Weaving our Worlds

• #11: Angela Wanhalla & Erica Newman - Māori on the Home Front: Resilience, Rangatiratanga, and Wartime Mobilisation

  In this episode of Weaving Our Worlds, Melanie sits down with historians Angela Wanhalla and Erica Newman to delve into the untold stories behind the recent dual publications, Te Hau Kāinga: The Māori Home Front During the Second World War and Raupanga, a companion volume in te reo Māori. Together, these books explore the experience of Māori on the home front during World War II, revealing a rich tapestry of community resilience, cultural endurance, and the complexities of Māori service.Angela and Erica share personal insights from the book’s development, including the unique contributions of Māori women in the workforce and Māori War Effort Organisation committees that helped mobilise Māori communities for the war. They discuss how Māori contributions went well beyond the battlefield, encompassing community-driven agricultural production and other contributions to the nation’s war efforts, while maintaining a distinctively Māori social philosophy that emphasised collective wellbeing and rangatiratanga. This conversation offers listeners a fascinating perspective on the Māori experience of World War II, demonstrating how wartime shaped both Māori communities and their relationship with the Crown, laying foundations for ongoing discussions about identity, sovereignty, and the balance of kāwanatanga with rangatiratanga. Join us for an episode that interweaves historical scholarship with personal and community reflections, celebrating the resilience of Māori throughout a transformative period in New Zealand's history. You can buy me a coffee to support my work!You can follow my work on Substack, where both paid and free subscription options are available. Your support, if you’re able, is greatly appreciated. Resources:  https://aucklanduniversitypress.co.nz/te-hau-kainga/  

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• #10: Melanie Nelson - Libertarianism in legislation: Unpacking the Regulatory Standards Bill

  In this episode, the tables are turned. Thanks to Bryan Bruce Investigates for initiating and sharing this podcast episode where he interviews Melanie Nelson, the host of the Weaving our Worlds podcast and the Coherent podcast.In this episode of Head to Head, Bryan Bruce interviews Melanie Nelson, a writer, researcher, translator and consultant specialising in the application of te Tiriti to environmental and conservation issues. Together, they delve into the Regulatory Standards Bill, a proposed piece of legislation that Melanie describes as a “libertarian manifesto” with significant implications for Aotearoa New Zealand's future.They explore the bill's origins, its potential to override key pillars of our lawmaking like te Tiriti o Waitangi, and its alignment with the ACT Party’s ideology. Melanie highlights the risks of embedding libertarian principles into legislation, the impacts on collective responsibilities, and the bill's broader implications for environmental and social justice. The conversation also connects the Regulatory Standards Bill with the controversial Treaty Principles Bill, positioning them as two sides of the same ideological coin.Tune in for a thought-provoking discussion on how these legislative changes could shape New Zealand's political and social landscape for generations to come. Don't miss these insights and resources for taking action before consultation closes on January 13th.Join us for a deep dive into one of the most far-reaching policy proposals in recent New Zealand history—and why your voice matters before the January 13th submission deadline.You can buy Melanie a coffee to support her work!ResourcesExplainer and Submission Guide on the Regulatory Standards Bill hereYou can follow Melanie's work on Substack, where both paid and free subscription options are available. Your support, if you’re able, is greatly appreciated. 

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• #1 Coherent podcast - A Legal Straitjacket: Jane Kelsey on Neoliberalism and the Regulatory Standards Bill

  This is the debut episode of my new podcast, Coherent.  Listeners of Weaving our Worlds might find it of interest. It's available on most podcast platforms. On the Coherent podcast Melanie Nelson hosts in-depth interviews unpacking the political issues shaping Aotearoa New Zealand today. Join us as we explore the sweeping reforms transforming our society, affecting areas like the environment, Indigenous rights, and social cohesion. Our conversations provide clarity, context and hope in uncertain times.  In this compelling episode, Melanie Nelson interviews Jane Kelsey, a leading critic of New Zealand's neoliberal reforms and an expert in global economic governance. They explore the far-reaching implications of the proposed Regulatory Standards Bill—a piece of legislation that threatens to reshape New Zealand’s democratic processes, environmental protections, and social safeguards.Jane traces the bill’s libertarian roots, linking it to decades of neoliberal policy-making in New Zealand, including Rogernomics and Ruthanasia, and drawing parallels with international deregulation failures like the Grenfell Tower fire in the UK. She explains how the bill’s proposed mechanisms, such as the Regulatory Standards Board and regulatory takings provisions, could entrench corporate control, restrict government action, and undermine democratic accountability.The conversation highlights the constitutional risks of embedding constitutional economic principles that exclude key protections like te Tiriti o Waitangi and the New Zealand Bill of Rights, raising serious concerns about the future of lawmaking and public accountability in Aotearoa.Jane also offers practical advice on how New Zealanders can respond. She urges individuals to share personal stories of past regulatory failures, such as leaky homes or finance company collapses, to illustrate the real-world impact of weakened regulation. Experts and advocacy groups are encouraged to submit detailed critiques before the consultation closes on January 13.Tune in to understand what’s at stake, why it matters, and how you can take action to help shape New Zealand’s future.You can buy me a coffee to support my work!You can follow my work on Substack, where both paid and free subscription options are available. Your support, if you’re able, is greatly appreciated. ResourcesExplainer and Submission Guide on the Regulatory Standards Bill here

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• #9: Sarah Hopkinson - Exploring Pākehā identity, sustainability, and te Tiriti justice

  In this thought-provoking episode, Sarah Hopkinson, a māmā, curriculum designer, urban farmer, and storyteller, joins Melanie to unravel the intricate threads of identity, ancestry, and the environment. Sarah delves into what it means to be Pākehā in Aotearoa, reflecting on collective accountability, the deep-rooted values shaping our land, and the relationship between humans and the more-than-human world. As a passionate advocate for te Tiriti justice and sustainable education, Sarah shares her journey of decolonising education, the transformative power of somatic practices, and how growing food has rekindled her connection to the Earth. We explore the role of metaphors in shaping cultural narratives, the healing potential of embracing discomfort, and the importance of fostering collective well-being. Sarah also reflects on the broader societal shifts needed to enact te Tiriti in Aotearoa, and how we can cultivate a future where diverse ways of being thrive in harmony with nature and each other.You can buy me a coffee to support my work!You can follow my work on Substack, where both paid and free subscription options are available. Your support, if you’re able, is greatly appreciated. Resources: https://sarahalicehopkinson.com/https://www.instagram.com/thegreengardennz/ 

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• #8: Jen Margaret - Honouring te Tiriti o Waitangi, changing systems and working as allies

  In this insightful episode, Melanie Nelson sits down with Jen Margaret, a dedicated advocate and educator for te Tiriti o Waitangi. Jen has spent over 30 years championing the importance of te Tiriti and the responsibilities it entails for Pākehā and Tauiwi in Aotearoa. Jen shares her personal journey into this work, starting with her first encounter with te Tiriti at university and the subsequent realisation of how little she had been taught about Aotearoa’s founding document. She delves into the critical role Pākehā play in honouring te Tiriti, its importance to non-Māori, the significance of understanding our shared history, and the ongoing impacts of colonisation on Māori. Through a blend of personal reflections and professional insights, Jen highlights the importance of collective action, the need for Pākehā to educate their own communities, and the essential work being done to build stronger, more respectful relationships in Aotearoa. Whether you're familiar with te Tiriti o Waitangi or just beginning to explore its significance, this episode offers valuable perspectives on the path to a more just and unified Aotearoa.Tune in to hear Jen's powerful message on the responsibility we all share in honouring te Tiriti and fostering a society where everyone can thrive.You can buy me a coffee to support my work!You can follow my work on Substack, where both paid and free subscription options are available. Your support, if you’re able, is greatly appreciated. Resources: https://groundwork.org.nz/resources/ 

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