathan, about their remarkable collaboration.

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Whakawhetai mo te whakarongo .. thanks for listening !

Asia - The Big Picture: The QUAD

Thu, 17 Feb 2022 04:00:00 +1300

It's called "The QUAD" , the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue involving the USA , Australia, India and Japan. The diplomatic arrangement is widely seen as a counter to China in the Indo-Pacific, and brings together nations sharing much in common, but also with significant differences in their strategic outlook. In this episode we discuss the QUAD with Professor Robert Patman, International Relations expert at Otago University, and with Suz Jessep, former Deputy High Commissioner to India, now head of Research and Engagement at the Asia New Zealand Foundation in Wellington.

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Whakawhetai mo te whakarongo .. thanks for listening !

Asia - The Big Picture: New Zealand, Australia, & China.

Thu, 03 Feb 2022 04:00:00 +1300

In this edition of "Asia Insight" we take a look at the complex and important relationships between NZ, Australia and China. Tensions have escalated in the last 18 months between China and Australia, while NZ has remained a cautious observer, willing to speak its mind, but wary of any potential souring in the trade relationship. In a post-covid recovery, the three nations will need each other more than ever. We're joined in the studio this week by Dr Bec Strating from La Trobe University in Melbourne, and Dr Jason Young, Director of the Contemporary China Research Centre at Victoria University in Wellington.

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Whakawhetai mo te whakarongo .. thanks for listening !

Asia - The Big Picture: APEC & ASEAN

Fri, 21 Jan 2022 05:00:00 +1300

APEC and ASEAN are acronyms known to many New Zealanders - but maybe not as well understood as they could be. What exactly does APEC do? What do countries get from it? And how does ASEAN shape the geopolitics of the region? In the wake of 2021's APEC Summit in NZ we talk to Alison Mann, former senior official to APEC and ASEAN, and Mitchell Pham, Vietnamese-Kiwi tech entrepreneur about the role both organisations continue to play in the region.

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Whakawhetai mo te whakarongo .. thanks for listening !

Asia - The Big Picture: AUKUS

Sat, 15 Jan 2022 05:00:00 +1300

The AUKUS agreement between the US, UK, and Australia took many by surprise when it was announced late last year. In this episode of Asia Insight, we're joined by international relations experts Professor Rob Ayson from Victoria University of Wellington and Professor Joanne Wallis from the University of Adelaide to look at the formation of AUKUS, and what it means for Australia, Asia, and New Zealand.

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Whakawhetai mo te whakarongo .. thanks for listening !

"Asia Insight" - coming soon

Wed, 22 Dec 2021 11:00:00 +1300

Tēnā koutou katoa, hello and welcome.

I’m excited to let you know the first series of podcast from the Asia Media Centre will be in a podcast feed near you in the very near future .

The Asia Media Centre is part of the Asia New Zealand Foundation Te Whītau Tūhono.

The "Asia Insight” podcast series will highlight important issues across the region, along with discussions over New Zealand’s ongoing role in Asia, and the important work being done by the Asia New Zealand Foundation.

The first series is dubbed “The Big Picture" and looks at interesting regional issues such as the rise of AUKUS, the relationships between New Zealand, Australia and China, and the QUAD grouping.

I’m Graeme Acton, and we’ll be back soon with “Asia Insight” .

Tweet us at @AsiaMediaCentre
Website asiamediacentre.org.nz
Email us at media@asianz.org.nz

Whakawhetai mo te whakarongo .. thanks for listening !