Conversations With Wāhine

Harita interviews Nancy Lu.
Nancy is a Member of the New Zealand Parliament representing the National Party, a distinguished chartered accountant, and a dedicated advocate for diverse communities and working families. Bringing a unique blend of high-level corporate expertise, Ivy League public administration training, and deep-rooted bicultural insight to the New Zealand Parliament, Nancy represents a modern generation of leadership focused on building a resilient, prosperous, and economically sound future for all New Zealanders.
Born in China, Nancy migrated to New Zealand with her parents in 1997 at the age of nine, settling in Auckland. She grew up within the local kiwi education system, attending Avondale Primary School, Pakuranga Intermediate, and Macleans College. Her stellar academic journey laid a strong foundation for her career, beginning at the University of Auckland, where she graduated with a Bachelor of Commerce degree, earning First Class Honours in International Business alongside a double major in Accounting. Years later, committed to expanding her governance and policymaking expertise, she advanced her education internationally, completing a Master in Public Administration (MPA) at the prestigious Harvard Kennedy School of Government.

Before entering public service, Nancy established herself as a formidable finance professional and commercial strategist. A Chartered Accountant by profession, she spent years working in New Zealand, Hong Kong, and mainland China across premier global auditing firms and major commercial enterprises. Her extensive corporate portfolio includes professional tenures at PwC and Ernst & Young (EY), financial management roles at Fonterra, and strategic expertise within the international shipping and retail trade sectors. Furthermore, she contributed directly to local government development by serving as a chief financial strategist for the Auckland Council, balancing complex public financial management with community-focused growth initiatives.
Nancy’s entry into formal politics was preceded by nearly a decade of active, grassroots involvement within the National Party, where she served on the National Professional Committee and contributed to community engagement initiatives. Following her election to Parliament, she has brought her commercial acumen directly to central government, serving diligently on the Finance and Expenditure Committee and taking on roles such as the Deputy Chair of the Regulations Review Committee. Her legislative priorities are heavily focused on reducing the cost of living, optimizing international trade opportunities, cutting unnecessary regulatory red tape, and advocating for impactful investments in education, healthcare, and ethnic community mental health services.
As a trilingual leader fluent in English, Mandarin, and Cantonese, Nancy bridges cultural and economic divides, actively strengthening relationships between government bodies, export businesses, and diverse migrant communities. Residing in Auckland with her husband and family, she balances the demands of parliamentary life with the responsibilities of being a proud working mother. Nancy remains deeply committed to ensuring that New Zealand remains a safe, ambitious, and opportunity-rich home capable of nurturing successive generations to achieve their full potential.

Harita and her brother Avinash interview Mariameno Kapa-Kingi
Mariameno Kapa‑Kingi has strong whakapapa connections across Te Aupōuri, Ngāpuhi nui tonu, Waikato and Te Whānau‑ā‑Apanui.
She is the Member of Parliament for Te Tai Tokerau, but her journey to Parliament has been grounded in lifelong service to iwi Māori, hapū and whānau – particularly māmā and wāhine.
Before entering Parliament, Mariameno worked extensively on the frontline with Ngāti Hine Health Trust, in Whānau Ora, suicide prevention, Oranga Tamariki, the former Department of Social Welfare, Rape Crisis, and as Chief Executive of Te Aupōuri.
She follows in the footsteps of her tupuna, Eparaima Kapa, who served in the 11th Parliament from 1891 to 1893. Her leadership is guided by what she calls “mokopuna decisions” – always asking whether the choices made today will leave a better future for generations to come.
Note: this interview was recorded in April, prior to the announcement of her new political party

Harita and Suravi interview Sashi Perera.
Sashi is a Sri Lankan-Australian comedian, writer, and self-described 'recovering lawyer'. For a decade, Sashi worked across the globe as an international refugee lawyer for the UN. Then, she made the bold choice to change her life completely. After calling off a destination wedding at the last minute and moving to Melbourne, she fell into stand-up comedy and quickly became an online sensation. She was nominated for Best Newcomer at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival and recently released her acclaimed debut memoir, Standstill. We dive into career reinvention, finding your voice, and why life is full of unexpected windows. 
You can follow her on Instagram here: Instagram

Harita interviews Lee Martin.
Renowned singer-songwriter Lee Martin delivers a poignant reflection on life’s unpredictable journey with her latest indie-soul offering, ‘5 Year Plan’. This evocative track captures the friction between our grand designs and the gritty reality of time slipping through our fingers.
Lee is an old soul with a versatile writing style that completely bypasses mainstream clichés in favour of raw, probing narrative. The Christchurch-based artist spent her childhood absorbing the rule-breaking mastery of greats like Van Morrison and Pink Floyd, building a sonic identity heavily rooted in emotional resilience. After finding critical success with her 2024 album Dreamers Dawn, Martin has stepped into her most authentic era yet with her latest album, Marlene—a project she describes as an unfiltered reckoning of her own life chapters. We sat down with Lee to discuss her musical evolution, growing through life's messy realities, and why she has finally stopped chasing external approval. 

‘5 Year Plan’ provides a candid look at the sensation of being suspended in time—navigating the disappointment of faded dreams, lingering habits and mistakes, and the heavy weight of unmet expectations. It is an anthem for the quiet endurance and resilience required to keep moving forward when the path forward looks nothing like the blueprint, and life doesn’t unfold the way you imagined...
The song’s emotional core is anchored in its shifting narrative. Martin highlights the passage of time and the idiom that “time waits for no man” with the lyrics, "I’m 15 years in on my 5-year plan" which then evolves into, "I’m 18 years in on my 5-year plan.."
“These lines are the heartbeat of the track for me - my favourite parts of the song, indicating the chaos of lost time and the feeling of being stuck in motion. Meanwhile years later, here’s me still working on that 5 year plan”, Martin explains. 

The constant shifting of the goalposts, and the deflating realisation that you’re still a work in progress is, in the end, all ok because it’s better to embrace and grow through the chaotic and messy reality of life, rather than being disappointed in an imaginary, less than perfect finish line.
‘5 Year Plan’ follows on from previous single and video, the musically restrained yet emotionally potent ‘Feel’, an ode offering an empathic and judgement free lens through which to view intense vulnerability and self-destructive behaviours. With her trademark velvet vocals and masterful storytelling, the South-African born, Ōtautahi-based artist explores the vulnerability of "growing through the mess".
 ‘5 Year Plan’ is a soulful tribute to resilience and the courage it takes to remain in motion when life remains stubbornly off-script. Lee Martin is an indie-soul musical powerhouse celebrated for her lyrical depth and commanding vocal presence. Her music weaves together soulful grit and folk-style storytelling, making her one of Aotearoa’s most compelling voices.
You can follow her on socials here:
Facebook
Instagram

Harita interview Alayne Dick.
Alayne is a multi-talented, queer comedian, writer, and performer based in Te Whanganui-a-Tara (Wellington). Known for her sharp, relatable wit and delightfully unhinged storytelling, she has quickly become a standout fixture in the Australasian comedy and improv scenes.
Alayne first made waves on the fringe circuit, winning the SYNZ Tour Ready Award at the NZ Fringe Festival and earning a nomination for Best Spoken Word at the Sydney Fringe Festival. Her comedic footprint expanded significantly following a breakout sweep at the Wellington Comedy Awards, where she picked up nominations for Best Comedian, Breakthrough Comedian, Best Show, and Best Joke.
Audiences across New Zealand and Australia know her best from her hit solo stand-up hour, Purple is the Gayest Colour, which she successfully toured to the Adelaide Fringe, Melbourne International Comedy Festival, and Auckland. The wildly popular show hilariously dives into growing up cringe in the 2000s, dial-up internet fanfiction, and her ultimate evolution into a "Bunnings gay".
Beyond stand-up, Alayne is a veteran improviser with the acclaimed troupe Tiny Dog and a brilliant screen writer, having secured a seed grant from the NZ Writers Guild. Whether she’s performing on stage at the NZ International Comedy Festival Gala, appearing on TV3's Best Comedy Show On Earth, or bringing chaotic group chats to life with sock puppets, Alayne delivers a potent blend of comedy that you won't soon forget.
You can follow her in instagram: (1) Instagram