The Lowdown

Ever since she was a young child Callida knew she was different to everybody else in her life, but for years she didn't understand what that meant for her. Watch the video to hear Callida share her journey, beginning as a rangatahi, toward understanding and owning her identity as a proud trans wāhine.

Join Callida on her journey towards self-discovery and owning her identity as a proud trans wāhine.

Manioro: Callida's Story | The Lowdown Aotearoa 

Callida's Story

Spoken Word Poetry Workshop by Zech Soakai

Learn how to express yourself and share your thoughts and feelings through the art of poetry, in this easy to follow spoken word workshop hosted by Zech Soakai.  

Zech is a published poet who began learning his craft in community open mics held out across South Auckland and stands on the shoulders of many giants before him. 
His work can be read in the anthologies: Rapture: An Anthology of Performance Poetry from Aotearoa/New Zealand & Katūīvei: A New Anthology of Contemporary Oceanic Pacific Aotearoa New Zealand poets. His work can also be seen at Tāmaki Paenga Hira (Auckland War Memorial Museum) & digitally on YouTube.

Learn how to express yourself and share your thoughts and feelings through the art of poetry, in this easy to follow spoken word workshop hosted by Zech Soakai.  

Spoken Word Poetry Workshop - Zech Soakai | The Lowdown Aotearoa

Spoken Word Poetry Workshop - Zech Soakai

Te kore, Te po, Te ao Marama by Ivy Lyden-Hancy

In Te kore, Te po, Te ao Marama, 17-year-old poet Ivy Lyden-Hancy's words speak to her identity as a wahine Māori in a changing world. Surrounded by the lasting impacts of colonisation, Ivy paints a picture of the Aotearoa that was, and that one day could be.

In Te kore, Te po, Te ao Marama, poet Ivy Lyden-Hancy's words speak to her identity as a wahine Māori in a changing world.

Te kore, Te po, Te ao Marama - Ivy Lyden-Hancy | The Lowdown Aotearoa

Te kore, Te po, Te ao Marama - Ivy Lyden-Hancy

i walk through concrete rivers 
Wairoa lingering through powerlines
surrounded by rakau 
which has been manufactured 
manipulated 
into the warmth of one’s home 
many homes 
white picket fences and 
sky tower brown 

as i look up to pukekiwiriki 
laying at the sickle of this maunga 
i imagine i am my tupuna
our tangata from before
surrounded by rakau of lush forests 
While melodies of te manu engulf me in its mana 
While wahine moving through grub and fern 
stripping the white man's grass off all infinite crossways 
i replace it with kowhai 
                                  pohutakawa 
                   kauri
pikopiko
all things Māori 

to be Māori is to imagine aotearoa before colonisation 
to be grounded amongst papa 
amongst the kumara pits
their flagstaff will fall 
a tohu that we have taken our whenua back 
our tikanga 
our tangata
holy hands of concrete statues will reach out to me 
amongst the rubble
 they will speak reo pakeha 
a constant reminder of what they have taken from us 

in that we will remove the ink of our ta moko
unbury the mass graves 
remove our taonga from the museums 
reclaim our reo 

they will be at the end of our pū
our rangatira behind us on the path they have paved 
tapu tinana 
tapu wairoa 
aotearoa te tapu whenua 
amene

In 'A Body Apology', 16-year-old Angelina Faupula addresses the struggles that we face to accept our bodies with their flaws and differences, the impact of a society that tells us that only their version of 'perfect' is acceptable. 

In 'A Body Apology', Angelina Faupula addresses the struggles that we face to accept our bodies with their flaws and differences, the impact of a society that tells us that only their version of 'perfect' is acceptable.

A Body Apology - Angelina Faupula | The Lowdown Aotearoa

A Body Apology - Angelina Faupula

Iho u’afa sisu kalaisi
in his name 
formless yet formed us 
in his image

But the image I see is not what I like 
And these thighs i see are too big 
And this face i have is not small enough 
And the stomach that I have is not small enough
Expect me to trust a mirror that only sees skin deep 
A mirror that responds only with what it sees 
But doesn’t learn how i've carried myself 

Confusion stench 
Wondering why people mock 
Gods greatest creation 
Judgemental outcomes of envious lions 
And tigers claw scratches 
On our hips 

The reflection of the sea 
Embedded deeply into my skin 
That rips through 
This sacred temple 

Sacred 
‒‒a word only given to women 
To hide the fact they do not want you to see all of them 
Tremble in fear incase giving pieces of them will break a part of us 

To camouflage this God given gift 
they replace with hate they have for this body 
The same body that's carried the weight of my heart 
Even when my legs were giving up 

But even still
We criticise this imperfection that makes even the angels jealous 
My body scarred with more comment than scars 
I’ve apologised more times in my head then i have out loud 
But i get you’ve never gotten an official apology 

So I apologise to this body that was made by god
But still somehow not made to feel like it was enough
I apologise to this body for the moments I have forgotten to give gratitude
To the quiet times it has held me up

I apologise to this body for all the lies that I took as truths

My body is not an apology
And I will no longer apologise

In 'ii - The Vessel', Laith Alawneh speaks to the whanaungatanga we hold with our whānau, our mātua and our tīpuna, and how our relationships with our loved ones evolve with us as we grow.

Laith is 17 and resides in Tāmaki Makaurau. 

In 'ii - The Vessel', Laith Alawneh speaks to the whanaungatanga we hold with our whānau, our mātua and our tīpuna, and how our relationships with our loved ones evolve with us as we grow.

ii - The Vessel - Laith Alawneh | The Lowdown Aotearoa

ii - The Vessel - Laith Alawneh

Family is a body
a vessel of life
each vein and artery plays a part
with each breath taken
love courses through your vessel
reminding you of who truly loves you
from the day of conceivement 
you were the heart

and your mother’s love flowed through you all the time
you used the wisdom 
that has been passed down through 
generations of warriors to guide you
touch, you learnt your fathers touch in his absence
knowing that it’s okay to be gentle

and you can plaster his pain across your skin but the body finds a way to heal itself
you learn to appreciate his absence
as he has gifted you life, and passed on your mind

as your mother births again, 
she cannot flow her love to you all the time, 

                it would be selfish of her

so your siblings lay in the hand of your vessel 
they help steer through the stormiest nights 
but sometimes they need you to take charge
so you cut them, so they can regrow into a better version of themselves

we take a lot of first breaths: shock, fear, excitement
with the conceivement of your own
the breath you take when you see them
opens your airways to a new dimension 
they become the heart of your vessel
and you breath for them, without them life can not be lived

as time continues
your mother will no longer be able to flow love through your heart 
and slowly the vessel collapses
but you live on in your son’s vessel
and if any part of your vessel is missing, the vessel will collapse
and that’s how life is


Arataua Media 

We travel down the path to self-love this episode of AI. Our panellists kōrero whare tapawhā, self-care methods and techniques and more. Māori & Pasifika business owner Arby Manukau talk more to the subject, sharing her personal journey, what self-love means and advice to others on doing the inner work. 

Our panellists discuss where tapawhā, self-care methods and techniques. Arby Manukau, a Māori & Pasifika business owner, shares her personal journey and advice on doing the inner work. 

Let's Talk about Ai: Self Love | The Lowdown Aotearoa 

Let's Talk about Ai - Self Love 

We kōrero all things pēpi! From baby making songs, to being hāpu to parenthood and big responsibilities. Our panellists are joined by Māori midwife Tawera Trinder who tohatohas more about her mahi and delves deeper into tradional Māori birthing practices, lullabys and gives advice for first time expecting parents. 

Join our panellists and Māori midwife Tawera Trinder as they discuss traditional Māori birthing practices, lullabies and offer advice for first-time expecting parents.

Let's Talk about Ai: Hurō! We’re Having a Pēpi! | The Lowdown Aotearoa

Let's Talk about Ai - Hurō! We’re Having a Pēpi!

If you’re struggling with relationships this episode might help. Special guest Kiri Waititi joins us for a kōrero, sharing her wealth of knowledge afters years of being a psychologist. She breaks down healthy and unhealthy relationships, gives us tips and advice on how to better connect with a partner and a guideline on how to place boundaries. 



Struggling with relationships? In this episode, psychologist Kiri Waititi shares her wealth of knowledge on healthy and unhealthy relationships, tips on how to better connect with a partner and guidelines on setting boundaries. 

Let's Talk about Ai: Relationships | The Lowdown Aotearoa 

Let's Talk about Ai - Relationships 

Did you know we’re actually in a Syphillis epidemic here in Aotearoa? Our panellists take time to kōrero about all the important stuff you need to know in order to keep yourself safe. 

Join our panel as they discuss the ongoing Syphillis epidemic in Aotearoa and share important information on how to protect yourself. From syptoms to treatment options, this episode of Let's Talk About Ai is a must-watch for anyone seeking to stay informed about sexual health. 

Let's Talk About Ai: Syphilis | The Lowdown Aotearoa 

Let's Talk about Ai - Syphilis 

Our panellists break down sexual orientation on this episode of AI. And, with the help of special guest Te Rangitutaki Rolleston we learn about pronouns, how to be come a good ally and some helpful tips to help our e hoas.

Our panellists break down sexual orientation with the help of special guest Te Rangitutaki Rolleston. Learn about pronouns, how to be a good ally and tips for supporting our e hoas.

Let's Talk about Ai: Sexual Orientation | The Lowdown Aotearoa 

Let's Talk about Ai - Sexual Orientation

A ship came into harbour with indigenous sex narratives before colonisation. Our panellists sit down with Tiana Griffin, educator by day and cock and culture owner by night. She shares her knowledge about indigenous ways of thinking about sex, monogamous relationships, cultural revitalisation for ai and her top three tips for decolonising our sex lives. 

Callida's Story

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