Asia Insight

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Episodes

Latest episode

Aug 2026

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EN-NZ

About the show

Asia-related issues and perspectives from the Asia Media Centre at the Asia New Zealand Foundation Te Whītau Tūhono in Wellington. The podcast will feature Asia experts from across the region, along with staff from the Asia New Zealand Foundation.

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60 recent

September 24, 202657 min

Asia Insight : Zhen Wu & Alistair Crozier

Earlier this month the New Zealand China Council and the Asia New Zealand Foundation hosted Zhen Wu, the Vice President International Business Development China at Magna International on her first visit to New Zealand. Magna is a listed automotive technology company that partners with automakers across the globe, including many of China's emerging EV companies. Foundation Business Programme Manager Ethan Jones sat down with Ms Wu, and China Council Executive Director Alistair Crozier, for a chat about business and technology in China, and the transformation of the Chinese auto industry. Website asiamediacentre.org.nz Email us at media@asianz.org.nz Whakawhetai mo te whakarongo .. thanks for listening !

September 22, 202638 min

Asia Insight : Nicol David & Mariana de Reyes

Malaysian Nicol David is widely considered the greatest squash player of all time 8 time world champion, 5 British Opens titles, the first Asian female squash player to be number one in the world , and 109 consecutive months at number one in the world. Not to mention a string of gold medals at the Asian Games and Commonwealth Games. After a stellar career on the court, Nicol David set up the Foundation bearing her name in 2022. In New Zealand earlier this month, Nicol and her colleague Mariana de Reyes joined the Asia New Zealand Foundation Sports programme manager Kirsty Sharp for a chat about the role of sport, and how it can be used to empower children, families and the education system Website asiamediacentre.org.nz Email us at media@asianz.org.nz Whakawhetai mo te whakarongo .. thanks for listening !

August 28, 202645 min

Asia Insight : Cushla Aston & Mark Williams

In this episode, Asia New Zealand Foundation Arts programme Director Craig Cooper talks to Mark Williams from arts agency CIRCUIT Artist Moving Image, and Cushla Aston, from the Aston Road music industry agency, about their recent experiences observing the arts and music scene in Indonesia. Website asiamediacentre.org.nz Email us at media@asianz.org.nz Whakawhetai mo te whakarongo .. thanks for listening !

August 27, 202621 min

Asia Insight: Alan Gepty

Alan Gepty is currently the Undersecretary for the International Trade Group at the Department of Trade and Industry in Manila, managing trade agencies of the Philippines government, as well as trade policy and trade negotiations across the board. He was in New Zealand earlier this month for the inaugural meeting of the new Philippines-New Zealand Joint Economic Commission – the JEC - a new body designed to develop trade between the two countries. I sat down with Alan to discuss the new JEC, and just how the Philippines is dealing with trade issues in the Asia Pacific and across the globe. Website asiamediacentre.org.nz Email us at media@asianz.org.nz Whakawhetai mo te whakarongo .. thanks for listening !

August 20, 202635 min

Asia Insight : Dhruva Jaishankar

Dhruva Jaishankar is executive director of the Observer Research Foundation America and a 2026 senior fellow with the Asia New Zealand Foundation He’s also a non-resident Fellow at the Lowy Institute in Australia, and is the author of Vishwa Shastra: India and the World ,an excellent introduction to India's international relations due to be published in New Zealand later this year. Dhruva was in Wellington recently and had time to sit down for chat on all things India, and the future of the New Zealand India relationship .. Website asiamediacentre.org.nz Email us at media@asianz.org.nz Whakawhetai mo te whakarongo .. thanks for listening !

August 18, 202650 min

Asia Insight : Erin Roxburgh

In May 2026 the Asia New Zealand Foundation led its first sports delegation to India. Six New Zealand sports leaders joined Programme Manager Kirsty Sharp on a trip that included Mumbai and Amdavad, to take a closer look at India's sports ecosystem as India prepares to host the 2030 Commonwealth Games. Among the delegates was Erin Roxburgh - researcher, lecturer, and governance practitioner specialising in sport leadership and equity. She is also the Deputy Chair of Women in Sport Aotearoa. Kirsty caught up with Erin after the delegation returned, for a wide-ranging chat on the role of sport in India, and what administrators here can learn. Website asiamediacentre.org.nz Email us at media@asianz.org.nz Whakawhetai mo te whakarongo .. thanks for listening !

July 9, 202625 min

Asia Insight : Shenny Tang

In this episode Lingy Au talks to Shenny Tang, an entrepreneur based in Brunei, who is Head of Growth at Innov8 Labs, Brunei's first digital capability centre - specialising in cybersecurity, AI and emerging technologies. Shenny was in New Zealand earlier this year participating in the Young Business Leaders Initiative, a week-long exchange programme to learn more about the NZ business environment. She joins us online from Brunei for a chat about her time in NZ , her home country, and her work at Innov8 Labs. Website asiamediacentre.org.nz Email us at media@asianz.org.nz Whakawhetai mo te whakarongo .. thanks for listening !

July 8, 202624 min

Asia Insight : Prof James Laurenceson

Today we're joined by Professor James Laurenceson, Director of the Australia-China Relations Institute at the University of Technology in Sydney, one of the sharpest minds working on the economics of the China relationship anywhere in the region. James has spent years cutting through the noise on trade, investment, and what's become the defining question for governments and businesses alike: how do you manage risk with your biggest trading partner when the geopolitics keep getting more complicated? In the country for the China Business Summit, James has been a go-to voice on economic coercion, on what de-risking actually means in practice, and on where Australia and New Zealand's economic interests really sit amid the broader US-China rivalry. Website asiamediacentre.org.nz Email us at media@asianz.org.nz Whakawhetai mo te whakarongo .. thanks for listening !

May 21, 202639 min

Asia Insight : Akiko Fukushima & Cheng Chwee Kuik

Our guests on the podcast today are two leading experts of Asia security issues, in Wellington NZ for the Asia Symposium hosted by the Asia New Zealand Foundation. This episode's a deep dive on Asia politics, and replete with the various associated acronyms. So if you aren't familiar with The IP4, The Quad, or ASEAN and Japan's OSA - a quick Google of the terms will make for a more rewarding listen. Website asiamediacentre.org.nz Email us at media@asianz.org.nz Whakawhetai mo te whakarongo .. thanks for listening !

April 23, 202638 min

Asia Insight : Prof Mohd Faiz Abdullah

Malaysia’s Institute of Strategic and International studies one of the country’s most high-profile think tanks, known widely as ISIS Professor Mohd Faiz Abdullah is its Executive Chairman and Chief Executive His diverse career spans media, law enforecement, education and three decades as a lawyer. He’s also currently an advisor to Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibraham. A small delegation from the Institute has been in Wellington this week and we sat down with Faiz for a wide ranging chat on all things Malaysia and New Zealand, and the current state of the world. Website asiamediacentre.org.nz Email us at media@asianz.org.nz Whakawhetai mo te whakarongo .. thanks for listening !