To wrap up the year, some of the conversations on the podcast that took us from Trinidad to Spain and Germany to Zimbabwe - some of our fave Here Now's episodes from across the year.

Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

Growing up, Ankur Bassi was certain he would one day play cricket for India, and he worked hard every day to get there. But a freak injury meant it would never happen. So, Ankur found a new dream - as a coach - and a new home, too, at Eastern Suburbs Cricket Club in Wellington, New Zealand.

Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

The Dalmatian community in Auckland has embedded itself in Westie Culture, but it wasn’t always so. The Dallies as they call themselves have faced considerable discrimination, bias and resistance - Phil Vine with this episode.

Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

A marathon in its second year brings Kiwis and Afghans together - former refugees, community members, and allies—who are crossing the finish line not just for themselves, but to keep a vital movement alive, celebrating Afghan culture one stride at a time.

Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

Self-published children’s author and a keen student of the local Salsa Club, Argentina-born Adriana Litchfield joins Justine Murray to talk about her culture and creative outlets in a new community.

Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

Today, in Darfur, we are seeing history tragically repeat itself as The RSF carries out ethnically-targeted atrocities across the region. From afar in NZ, families who once escaped the violence of 2003, share a sense of grief and hope over the current conflict in Sudan.

Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

A Nelson makes cheese the way their family would - in Italy. Flavia and Flavio Spena made a career shift along to bring Italian tradition to the region and have successfully turned their artisan cheese brand into a local hit.

Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

30 years ago a set of instruments from Bali were brought to University of Canterbury and formed the first Gamelan ensemble in Christchurch, under the guidance of Professor Elaine Dobson. Three decades on, after a short period of disuse the ensemble was reestablished in 2017 under Justin DeHart and celebrates a milestone this month. The podcast features Prof Justin DeHart and I Made Kartawan who's visiting from Bali, where he is faculty at ISI - The Indonesian Institute of Arts. Gamelan is cultural taonga with spiritual roots in the Hindu, Buddhist and Muslim histories of the islands of Bali, Java and Sumatra. With its hypnotic and sometimes haunting sounds, the Gamelan makes for quite a remarkable sight - a set of percussive instruments intricately carved, sometimes painted bright red and gold, and struck with hammer-like mallets. Gamelan is more than just music or entertainment but a seen as a vehicle for spiritual connection and an integral part of rituals, worship and tradition.

Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details