ACTivate is a podcast about everyday people campaigning for human rights. It focuses on personal stories and grassroots efforts to create change. The show highlights the voices and causes behind human rights advocacy in New Zealand.
Episodes
ACTivate - Our "More Voices" Campaign is Live! Decision Making That Works For Everyone
Listen to Sarah Morris, Advocacy and Policy Manager at Amnesty Aotearoa, tell us about this exciting new big picture campaign that aims to strengthen community decision-making as a powerful way to protect human rights. This campaign is a response to what Amnesty's been noticing NZers talk about; Are our politicians really listening to a diverse range of views? Is NZ a fair place to live for everyo
ACTivate - Together, We're On A Roll - Rangitahi Campaign Aims for Biggest Youth Voter Turnout in History for General Election
Listen to Catherine speak with Sanat Singh from, "On a Roll", a non partisan rangitahi-led campaign urging young people to get on the roll before the 25 October deadline. Sanat explains that it's a myth that young people are apathetic; Instead he suggests older people and politicians should, "get curious about what they care about" and "talk with" instead of "talking about" young people. Hear Sana
ACTivate - NZ Government: Do More For Sudan. Stand with Sudan and Help Stop the Violence Against Civilians. Now.
This month, listen to Catherine explain what is happening in Sudan and how you can stand with the people. This is NOT a civil war but a brutal war against civilians sustained via a lucrative war economy driven by gold and vital commodities like gum arabic. The chance to move towards democracy post the non-violent revolution of 2018/2019 was stolen from the people by the brutal power struggle betwe
ACTivate - Myanmar News - Should ASEAN be Engaging with Military Leaders, a UN Report and an Interview from the Archives
Let's not forget the people of Myanmar where a drop in humanitarian assistance is worsening the suffering of millions of people after five years of conflict-related violence, says a UN report from June 2026. ASEAN leaders meet with military backed negotiators and rebel groups. Also, a conversation from the archives - listen to Dr Mariana Cifuentes talk about her experience of the 2021 coup, reflec
ACTivate - Major Aotearoa Businesses and Communities are Calling for Government Action on Online Harm
The #NoHarmware campaign led by Amnesty International and Tāhono Trust (an organisation seeding and supporting cross-sector action across Aotearoa) is proud to release an open letter signed by businesses, media organisations, and not-for-profits across the motu calling on the government to strengthen tech accountability for online harm.
The letter warns that harmful online activity – including sc
ACTivate - Lost Stories of the Girmitiya - Indentured Labourers Promised a Better Future in Fiji but met with Deception, Exploitation and Displacement.
In this episode Catherine speaks with Dylan Chand, winner of the 2025 Gary Ware Legacy Award, an Amnesty NZ award supporting people under 25 who are passionate about protecting and promoting human rights. With the support of the award, Dylan will develop and host the Girmitiya Exhibition, a project sharing the experiences of Indian indentured labourers who were taken to Fiji under the British colo
ACTivate - Right to Learn Afghanistan Part 2
Learn about Madrasas, the Taliban Religious Schools Radicalising Boys and Girls and Why the West isn't Doing More to Stop the Worst Women's Rights Situation in the World.
Tune into Part 2 of Catherine's interview with Dr Lauryn Oates (PhD Language Literacy Education), Executive Director of the Canadian Human Rights organisation, Right to Learn. Listen to Dr Oates talk about; how poverty is severe
ACTivate - Taliban Continue their War against Women and Girls, One Canadian Charity Fights Back
This month Catherine speaks with Dr Lauryn Oates, Executive Director of Right to Learn Afghanistan, a charity that for twenty-five years has championed education programs and made the right to education for women and girls a reality. With the Taliban in power, the current system of ‘gender apartheid’ sees girls over the age of 12 banned from education, resulting in at least 2.5 million school-aged
ACTivate - Good News Alert! Historic Use of Parliamentary Rule to Usher in Modern Day Slavery Bill. How will it work?
After years of false starts, Labour and National have teamed up to co-sponsor a bill requiring companies to investigate their supply chains for risks of forced labour. Listen to Rebekah Armstrong, Head of Advocacy and Justice at World Vision New Zealand explain why this political cooperation is momentous, how the new law will work, and the difference it will make to businesses, consumers and victi
ACTivate - The Sea is Rising in Tuvalu and Kiribati Jeopardising Fresh Water, Food, Housing and Health. The People are Facing a Difficult Choice: to Stay or Go. But Where Can They Go? The NZ Government Needs to Offer Refuge.
This month Campaigns Manager, David Vega dicusses Amnesty Aotearoa's new report titled: “Navigating injustice: Climate displacement from the Pacific Islands of Tuvalu and Kiribati to Aotearoa New Zealand". David outlines how existing migration pathways don’t provide well for the humanitarian needs of people seeking safety from the impacts of climate change and disasters as they’re labour-focusse
ACTivate - 15 Dec 2025
ACTivate is a monthly show brought to you by the Christchurch branch of Amnesty International Aotearoa/New Zealand, an organisation dedicated to campaigning for human rights.
ACTivate - Is Violent Online Abuse of Female Politicians Damaging Democracy? Listen to Dr Cassandra Mudgway from the University of Canterbury talk about "Polls and Trolls" and Why NZ Needs Urgent Legal Reform to Protect Women in Politics.
It's White Ribbon Day this month and election year is looming, so what better way to stand up against violence towards women by listening to this engaging conversation on harmful online misogyny. Canterbury University’s Senior Law lecturer, Dr Cassandra Mudgway, explains how violent gender-based online abuse significantly harms female politicians. It changes the way they campaign, how they avoid
