I am Loren Pasquier and you are listening to The Woven Women.

In this short episode, I will introduce you to the podcast and the bigger project behind it.
The Woven Women is more than a podcast! We are a touring multi-media arts initiative that gives a voice to women around the world.

Through sound stories and photography portraits, we create immersive exhibitions where communities can come together and hear the stories of local women

Our first Chapter is called Wāhine, which means woman in Te Reo Māori, Māori language, and it is here, in New Zealand that I met the first four women on this journey.

The episodes of Wāhine will be released once a week for the following month. Make sure you subscribe now, so you get to hear Joy’s story this coming Thursday.

If you want to know more about this initiative and support this journey, our website thewovenwomen.org is a great place to go!

Support the Show.

I am Loren Pasquier and you are listening to The Woven Women.

Our first Chapter is called Wāhine, which means woman in Te Reo Māori, Māori language, and it is here, in New Zealand that I met the first four women on this journey.

In this first episode, we meet Ngawaina Joy.
Raised by her grandmother and aunties and uncles, she recounts how her whanau spoiled her with love, not wealth growing up. From watching her grandmother weave to stories about kai, Joy was always surrounded by the comforts of her heritage. But it wasn’t until she was in her late twenties that she fully awakened to her identity as a Māori woman.

The powerful words of each interview are woven together with real-life recordings captured by the women themselves.

Click here to see Ngawaina Joy's photography portrait.

The four episodes of Wāhine will be released every Thursday for the following month. Make sure you subscribe now, so you get to hear the story of Cindy Te Ata next Thursday.

If you want to know more about this initiative and support this journey, our website thewovenwomen.org is a great place to go!

Support the show, your donation helps me make the next chapter of The Woven Women!

Enjoy your journey, and thank you for listening.

Support the show

I am Loren Pasquier and you are listening to The Woven Women.

Our first Chapter is called Wāhine, which means woman in Te Reo Māori, Māori language, and it is here, in New Zealand that I met the first four women on this journey.

In this second episode, we meet Cindy Te Ata.

Charting her journey from a challenging childhood to an abusive adult life, Cindy shares how her ancestresses taught her strength in the face of adversity.

Cindy in now a majestic Māori woman, and her experiences have given way to a wider wisdom; one that recognizes that women’s pain is universal. Or as she puts it, “wāhine is wāhine”.

Note: Cindy mentions her experience getting her "Moko kauae", which is the traditional Māori female chin tattoo, that both Ngawaina Joy and Cindy Te Ata have got the priviledge to wear.

Her powerful words are woven together with recordings of herself playing “Taonga pūoro”, Māori instruments.

Click here to see Cindy Te Ata's photography portrait.

The four episodes of Wāhine will be released every Thursday for the following month. Make sure you subscribe now, so you get to hear the story of Janice next Thursday.

If you want to know more about this initiative and support this journey, our website thewovenwomen.org is a great place to go!

Support the show, your donation helps me make the next chapter of The Woven Women!

Enjoy your journey, and thank you for listening.

Support the show

I am Loren Pasquier and you are listening to The Woven Women.

Our first Chapter is called Wāhine, which means woman in Te Reo Māori, Māori language, and it is here, in New Zealand that I met the first four women on this journey.

In this third episode, we hear Janice’s story.

Speaking with a wisdom that only comes from experience, she openly tells us what it was like growing up in New Zealand’s welfare system; stories she hopes will open up conversations on topics that must be addressed.

Despite her painful childhood, Janice came out of it undeniably strong. And her zest for life and the love she has for herself, her daughters and her people make her story even more inspiring.

Warning: This sound portrait touches on sensitive subjects that some people may find uneasy.

Her powerful words are woven together with real-life recordings captured by Janice herself and Loren Pasquier.

Click here to see Janice’s photography portrait.

The four episodes of Wāhine will be released every Thursday for the following month. Make sure you subscribe now, so you get to hear the story of Jahreece next Thursday.

If you want to know more about this initiative and support this journey, our website thewovenwomen.org is a great place to go!

Support the show, your donation helps me make the next chapter of The Woven Women!

Enjoy your journey, and thank you for listening.

Support the Show.

I am Loren Pasquier and you are listening to The Woven Women.

Our first Chapter is called Wāhine, which means woman in Te Reo Māori, Māori language, and it is here, in New Zealand that I met the first four women on this journey.

Along with motherhood, religion has played a pivotal role in helping Jahreece connect with her identity as a Maori woman.

Now on a journey to ignite understanding and unity between Maori and pākehā, Jahreece explains how speaking Te Reo Māori, and embracing her tikanga or practices, have allowed her to honor not just her own identity, but the identity of her people.

The sounds you can hear in the background are real-life recordings captured by Jahreece herself. What a beautiful experience she is offering us…

Click here to see Jahreece’s photography portrait.

If you want to know more about this initiative and support this journey, our website thewovenwomen.org is a great place to go!

Support the show, your donation helps me make the next chapter of The Woven Women!

Enjoy your journey, and thank you for listening.

Support the show

I am Loren Pasquier and you are listening to The Woven Women.

Our first Chapter is called Wāhine, which means "woman" in Te Reo Māori, the Māori language. And it is here, in New Zealand that this chapter takes place. In each episode, you get to hear the story of a new wāhine, and what it means, for her, to be a Māori woman. The powerful words of each interview are woven together with real-life recordings captured by the women themselves.

Speaking with the knowledge and wisdom of her ancestors, Mairangi shares with us the endless journey of discovering who we are.
Recalling the powerful feeling of learning, acknowledging and belonging, she offers us a sensitive reflection on being a Māori woman and embracing femininity.

Click here to see Mairangi's photography portrait.

If you want to know more about this initiative and support this journey, our website thewovenwomen.org is a great place to go!

Follow us on social media @thewovenwomen!

Support the show, your donation helps me make the next chapter of The Woven Women!

Enjoy your journey, and thank you for listening.
Ngā mihi nui

Support the show

Dame Aroha Reriti-Crofts (Ngāi Tūāhuriri, Ngāi Tahu)

Enriched by the many facets of her remarkable journey, Dame Aroha offers a reflection on childhood memories and the challenges of adult life.

As grateful as she is for her recent nomination as a Dame Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit, she reminds us that we were all born with mana.

Click here to see Aroha's photography portrait.

If you want to know more about this initiative and support it, our website thewovenwomen.org is a great place to go!
Follow us on social media @thewovenwomen!

With each new episode, this podcast gives you access to the audio portraits featured in the Wāhine exhibition currently touring Aotearoa New Zealand.

Each story reminds us that while we are all unique in our own ways, many of our experiences, tribulations and assimilations are alike, creating common ground and a solid base for a more truthful and open intercultural dialogue. This exhibition and podcast strives to inspire empathy in us all and ignites a wider sense of belonging, kinship, and togetherness. If your day allows it, I invite you to take a break and drop in...

The beautiful waiata/song in our new introduction was created by the special Wāhine Mā.

Enjoy your journey, and thank you for listening.
Ngā mihi nui, Loren

Support the show

Phyllis (Waitaha, Kati Māmoe, Kai Tāhu, Ruahikihiki, Kati Huirapa ki Puketeraki)

Phyllis always knew that her tūpuna’s land was waiting for her and her whānau at Te Awa Koiea, Brinns Point. She shares with us her journey of reconnection not only to the whenua, but to her whakapapa and her Māoriness.

With a smile on her face, she contemplates how much family means to her, and how blessed she feels to be surrounded by them.

Click here to see Phyllis' photography portrait.

If you want to know more about this initiative and support it, our website thewovenwomen.org is a great place to go!
Follow us on social media @thewovenwomen!

With each new episode, this podcast gives you access to the audio portraits featured in the Wāhine exhibition currently touring Aotearoa New Zealand.

Each story reminds us that while we are all unique in our own ways, many of our experiences, tribulations and assimilations are alike, creating common ground and a solid base for a more truthful and open intercultural dialogue. This exhibition and podcast strives to inspire empathy in us all and ignites a wider sense of belonging, kinship, and togetherness. If your day allows it, I invite you to take a break and drop in...

The beautiful waiata/song in our introduction was created by the special Wāhine Mā.

Enjoy your journey, and thank you for listening.
Ngā mihi nui, Loren

Support the Show.