Toa Fraser is a legendary New Zealand filmmaker, playwright, and storyteller and this is his first ever podcast.

Outside of his incredible career, he’s also been on a deeply personal journey with early-onset Parkinson’s disease which he was diagnosed with in 2016.

This is a very small part of the Toa Fraser story:.

His early years in the UK and his Fijian links.

How he blew up as a young playwright in New Zealand

The origins of his incredible movie Number 2.

How the Hollie Smith theme song “Bathe in the river” came about and why he would never make that movie today.

His best stories from international film festivals.

Making the top rating Netflix show Sweet Tooth during the pandemic.

Then there is the Parkinson’s stuff:

His diagnosis and the decision to go public with it, what it means in day-to-day life for him and his family, how he manages it, what we should all know about the disease and much, much more.

---------------------------------

What do you see yourself doing in retirement?

Moving to the beach? Exploring the world in cruise ships? Travelling Europe by rail? Spending more time with friends and family?

Whatever your dream, there’s one big question —how much will it cost?

That’s why choosing a KiwiSaver provider with strong long-term performance matters.

Generate is an award-winning KiwiSaver provider with a track record of delivering strong long-term returns- see their latest returns for yourself on their website.

Because the choices you make today will shape the retirement you’ll have tomorrow.

Start planning now—Book a chat with an adviser at generatekiwisaver.co.nz/dom

The issuer of the scheme is Generate Management Limited. To see their Product disclosure, go to their website. Past performance does not guarantee future returns.

**The views, thoughts and opinions expressed in this podcast belong solely to the host and guests and may not reflect the views of the show sponsors**

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This is a special FastCast for International Woman’s Day 2025!

Three short snippets of the Dame’s I’ve been lucky enough to have on the podcast so far.

Dame Susan Devoy, she is New Zealand’s greatest ever squash player…but she is so much more than that.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mrt0HyNSMMc&t=3781s

Dame Lisa Carrington, the kayak queen who is the undisputed greatest NZ Olympian of all time with a total of 8 gold medals so far.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mrt0HyNSMMc&t=3781s

And Dame Julie Christie, she is known as the Queen of reality TV but that catchy title is just scratching the surface of Julies contribution to New Zealand.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yYCbj5-6_a8&t=1747s

To get hold of me for feedback about the FastCast, show suggestions or sponsorship enquires, e-mail me! Dom@Podlab.nz

Thanks very much, Dom

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Andrew Mulligan is one of the most employed people in New Zealand media.

You can hear Mulls on breakfast radio on the Rock breakfast show, it’s a fantastic show that’s been performing at a gold star standard for years.

You can watch him on TV in the evenings on Crowd Goes Wild, a show that he’s been involved with since it launched back in 2006.

Then when the ad’s come on you’ll hear him on the Rebel Sport commercials.

If you are flying somewhere, you will see him on the Air NZ safety video.

And if you have watched the Breakers play basketball, chances are you have heard his commentary.

Or seen him interviewing Olympic athletes immediately after their events.

I have my theories about Mulls success and employability in the media which is a notoriously fickle industry.

Firstly, he is incredibly talented and very funny.

Alongside his talent he has an incredible work ethic and is very easy to get along with. You would struggle to find anyone who says a bad word about Andrew Mulligan.

This is a part of the Mulls story.

I’d like to think of this as an attempt to deconstruct one of New Zealand’s most successful broadcasters, a peak into the mind of the guy you don’t get to see with his numerous on-air roles.

Hope you like this conversation as much as I did.

Dom

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

At just 18 years old, Theo Pratt made the terrifying decision to leave the Gloriavale cult and everything she’d ever known—her family, her home, her entire way of life- absolutely everything she had known since birth.

She was dropped at a bus stop with just a suitcase, $200 cash, and no idea what came next. Then after some heartbreaking final words from her mum and brother, she took her first ever bus into the unknown.

What she has done in the 8 years since then is impressive. She has built a cool life for herself including learning all the life skills we all take for granted- like opening a bank account, getting her first phone and grocery shopping.

She has also got a degree, become an occupational therapist, fallen in love and bought a house. Oh, and now writing a book: “Unveiled.”

Here’s a link for the book: https://www.mightyape.co.nz/mn/buy/mighty-ape-unveiled-39218988/

And she has become a fierce advocate for those still trapped in Gloriavale, like her sister Precious, and those trying to rebuild after leaving.

This is a small part of the Theo Pratt story. A revealing look into day-to-day life as a child in Gloriavale, the process of leaving then the unseen struggle of rebuilding.

***

Thanks to the sponsors of this episode, the team at Generate.

Generate have a track record of delivering strong long-term performance for their members – which will really pay off by the time you reach retirement.

And, they have advisers across the country to help make sure your investment is set up best for you.

Head to generatekiwisaver.co.nz/dom

The issuer of the scheme is Generate Management Limited. To see their Product disclosure statement, go to their website. Past performance does not guarantee future returns.

**The views, thoughts and opinions expressed in this podcast belong solely to the host and guests and may not reflect the views of the show sponsors**

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hamish Kerr originally appeared on the podcast at the end of 2022, not long after he won a Commonwealth Games Gold medal.

Heres the original ep:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yEf-zSZRbcY

So much has happened since then! At the 2025 Halberg awards Hamish Kerr won the “Sportsman of the year” trophy, the first time a high jumper has ever won that title.

This came off the back of his success at the Paris Olympic games where he won a gold medal in the high jump with a height of 2 meters 34 cm.

He is the undisputed G.O.A.T when it comes to high jump in NZ.

When Hamish joined me on the podcast, he had just returned from the Birmingham Commonwealth Games where he won gold.

In this FastCast we talk about the intricacies of the high jump, what his training looks like, his relationship with his mental health and where his gold medal lives.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sir Bryan Williams became an All Black winger when he was 19 in 1970 and quickly became a household name.

Since his playing days finished in 1978, he has done so much! He coached Samoa, the Hurricanes and Auckland. He’s been Knighted and inducted to THREE separate sports hall of fame. He was President of the NZ rugby union. And most weekends you’ll find him on the sidelines at the Ponsonby rugby club where is a passionate life member.

It’s hard to think of any individual that has done more to promote Pasifika rugby than the man they call BeeGee.

This is a small part of the Sir Bryan Williams story.

His recollections of making the All Blacks and touring apartheid South Africa as a Samoan.

His memories of the shameful Dawn Raids in NZ

Insights into life on tour as an All Black in the 70s including the unforgettable incident where Keith Murdoch got sent home.

Then there’s the second half: Stories from his coaching career, why he initially wanted to decline his Knighthood, his time being President of the NZRU, the birth of the Moana Pasifika super rugby team, reflections on life, goals for the future and much more.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Don Ha was born in Vietnam then spent a couple of years at a refugee camp in Hong Kong before his family got relocated to NZ in 1980 with no English and little more than the clothes they had on.

Despite this massive disadvantage, Don Ha became a New Zealand rich lister through real estate with a net worth of over $100 million.

Then during the GFC, Don was declared bankrupt. And in the years since then he has managed to find success a second time.

This podcast is a part of the Don Ha story: Rags to riches to rags and back to riches. A story of resilience and recovery.

We talk about his early memories from life in refugee camps.

His aspirations to achieve more than just working in the family bakery.

His reflections on spending $2 million dollars to buy a horse.

Lessons learned about himself and others from bankruptcy and receivership.

And much, much more.

***

Thanks so much to Generate for sponsoring this episode.

Something to ask yourself- what do you see yourself doing in retirement?

Moving to the beach? Travelling Europe? Spending more time with friends and family?

Whatever your dream, there’s one big question: how much will it cost?

That’s why choosing a KiwiSaver provider with strong long-term performance matters.

Generate is an award-winning KiwiSaver provider with a track record of delivering strong long-term returns- see their latest returns for yourself on their website.

Because the choices you make today will shape the retirement you’ll have tomorrow.

Start planning now—Book a chat with an adviser at generatekiwisaver.co.nz/dom

The issuer of the scheme is Generate Management Limited. To see their Product disclosure statement go to their website. Past performance does not guarantee future returns.

**The views, thoughts and opinions expressed in this podcast belong solely to the host and guests and may not reflect the views of the show sponsors**

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The FastCast is a highlights length version of a previously released episode of The Dom Harvey Podcast.

The hope is if you like this Fastcast, you’ll go back into the archives and listen to the full-length episode sometime.

Joseph Parker, one of NZs greatest boxers of all time, joined me on the podcast in May 2022.

I thought I’d revisit our podcast and share it as a Fastcast because Joseph is on a 5 fight win streak and this weekend he has the opportunity to make that 6 with a fight against British fighter Daniel Dubois.

We talk about his introduction to boxing as a 12 year old.

How he teamed up with his coach Andy Lee.

His friendship with Tyson Fury,.

How his childhood sweetheart became his wife.

His mental health and the time where he felt at his lowest.

Life after boxing and regrets.

Here is a link to the audio of the full episode from 2022:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wz2z1EklXBI

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.