The politics and history of immigration in Aotearoa
How does immigration policy impact our peoples and society? Professor Francis Collins discusses how immigration policies has evolved in the last 40 years. In conversation with our media adviser Julianne Evans, he explores how “neutral” policies can still produce unequal outcomes, the precarity faced by temporary workers, and the opportunity to rethink Aotearoa New Zealand's immigration policy.You can read more in Francis' book Edges of Empire: the politics of immigration in Aotearoa New Zealand, 1980-2020: https://aucklanduniversitypress.co.nz/edges-of-empire/
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32:34
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32:34
Volunteer Crisis in Sports
Where have all the coaches gone? In this episode, Dr Blake Bennett talks to our media adviser Julianne Evans to unpack the hidden pressures of volunteer sport coaching in New Zealand. From the decline in volunteer numbers to the toll on their wellbeing, Blake shares insights from his research and his experience of coaching the national kendo team. As participation in sports remains high, Blake believes that recruiting and supporting volunteers are critical to keeping these opportunities available to young people. Read more about Blake’s research here: https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/news/2025/09/02/volunteer-sports-coaches-are-throwing-in-the-towel.html
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30:21
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30:21
Rethinking curriculum and NCEA
Dr Claudia Rozas joins our media adviser Julianne Evans to unpack the past and present of secondary school qualifications in Aotearoa New Zealand and what the future could look like. With the government's proposal to replace NCEA, Claudia explores how education policy and curriculum design reflect deeper questions around equity, culture and national identity.
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32:26
Power, Drama, and Cleopatra
Dr Alex McAuley joins our media adviser Julianne Evans to talk about the ancient queens and royal women of the Hellenistic period, including the seven Cleopatras. He examines the ways these women used power to intervene in politics and support their family, and often with dramatic effects.He also shares his upcoming project, which looks at how pop culture, film and television have shifted in their depiction of antiquity since the war on terror, and how ancient history is really about how we understand the world around us.
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29:19
AI and the Future of Language Education
Associate Professor Danping Wang joins our media adviser Julianne Evans to discuss how AI is reshaping the landscape of language learning and teaching. Danping shares how she incorporates AI in course design to support students at different levels, and explains why human agency remains essential when working with AI.
Explore research and perspectives from the Faculty of Arts and Education at the University of Auckland. Academics from a range of disciplines discuss their findings, breaking down important and often complex topics. Gain a deeper understanding of the past and present, and learn how we can build better, more informed futures.
*The views expressed are the speaker’s own and do not represent the University or the Faculty.
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