Zoey Hipolito’s Layers of Identity

By Ōtepoti He Puna Auaha | Dunedin UNESCO City Of Literature | Posted: Friday Aug 22, 2025

Ōtepoti Dunedin’s creative rangatahi explore their whakapapa through powerful stories of their identity, culture, and belonging through poetry and essays on ‘Layers of Identity’.

PODCAST Zoey Hipolito

“One thing I’m hopeful for in the future is everyone to stop these wars. Even if you might be on bad terms, you could probably still work it out.”

Zoey, a Year 8 student at Fairfield School, came to Aotearoa from the Philippines at age five. She enjoys writing and, in her poem 'Warmth of Frost', reflects on how different Aotearoa and the Philippines are, yet how both feel like home. Zoey also has Japanese whakapapa she hopes to explore one day.

Layers of Identity Broadcasts Fridays 3.30pm on 105.4 FM, 1575 AM

and Layers of Identity - Otago Access Radio
Spotify | Layers of Identity | Podcast on Spotify

Apple Podcasts | Layers of Identity - Podcast - Apple Podcasts

Proudly supported by Dunedin City Council Arts Grant, Dunedin Public Libraries, Dunedin UNESCO City of Literature, Athenaeum Library & Mechanics Institute - Dunedin, CAMA - Community Access Media Alliance and NZ On Air.