Melanie Nelson seeks to foster mutual understanding between Māori and Pākehā in Aotearoa. Long-form conversations enable learning, insight and positive change. Topics are diverse ranging from te reo to the arts, and te Tiriti to the environment.
#13: Around the Treaty in 80 Pages: Ross Calman Makes History Accessible
Video episode available on my Substack. Ross Calman (Ngāi Tahu, Ngāti Toa Rangatira, Ngāti Raukawa) is a writer, historian, and translator whose award-winning book Te Tiriti o Waitangi offers one of the most succinct and accessible introductions to our nation’s founding document. At just 80 pages, it distils decades of scholarship and debate into a clear overview — from the early encounters between Māori and missionaries, to the New Zealand Company’s ambitions, the rushed translation a...
4 Aug 2025
#12: Avril Bell - Becoming Tangata Tiriti: Relationships, Responsibility, and Reflections
In this thoughtful and timely episode of Weaving Our Worlds, Melanie is joined by sociologist and author Avril Bell to explore the themes of her book, Becoming Tangata Tiriti: Working with Māori, Honouring the Treaty. Through rich, grounded conversation, they delve into the evolving responsibilities of non-Māori in Aotearoa, the importance of relationships in honouring Te Tiriti, and what it means to live well together in a time of political strain. Avril reflects on her own whakapapa and per...
5 Feb 2025
#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. Ange...
1 Jan 2025
#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.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...
31 Dec 2024
#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 u...
6 Oct 2024
#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, Sar...
16 Aug 2024
#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 delve...
12 Jul 2024
#7: Dr Jeremy Tātere MacLeod - Toitū te Reo festival, the future of the language and the need for allies
Dr Jeremy Tātere MacLeod joins Melanie to talk about the upcoming celebration of te reo Māori - the first national Māori language festival, Toitū te Reo. He shares about the inspiration and focus of the festival, its welcoming nature to all, and what it will look and feel like. We discuss some of the speakers and topics which will be included.
We also talk more broadly about the future of te reo Māori, the role for Pākehā and Tauiwi in embracing te reo, dealing with government attacks on te reo and the need for allies in these turbulent times, more than ever.
Toitū te Reo: https://www.toitutereo.co.nz/
Support Weaving our Worlds podcast on Patreon: patreon.com/MelanieNelson
16 Jun 2024
#6: Beth Tupara-Katene - Ocean centred marine-governance, community led solutions & customary/commercial fisheries
Beth Tupara-Katene joins Melanie to share the findings of research project Tangaroa Ararau. The project has focused on how to put Tangaroa and Hinemoana (the ocean) at the centre of marine governance, with decisions led collectively by local communities. We include Māori perspectives on governance and relating to the ocean, across the spectrum of kaitiakitanga (guardianship), customary and commercial fisheries, grounded in te Tiriti o Waitangi. Beth describes a vision of thriving oceans ...
Beth Tupara-Katene joins Melanie to share the findings of research project Tangaroa Ararau. The project has focused on how to put Tangaroa and Hinemoana (the ocean) at the centre of marine governance, with decisions led collectively by local communities.
We include Māori perspectives on governance and relating to the ocean, across the spectrum of kaitiakitanga (guardianship), customary and commercial fisheries, grounded in te Tiriti o Waitangi. Beth describes a vision of thriving oceans and thriving communities in reciprocal relationship, and systems change to enable the inclusion of a diverse range of people and values.
Resources: https://uhitai.org/
3 Feb 2024
#5: Dr Jessica Hutchings - Māori food sovereignty, GMOs & being allies
Dr Jessica Hutchings talks about Māori and indigenous food sovereignty, and her practice of this in her own life, through growing food, research and sharing knowledge. She articulates her views on GMOs and the risks that genetic engineering pose to indigenous peoples and their sovereignty.
Also, Jessica shares about the difficulties of ensuring Māori values and voices are centred in the organic and regenerative agriculture movements, and gives insights to behaviours of good allies.
Resources:
https://www.papawhakaritorito.com/
22 Jan 2024
#4: Alex Barnes - Co-governance education, walking between worlds & growing peace
Alex Barnes talks about the complexities and benefits co-governance education in Aotearoa through application of te Tiriti o Waitangi, the subject of his recently completed PhD. We also discuss some of our experiences over decades of walking between te ao Māori and te ao Pākehā, and why we perceive them as different worlds.
Plus we delve into how we, as Pākehā, identify ourselves in te ao Māori and understand our relationship with people and kaupapa we are involved in, and how we are continually learning and evolving in that space.
Resources:
Link to Alex’ PhD: Te Toka Whakaea: Co-governance Education in Aotearoa-New Zealand. (https://openrepository.aut.ac.nz/items/4b026691-6723-49d7-8540-21dfec64af69)
23 Dec 2023
#3: Hona Black - Being Māori in a Pākehā world
Hona Black talks about Māori wit and humour and his efforts to help revitalise that particular aspect of te reo. He shares his experience growing up in a Māori speaking household and kura kaupapa, and the challenges of life in a society where the English language and Western cultural norms dominate.
Plus, he explores Māori attitudes to sexuality and the layers of sexuality in te reo Māori. He has been awarded a Marsden Grant to research the desexualisation of te reo Māori domains, and investigate how sexuality, food, identity and socialisation are all part of a complex and interwoven Māori cultural worldview.
23 Dec 2023
#3: Hona Black - Being Māori in a Pākehā world, Māori humour and sexuality in te reo
Hona Black talks about Māori wit and humour and his efforts to help revitalise that particular aspect of te reo. He shares his experience growing up in a Māori speaking household and kura kaupapa, and the challenges of life in a society where the English language and Western cultural norms dominate.
Plus, he explores Māori attitudes to sexuality and the layers of sexuality in te reo Māori. He has been awarded a Marsden Grant to research the desexualisation of te reo Māori domains, and investigate how sexuality, food, identity and socialisation are all part of a complex and interwoven Māori cultural worldview.
15 Dec 2023
#2: Dame Anne Salmond - Criticism of Treaty principles review & our opportunity to live creatively
Dame Anne Salmond talks about her experience of walking between worlds over the past 50 years, witnessing racism and injustice, and working to grow understanding.
She shares her views on any moves by the government to review the principles of te Tiriti o Waitangi. She explains that it is the Māori text which was signed and must be adhered to, and how te Tiriti provides us the opportunity to live together creatively.
9 Dec 2023
#1: Whirimako Black - Mōteatea, cultural reconnection & music as healing
Whirimako Black speaks openly about memories of her early life in Te Urewera and Kawerau and how that has shaped her life and career. She shares her love of mōteatea, her reo and culture, and desire to share that with people.
This deep and personal conversation traverses her whānau influences and inspirations, cultural disconnection and reconnection, trauma, identity, authenticity, and the power of connection, music and art for healing.
Reach and audience
Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.
Spotify
5.0 / 5
9 ratings
Contact Weaving our Worlds
Guest appearances
Does not typically book guests
Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.
Host of Weaving our Worlds?
Claim your podcast to manage its listing and keep your show details accurate.
Pod Engine is an independent podcast discovery and analytics service and is not affiliated with or endorsed by this podcast. Artwork and show content belong to their owners. Full legal notice.
Explore this show Podcast research with Pod Engine
