Ōtepoti Dunedin’s creative rangatahi explore their whakapapa through powerful stories of their identity, culture, and belonging through poetry and essays. Proudly supported by Dunedin City Council Arts Grant, Dunedin Public Libraries, Dunedin UNESCO City of Literature and NZ on Air.
A live podcast of the launch of 'Layers of Identity' (Ōtepoti UNESCO City of Literature, 2026), a new collection of poetry, essays, and speeches by Ōtepoti rangatahi (aged 8–24), developed from rangatahi podcasts on OAR FM. This book launch is a collaboration between Otago Access Radio (OAR FM), Dunedin Public Libraries, and Ōtepoti UNESCO City of Literature. This show was broadcast on OAR 105.4FM Dunedin - oar.org.nz and made thanks to the support of NZ on Air.
20 Aug 2025
Zoe McElrea
Zoe McElrea, a law, politics, and economics student, discusses how her Irish ancestry and farm upbringing shape her identity and inspire her unique path in this interview.
20 Aug 2025
Burhan Alsaad
Health sciences student Burhan Alsaad shares how his Iraqi, Indonesian, and Aotearoa experiences shaped his identity and dream of becoming a doctor in this interview.
20 Aug 2025
Jayden Trinh Jesudhass
Jayden Trinh Jesudhass shares his journey of navigating multiple cultural identities through the metaphor of choosing ice cream flavors in this interview.
20 Aug 2025
Tia Fleming
Tia Fleming, a University of Otago Philosophy student, shares her Samoan, Māori, Cook Island, and Pākehā heritage through poetry, offering life lessons for her son in this interview.
20 Aug 2025
Parishay Khan
Year 5 student Parishay Khan discusses her dual Kiwi Pakistani identity and cultural connections in her essay "A Mix of Life".
20 Aug 2025
Charlie Milne
Year 12 student Charlie Milne discusses Lebanese heritage and identity through poetry, exploring the complexities of being white-presenting with rich ancestral roots in this interview.
20 Aug 2025
Nembeka Ganaii
Pine Hill School student Nembeka Ganaii shares his poem exploring gratitude for New Zealand and cherishing Papua New Guinea's family lifestyle in this interview.
20 Aug 2025
Zoey Hipolito
Year 8 student Zoey Hipolito shares her poem "Warmth of Frost" exploring her dual sense of home between the Philippines and Aotearoa, an interview on Layers of Identity.
20 Mar 2025
Layers of Identity - Aahana Mundamattam
Aahana, a Year 11 student at Taieri College, explores her "complex relationship" with the idea of home in her poem Home is a Feeling. She draws on her experiences as an Indian living in Bangladesh, Malawi, and now New Zealand.
Ōtepoti Dunedin’s creative rangatahi explore their whakapapa through powerful stories of their identity, culture, and belonging through poetry and essays on ‘Layers of Identity’. Proudly supported by Dunedin City Council Arts Grant, Dunedin Public Libraries, Dunedin UNESCO City of Literature and NZ on Air.
20 Mar 2025
Layers of Identity - Tunmise Adebowale
Tunmise, a Nigerian-New Zealander studying at the University of Otago, grew up in South Africa. She shares her poem 'Pancakes, Teddy Bears', which reflects on her experiences of moving to New Zealand from South Africa.
Ōtepoti Dunedin’s creative rangatahi explore their whakapapa through powerful stories of their identity, culture, and belonging through poetry and essays on ‘Layers of Identity’. Proudly supported by Dunedin City Council Arts Grant, Dunedin Public Libraries, Dunedin UNESCO City of Literature and NZ on Air.
20 Mar 2025
Layers of Identity - Malak Tamimi
Malak, a student at Queen’s High School, was born in Ōtepoti and traces her whakapapa and heart to Palestine. She shares insights from her personal reflective essay, Belonging in Between, which references the poetry of Mahmoud Darwish.
Ōtepoti Dunedin’s creative rangatahi explore their whakapapa through powerful stories of their identity, culture, and belonging through poetry and essays on ‘Layers of Identity’. Proudly supported by Dunedin City Council Arts Grant, Dunedin Public Libraries, Dunedin UNESCO City of Literature and NZ on Air.
20 Mar 2025
Layers of Identity - Ajax Banstola
Ajax, a student at Kaikorai Valley College, shares his connection to his Nepalese roots and his journey of moving to Aotearoa at the age of three in his Whakapapa essay.
Ōtepoti Dunedin’s creative rangatahi explore their whakapapa through powerful stories of their identity, culture, and belonging through poetry and essays on ‘Layers of Identity’. Proudly supported by Dunedin City Council Arts Grant, Dunedin Public Libraries, Dunedin UNESCO City of Literature and NZ on Air.
20 Mar 2025
Layers of Identity - Ocean Jade
Ocean, a biracial African-American from the United States, has lived in Aotearoa for eight years. She reflects on her poem 'Blackbird Sings Kum Ba Yah', dedicated to her mother’s experiences as an African-American woman. She studies at the University of Otago.
Ōtepoti Dunedin’s creative rangatahi explore their whakapapa through powerful stories of their identity, culture, and belonging through poetry and essays on ‘Layers of Identity’. Proudly supported by Dunedin City Council Arts Grant, Dunedin Public Libraries, Dunedin UNESCO City of Literature and NZ on Air.
20 Mar 2025
Layers of Identity - Asya Ahmadasri
Asya, a Theatre and English student at the University of Otago, reflects on her experiences of living in both Malaysia and New Zealand for an equal amount of 10 years in each country. She shares insights into her acrostic poems 'Home is Where the Heart Is' and 'Malaysian and Loved'.
Ōtepoti Dunedin’s creative rangatahi explore their whakapapa through powerful stories of their identity, culture, and belonging through poetry and essays on ‘Layers of Identity’. Proudly supported by Dunedin City Council Arts Grant, Dunedin Public Libraries, Dunedin UNESCO City of Literature and NZ on Air.
20 Mar 2025
Layers of Identity - Vika Johnson
Vika, a Year 13 student at Queen’s High School, shares insights from her essay on the experience of being a Russian adoptee living in New Zealand and dreams of learning more about her family in Russia.
Ōtepoti Dunedin’s creative rangatahi explore their whakapapa through powerful stories of their identity, culture, and belonging through poetry and essays on ‘Layers of Identity’. Proudly supported by Dunedin City Council Arts Grant, Dunedin Public Libraries, Dunedin UNESCO City of Literature and NZ on Air.
6 Mar 2025
Layers of Identity - Trailer
Celebrate Race Relations Day and UNESCO World Poetry Day on the 21st of March with OAR FM Dunedin as we launch ‘Layers of Identity’ – a creative writing podcast showcasing the diverse voices of our Ōtepoti rangatahi. In this powerful series, our Dunedin youth explore their whakapapa, sharing stories of their unique identity, culture, and belonging in Aotearoa. Join us on Friday the 21st of March from 4:30 to 5:30 PM at the Dunedin City Library as we celebrate our young voices, and discover how you can get involved. For more details about the ‘Layers of Identity’ project, visit OAR FM’s website at oar.org.nz. Listen to the ‘Layers of Identity’ podcast on oar.org.nz, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts. Brought to you by OAR FM Dunedin, and proudly supported by the Dunedin City Council Arts Grant, Dunedin UNESCO City of Literature, Dunedin Public Libraries and NZ on Air. This show was broadcast on OAR 105.4FM Dunedin - oar.org.nz and made thanks to the support of NZ on Air.
Who has been a guest on Layers of Identity
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Zoe McElrea
Burhan Alsaad
Jayden Trinh Jesudhass
Tia Fleming
Parishay Khan
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