Identity

Malaysian New Zealander Nurul Shamsul is the first Muslim woman to wear hijab and to become a finalist in Miss Universe New Zealand 2018. Lynda Chanwai-Earle is in Hamilton to meet a trailblazer. Audio, Gallery

Wellington's mayor is calling for Queen's Birthday to be ditched in favour of a new national holiday celebrating Matariki. Last year Wellington City Council announced it would no longer put on its… Audio

The former sex worker who helped decriminalise prostitution in New Zealand never had honours in mind as she fought for the rights of others like her. It was a tough and prolonged battle so it is no… Audio

This spiky item helped a relatively unknown New Zealand athlete seize gold, and instant fame, at the 1960 Rome Olympics. Audio

A high profile diplomat experienced what she describes as racial profiling in her local supermarket and there are still concerns about African youth being targeted by police in this country. Audio

Recently a high profile diplomat experienced what she describes as racial profiling in her local supermarket and there are still concerns about African youth being targeted by police in this country… Audio, Gallery

The plight of Tonga's LGBT community is under the spotlight with the released of a new documentary Leitis in Waiting. The film follows the life of transgender Tongan Joey / Joleen Mataele, who, along… Audio

Otago University has removed and destroyed hundreds of copies of the student magazine Critic, after it deemed the cover of this week's issue to be objectionable. The cover depicts a cartoon image of a… Audio

New Zealand teenagers living in Australia who can't get a benefit are resorting to prostitution. Thirty-eight Australian community organisations have written to Jacinda Ardern calling on the New… Audio

Children as young as seven and eight years old are telling social workers they have thought of killing themselves because of the violence at home. New Zealand has high rates of domestic violence and… Audio

Love and loss from Hiroshima to Hastings. Little is known about the Japanese war brides who married New Zealand soldiers stationed in Japan with the occupying force after World War II. One of the last… Audio, Gallery

This patu paraoa (whalebone hand weapon) used during the New Zealand Wars offers a window or "little cobweb" into New Zealand's past. Audio

Empower is a charity established in 2017 by former Kurdish refugee and Young New Zealander of the Year Rez Gardi. It enables higher education for refugee youth here and Rez is prepared to spend… Audio, Gallery