New book highlights youth perspectives
By The Star - Sam Henderson | Posted: Thursday May 21, 2026
Layers of Identity is a collection of writings by rangatahi aged 8 to 24 on the theme of whakapapa, genealogy, lineage and descent.
Original Article: New book highlights youth perspectives | Otago Daily Times Online News
Two young Dunedin writers are part of a project to share cultural roots.
Ajax Banstola and Parishay Khan are among a group of young people who have contributed to a new book highlighting diverse perspectives of youth living in the city.
Layers of Identity is a collection of writings by rangatahi aged 8 to 24 on the theme of whakapapa, genealogy, lineage and descent.
The works were first developed in a podcast series of the same name broadcast on OAR FM.
Parishay Khan, 10, was born in Pakistan and moved to New Zealand when she was 1.
She wanted to be involved in the project to show how people can be part of two worlds.
"Like I have Pakistan, I only lived there for one year and then I came to New Zealand.
"I wanted to call myself a green kiwi for that because Pakistan’s flag is green and in New Zealand, kiwi is our national animal," Parishay said.
"I was born in Pakistan. My whole family is over there, but I grew up in New Zealand and how we shouldn’t feel bad about that, we should feel proud of that and that everything is good.
"Like, my whakapapa was there, but I grew up over here. And that is great, that is amazing," she said.
As well as contributing to the Layers of Identity book and podcast, she hosts her own programme called Parishay’s Book Club on OAR FM.
"Sometimes I invite guests and sometimes I just do it myself.
"When I do it myself I just get two books and then I talk about them."
Her next episode features award-winning New Zealand author and illustrator David Elliot.
"It was really fun meeting an author.
"It was that I was meeting a really famous person at this age, so I thought it was a big opportunity for me," Parishay said.
Ajax Banstola, 12, was born in Nepal and moved to New Zealand aged 3.
"For me the Layers of Identity was me rediscovering myself as me from Nepal and me coming here to New Zealand, all in one," Ajax said.
"And not only that, but while writing that, I discovered a lot of new things about myself.
"I discovered how Nepal was very similar to New Zealand, the landscape and all the people, they’re kind, they’re respectful," he said.
During the writing process, Ajax called his grandparents to ask them about the early stages of his life in Nepal.
"I felt like that would be very interesting to listen to as well."
Ajax is also a keen broadcaster, presenting Factbeast on OAR FM.
"I want to be the voice of people who don’t have a voice, who can’t speak out to the community," Ajax said.
The book Layers of Identity is a collaboration between OAR FM and Ōtepoti He Puna Auaha, Dunedin Unesco City of Literature with funding support from a Dunedin City Council arts grant.
A book launch is being held tomorrow at 4.30pm at the Dunningham Suite, fourth floor of the Dunedin City Library.
This coincides with Youth Week as well as the Unesco World Day of Cultural Diversity.
Parishay’s Book Club
Interview with David Elliot
Friday, 4.30pm, OAR FM
Visit oar.org.nz to listen to Layers of Identity and Factbeast