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Dr Vanessa Weenink is currently serving her first term as the Member of Parliament for Banks Peninsula. She serves on the Education and Workforce Select Committee and is Deputy-Chair of the Economic Development, Science and Innovation Select Committee. Born in Blenheim and growing up in Marlborough, Vanessa served in the New Zealand Defence Force for over 20 years as a Medical Officer in the Army. She was deployed three times, with two tours in Afghanistan and one in East Timor. After leaving the Army, Vanessa worked as a self-employed GP in Christchurch. She co-owned and operated Papanui Medical Centre in Christchurch for several years and is a fellow of the Royal New Zealand College of General Practitioners. Vanessa holds a Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery and a Postgraduate Diploma in Public Health from Otago University. She has served in health sector governance roles, including as a board member of Pegasus Health and on the Clinical Governance Committee for national telehealth service Whakarongorau Aotearoa. She was also elected Chair of the General Practitioner Council of the New Zealand Medical Association (NZMA) and Deputy Chair of the NZMA Board. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Barbara is a highly respected journalist and storyteller, known for bringing the voices and stories of the Pacific to the forefront of New Zealand media. With decades of experience and deep cultural understanding, she has reported from across the region with integrity, compassion, and courage. A multi-award-winning journalist, Barbara has received top honours including the Voyager Media Award for Best Māori and Pacific Affairs Reporting, recognising her outstanding contribution to journalism in Aotearoa. Her work not only informs but connects communities, shining a light on important issues while celebrating the richness and resilience of Pacific peoples. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

TJ is stepping into the role after nearly two decades of high-impact humanitarian work across Africa, North America, and right here in the Pacific. A familiar face in the sector, TJ previously served as the organization’s Associate National Director and currently chairs the New Zealand Council for International Development. Now a proud Kiwi citizen, he brings a unique global perspective and a deep passion for connecting the generosity of New Zealanders with communities in need. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

British broadcaster and survivalist Bear Grylls is well-known for pushing himself to the limits of human capability. As the host of Man vs Wild, the former SAS soldier ate rotting zebra flesh, a yak’s eyeball and a live snake; fashioned a sleeping bag out of a camel’s carcass; and swam naked across a Siberian river in -67degC temperatures. His tendency to drink his own urine as a survival tactic has spawned an entire meme format. But ask Grylls the most difficult thing he’s ever done, and he doesn’t name-drop any of his stunts in the Sahara, the Arctic or the other extreme environments he’s conquered. He says it’s writing a book – 2025’s The Greatest Story Ever Told, his immersive retelling of the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Grylls’ biographical novel, which rose to the top of the Sunday Times bestseller list after last year’s release, is an account of Jesus’ life more akin to a thriller, and told from the perspectives of those who knew him best. “I still  film our TV shows and I love all of that, but this has been different… It's been the hardest, but probably the best thing I feel I've ever done,” he told Petra Bagust in a Newstalk ZB interview that aired on Good Friday. “Faith has always been a quiet part of my life… [but] the story of Jesus that I grew up with was such a sanitised version of it and never really felt relevant or personal to my life. “As a teenager, when I eventually found a faith, it became a bedrock and anchor and backbone. I realised the real story of Jesus is so different from the one I grew up with as a young kid, which was very much rooted in church and religion – quite smiley and nice. “The real story of Christ is so incredible and life-changing, and it's a story of courage, friendship, risk, rescue and sacrifice. I just thought so few people know that actual story.” The Greatest Story Ever Told transports readers into the brutal realities of first-century Palestine and an unassuming refugee’s world-changing life and ministry. Each character is assigned their original Aramaic names (Jesus becomes ‘Yeshua’, while Joseph is ‘Yosef’), with theologians and historians helping Grylls at every step of the writing process to maintain accuracy. Particular care was taken to ensure none of Jesus’ words were altered from original Gospel  accounts. Grylls told Newstalk ZB The Greatest Story Ever Told is written for those without a faith, some of whom may not have had positive memories of engaging with Christianity in the past, to hear the Gospel story afresh. “ So many of us with faith and religion, we have filters and bad experiences – and just the word ‘God’ or ‘father’ or even ‘Jesus’ can be difficult for people. We've done a pretty good job, over 2000 years, of screwing up a really beautiful ultimate message of love and forgiveness and redemption,” he said. “That's why it's been so powerful for me to get so many letters, thousands of them every day… from every culture, every country, every faith – atheist, Muslims, you name it – all basically say the same thing, which is ‘I had no idea the real story of Jesus’.” Asked by Bagust about the book’s connections to his adventure background, Grylls says the principles of survival on a mountain or in a jungle are much the same as when they are applied to the mental, emotional and spiritual challenges of everyday life. “ These are part of our arsenal of weapons as a human. Look at the great stories of survival through prison or concentration camps or war or loss or whatever – that hope, that light, that spiritual bit is a powerful bit, [and] the physical follows,” he said. “The great survivors have that burning light inside that is unrelenting and all-conquering, and it's what sets us apart as humans. “ What helps me be strong in a jungle or a mountain? It's the same thing that helps me through the tough days of life. For me, my faith has … been that streak of steel. I don't want to stand on my own strength because a lifetime of surviving has made me realise I'm not that strong.” Grylls’ favourite story from the book is when the Pharisees accuse Jesus of being a glutton and a drunkard because he’s affiliating with the rough end of society, and he responds by telling them he had come to seek and save the lost. “I was one of the lost boys, I still am. But I was found – and I'm such a proud lost boy. I'm proud to be found. And that changed everything for me,” he said. “I don't feel particularly religious. I don't go to church very much – I mean, I do try and go a bit with a family – but my faith isn't rooted in that. “My faith is in the simple everyday: the connection, the friendships, the kneeling by our boys' bed before they go to sleep and saying a prayer for them. It's in laughter with good friends and love of family, and how we live and tackle risk and relationships and all these things. “That's for me, how he [Jesus] lived and wanted to bring out that sort of spirit in us. He said, ‘I'm the bread of life, come to me’. I keep it simple, but that's how I try and live every day.” LISTEN TO FULL INTERVIEW ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Comedian Paul Ego has been the voice of Stick Man for 17 years, and is a main stay of the TV panel show 7 Days. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Aled Jones MBE, a name synonymous with musical brilliance, has been enchanting audiences since the 1980s. He was the original cross-over artist and is eternally cherished as one of the most accomplished boy sopranos globally, captivating the world from his debut at 12 years old in Handel's Oratorio Jeptha, broadcast on BBC2 and BBC Radio 3. After a brief pause when his voice broke at 16, Aled’s career continued to flourish across musical theatre, recordings, and broadcasting. His albums Aled and Higher topped the charts, including in Australia where he became the biggest selling classical artist. He has also appeared on Strictly Come Dancing, hosted programmes including Good Morning Sunday and Friday Night is Music Night on BBC Radio 2, and now presents the most listened-to shows on Classic FM on Saturday and Sunday mornings as well as the BBC’s flagship religious TV programme Songs of Praise. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Matiu Walters is the lead singer and guitarist of New Zealand’s band Six60. The group formed in Dunedin in 2008, and across the last 16 years have broken all the rules to become New Zealand’s biggest band. In 2019, they became the first New Zealand act to sell out Western Springs Stadium and in 2021 became the first band to ever play Eden Park to a sold-out crowd of 50,000. He attended Otago University which is where the band formed. Despite being one of New Zealand’s most popular musicians – he's unassuming and humble. He's married with two children. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Niki Harré is a Professor of Psychology at the University of Auckland. She writes, researches and teaches about values-based practice, environmental sustainability, the future of universities and living well together on our shared planet. Her new book is titled The Calling See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Working at the forefront of geopolitics, aid and development, and governance, Josie is CEO of ChildFund New Zealand and Chair of Fair Trade Australia & New Zealand. Her column appears fortnightly in The Post and on Stuff, and she was a finalist for Best Columnist at the 2023 Voyager Media Awards. Her writing has also been published internationally, including in The New York Times. Founder of Progress New Zealand, Josie has served in senior roles across government, international development and public affairs — including at the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development in Paris. Born in New Zealand and educated at University of Warwick and Victoria University of Wellington, Josie brings global insight and sharp analysis to today’s biggest issues. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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Greg is in his first term as the Member of Parliament for Maungakiekie. He serves on the Māori Affairs Committee and is Deputy Chair of the Petitions Committee. In March 2024, the members’ bill in his name, the Crimes (Increased Penalties for Slavery Offences) Amendment Bill, was drawn from the ballot, aiming to strengthen New Zealand’s response to human trafficking by increasing penalties for domestic trafficking offences to match those for international trafficking. Born in Masterton, Greg attended Wairarapa College and gained a Bachelor of Commerce from Victoria University. A Chartered Accountant, he began his career in London finance and is a student of te reo Māori. In 1998, Greg left accountancy to address family fragmentation, leading Parenting With Confidence (now Parenting Place) through significant growth. He later co-founded The Maxim Institute and became Chief Executive. With 25 years’ experience in the charitable sector, Greg has helped build enduring community institutions and was appointed CEO of The Parenting Place in 2015. He has lived in Maungakiekie since 1998, where he and his wife Kirstin have raised their five children. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Liz Stokes is an Auckland-based songwriter and frontwoman of acclaimed indie rock band The Beths, known for her sharp lyrics, emotional honesty, and irresistibly punchy melodies. Across the band’s internationally celebrated albums — including Future Me Hates Me, Jump Rope Gazers, Expert in a Dying Field, and the recent Straight Line Was A Lie — Stokes has built a reputation for writing candidly about mental health, uncertainty, and resilience, often pairing heavy themes with bright, energetic hooks. After navigating several years of mental and physical health challenges, her recent work reflects a deeper acceptance of life’s cyclical nature and a desire to offer comfort to others going through ongoing struggles. With a devoted global fanbase and a growing presence on the world stage, Liz Stokes continues to be one of Aotearoa’s most compelling and relatable songwriting voices. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Patricia is a writer, anthropologist, and lifelong observer of faith, family, and belonging. Ordained ministry, grandparenthood, widowhood, and a remarkable return to university in later life have all shaped her unique perspective. After retiring from parish leadership, Patricia enrolled as a mature student in anthropology, completing a BA, Honours, and eventually a PhD, driven by a fascination with ritual, identity, and community. Her doctoral research, The Once and Future Cathedral, was profoundly influenced by the Christchurch earthquakes and the destruction of the Cathedral, an event that became both a personal and academic turning point. Patricia’s journey has taken her from Christchurch to Oxford and back again, weaving together grief, love, faith, scholarship, and resilience. She has had an extraordinary life story about reinvention, learning at any age, and finding meaning amid upheaval. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Anna is a New Zealand and Swedish freestyle skier and reporter for TV Show The Crowd Goes Wild. She began skiing with her family at the age of four but it wasn’t until she finished school and began dedicating full seasons to the sport that she discovered her passion for slopestyle skiing. She competed for New Zealand at the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi. She finished 15th in qualification of the women's slopestyle event, missing the final by only two places. Her father, Hamish Willcox, was a professional sailor who competed in the America's Cup and her brother, Daniel Willcox, represented New Zealand at the 2016 Summer Olympics in sailing. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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