At home, in Aotearoa

04/08/2026

🎙️ Meet our wonderful guest, Juliet Condon, on Making Yourself at Home at ARTFM with our hosts Alina( That's me )from Romania and Amna from Pakistan

22/07/2026

🎙️ Meet Our Guest on ART FM – Belinda

This week, we welcome Belinda, originally from Raglan, who has recently moved to New Plymouth and is finding her place within our wonderful community.

Belinda talks about navigating change and what helps her feel at home in a new place. One special way she is creating a sense of belonging is through her vegetable garden, where she has planted seeds she brought from Raglan—a beautiful reminder that we can carry a little piece of home wherever we go. 🌱

When Belinda was only six months old, her family moved to Newman, a remote town in Western Australia, where they lived for ten years. She grew up surrounded by the striking desert landscape, with snakes and spiders nearby, and also had the opportunity to meet and connect with local Aboriginal people.

Moving from the Australian desert to New Zealand was a significant change. Today, Belinda loves being close to the ocean, enjoys surfing, and feels warmly welcomed by New Plymouth’s surfing community. 🌊

Belinda also offers inclusive movement classes every Wednesday at the Fitzroy Surf Life Saving Club:

🕤 9:30am – Nia Move to Heal
A fun, low-impact Nia dance class using beautiful music and guided movement to support balance, mobility, strength, and the brain–body connection. No experience is needed.

🕚 11:00am – FREEDOM DANCE
A joyful movement class for neurodiverse adults, including people living with Parkinson’s, recovering from a stroke, or experiencing early-onset dementia. Through music, rhythm, and gentle choreography, the class supports connection and wellbeing in a caring and inclusive environment.

💛 $10 per person, per class.

On the second Wednesday of every month, Belinda also hosts a free social catch-up group:

🕧 12:15pm
📍 Fitzroy Surf Life Saving Club
For neurodiverse people and their support person—free entry.

Soft carpet, beautiful ocean views, and small, supportive classes. Come along to move, connect, and feel good!

📞 Contact Belinda: 027 540 7422
📧 [email protected]

Tune in to hear Belinda’s inspiring story about change, connection, community, and making yourself at home. 🎧
Listen here: https://open.spotify.com/episode/1x4veqvolLGoR2R1GTHTVP?si=vk8-ycp9Sp6XXCJRPd8ngQ&utm_source=native-share-menu

Thank you for hosting Alina from Romania, Maria from Venezuela and Clara from Spain!

20/07/2026

✨️✨️ In this episode of Making Yourself at Home, Clara sits down with María to talk about the Spanish Book Club that gathers monthly in New Plymouth and the growing Spanish Library that supports the local Spanish-speaking community.

María shares how the initiative began, how the book club works, and the connections it has helped create. They also discuss how anyone interested in reading in Spanish and meeting new people can get involved 🧡


.kibbel
Alina Kibbel Maria Elena Villapol ARTFM ClaRa Del BosQue

https://open.spotify.com/episode/6ZWng4ifUqASorQpbQMgm3?si=af4cde77e5414d81

18/07/2026

🌟 We're looking for a Social Media Volunteer! 🌟

Do you enjoy creating content, connecting with people, and making a positive impact in your community?

Our team is looking for a Social Media Volunteer to help us share the stories and voices of our community through our Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn pages.

✨ What you'll help with:
📱 Creating and scheduling social media posts
🎙️ Promoting our weekly episodes
💜 Sharing community stories and upcoming events
🤝 Helping us grow our online community

⏰ Time commitment: Around 2 hours per week (flexible).

If you love social media, storytelling, and supporting a meaningful community project, we'd love to hear from you!

📩 Send us a private message or tag someone who might be interested.

Together, we can continue sharing stories that inspire connection, belonging, and empowerment. 💙

06/07/2026

Amazing to see 3

Three of our members collaborating with other specialists to provide entertainment for others. A great opportunity for that special event.

04/07/2026

We had the pleasure of welcoming Minkyung to the show for a wonderful conversation about culture, community, and creating a sense of belonging in Aotearoa.

Originally from Korea, Minkyung wears many hats in our community. She is the Marketing Coordinator at Seaview Workshop, Trustee and Secretary of the Taranaki K-Culture Community, Executive Member and Secretary of the Korean Association of Taranaki, and Executive Member and Co-Secretary of the Taranaki Multi Ethnic Council.

With a background in psychology, counselling, social work, and Korean language education, she is passionate about supporting Korean migrants, preserving Korean culture and language, and helping people feel connected and at home.

Minkyung is also the host of Kowi Corner on Art FM, where she celebrates Korean culture and shares inspiring stories from the community.

Thank you, Min, for sharing your journey, your passion, and the incredible work you do to strengthen our multicultural community. ❤️

🎧 Tune in to hear her inspiring story and discover how one person's dedication can help many others find a place to belong: https://open.spotify.com/episode/5P1ri3gITSZ6JHO3KNpWDv?si=IxgVeh4JTx2l1RPKrG-NWw


Thank you for hosting .kibbel from Romania, from Argentina and .levine813 from the US!

Min

22/06/2026

On our latest podcast episode, we were joined by Lukas, an inspiring young voice from Francis Douglas Memorial College and the winner of the Race Unity Speech Competition.

Born into a multicultural family with roots in South Africa and Austria, Lukas shared his experience of growing up between cultures, how he connects with his heritage, and what identity, belonging, and diversity mean to him as a young person in New Zealand.

Listen to his story here: https://open.spotify.com/episode/2QXwraQHAjyba2VyHBekPv?si=3VO-9ZvUTeqEgBqvYE3onw

In this conversation, we explored culture, family traditions, community, and the importance of creating understanding between people from different backgrounds. Lukas also reflected on his journey through the Race Unity Speech Competition and the impact these conversations can have on young people and the wider community.

Thank you, Lukas, for sharing your story and insights with us. Listen to this inspiring and thoughtful conversation celebrating culture, connection, and unity. 🎙️✨

Thank you to our co-hosts Alina Kibbel ( That's me ) from Romania and ClaRa Del BosQue from Spain 🎙

20/06/2026

💛 Celebrating Volunteer Week 💛

We want to acknowledge and celebrate the incredible volunteers who have helped make Making Yourself at Home what it is today.

Over the past six years, our volunteers have shared their stories, cultures, experiences, laughter, and wisdom, helping create a programme that celebrates diversity, belonging, and community in Taranaki.

A heartfelt thank you to:

Clara from Spain
Maria from Venezuela
Amna from Pakistan
Brian from the USA
Clarisa from Argentina
Laura from Colombia
Kadisha from Goa, India
Yvonne from South Africa
Mari from Japan
Jeanne from Madagascar
Alina, Simona and Andreea from Romania

Together, you have helped share the voices and stories of people from around the world, making our community richer, more connected, and more welcoming.

A special thank you to ART FM for providing the space and support that has allowed Making Yourself at Home to grow and thrive over the years.

We are also grateful to the Ethnic Communities Development Fund, a programme created and supported by the Ministry for Ethnic Communities to create more opportunities for ethnic communities, support migrants to grow their skills, strengthen connections, and celebrate the rich diversity of cultures that make Aotearoa New Zealand such a vibrant place to live.

Thank you for your generosity, dedication, friendship, and the countless hours you've given to the show. Every conversation, every interview, every laugh, and every story has helped someone feel a little more at home.

What an amazing legacy to look back on—and what a privilege it has been to be part of this journey together.

🎙️🌏❤️ Happy Volunteer Week and thank you for helping make Making Yourself at Home such a special part of our community.

💛🌏🎙️

16/06/2026

🌏🎙️ Making Yourself at Home – Meet Our Guest, Vivek from Malaysia

This week on Making Yourself at Home, we had the pleasure of speaking with Vivek, originally from Penang, Malaysia, whose inspiring journey has taken him across three countries and 30 years in the hospitality industry.

Vivek is currently the General Manager of Millennium Hotel New Plymouth Waterfront, a role he has held for the past two years. His career has spanned Malaysia, New Zealand, and Hong Kong, including leadership roles in international hotel brands, luxury apartment hotels, and four- and five-star properties across Auckland, Marlborough, Rotorua, and now Taranaki.

Having first arrived in New Zealand in 2001, Vivek shared his experiences of building a life and career across cultures, adapting to new environments, and finding a place to call home.

Beyond hospitality, Vivek enjoys travelling, exploring new food experiences, spending time at the beach, and following football. He and his family are now happily settled in New Plymouth and are excited to make this beautiful region their permanent home.

Join us as we explore themes of migration, belonging, career growth, family, and what it truly means to create a home away from home.

🎧 Listen to Making Yourself at Home on ART FM and discover the stories that connect our diverse community.

Thank you, Maria, from Venezuela and Brian from the US for hosting the show!
Listen here to Vivek's story: https://open.spotify.com/episode/0YTbvxL5Mty6vsXvlpbB82

🌏❤️🎙️

27/05/2026

Join us for Africa day this Saturday 🤩

TARANAKI AFRICA DAY 2026 – A FAMILY DAY OUT YOU DON’T WANT TO MISS

Looking for something different to do with the family this May?

Taranaki Africa Day is back , and it’s shaping up to be our biggest celebration yet.

One thing we can promise? The food will not disappoint 👀

Authentic African flavours, amazing atmosphere, and a day full of culture, music, and connection!

This FREE event is more than just an event, it’s a chance to bring the family together, experience something new, and enjoy the incredible energy that Africa Day is known for.

📍 New Plymouth Raceway – Lamer Lounge
🗓 Saturday, 30 May 2026
⏰ 11am – 3pm

✨ What to expect:
🎶 Live music and performances
💃 Dancing and non-stop vibes
🍛 Incredible authentic African food
🎈 Kids entertainment
🌍 A welcoming atmosphere for all ages

Bring the kids, bring your friends, bring your appetite, and come experience the celebration everyone will be talking about.

With thanks to our amazing funders and sponsors — Toi Foundation, New Zealand Community Trust, Ministry for Ethnic Communities, Money Savvy Moves, and Sai Rane Mortgages.