All Episodes

July 1, 2025 29 mins

Breaking’s Arrival in Aotearoa

  • Explores how breaking (b-boying/b-girling) landed in New Zealand in the early 1980s
  • The cultural explosion among thousands of enthusiastic youth inspired by movies and music videos


Foundational Elements of Hip-Hop

  • Recognition of breaking as one of hip-hop’s foundational four elements, along with DJing, MCing, and graffiti art
  • Importance of the fifth element: Knowledge


Philosophy, Roots, and Community

  • Emphasis on peace, love, unity, fun, and knowledge
  • Story of breaking as a journey of expression, resilience, and community building in New Zealand


Formation and Growth of Crews

  • Tracing the rise and evolution of breaking crews and the unique Kiwi flair they brought to the global dance phenomenon
  • Highlighting the trailblazers and individual dancers who innovated and shaped the local scene


Key Events and Competitions

  • Memorable competitions and intense street battles that marked era-defining moments in the country’s breaking history
  • Notable events like “The Art of War Battles” planned for February 2025:
  • Popping, Locking, and Breaking Battles (February 9), DJ Ten Ten, MC Taups, judges Mace, NJ
  • Unique prizes highlighting knowledge and history (e.g., signed copies of Sun Tzu’s “The Art of War”)


Breaking on the Olympic Stage

  • Breaking featured at the 2024 Paris Olympics, bringing unprecedented visibility
  • The qualification of “Winter” at the WDSF Oceania Breaking Championships (Sydney, October 2023)
  • Discussions about identity, the future of breaking, and its place in both sport and art within New Zealand


Challenges and Opportunities

  • Ongoing debates within the New Zealand breaking community regarding authenticity, local versus global identity, funding, and evolving perceptions
  • The importance of balancing tradition, community spirit, and continued innovation


The Future of Breaking in NZ

  • The New Zealand breaking culture’s commitment to inspiring “before they expire”
  • Open questions about future directions, new stories, and ongoing evolution on both local and global stages


Show notes

Mark as Played

Advertise With Us

Popular Podcasts

Stuff You Should Know
24/7 News: The Latest

24/7 News: The Latest

The latest news in 4 minutes updated every hour, every day.

Crime Junkie

Crime Junkie

Does hearing about a true crime case always leave you scouring the internet for the truth behind the story? Dive into your next mystery with Crime Junkie. Every Monday, join your host Ashley Flowers as she unravels all the details of infamous and underreported true crime cases with her best friend Brit Prawat. From cold cases to missing persons and heroes in our community who seek justice, Crime Junkie is your destination for theories and stories you won’t hear anywhere else. Whether you're a seasoned true crime enthusiast or new to the genre, you'll find yourself on the edge of your seat awaiting a new episode every Monday. If you can never get enough true crime... Congratulations, you’ve found your people. Follow to join a community of Crime Junkies! Crime Junkie is presented by audiochuck Media Company.

Music, radio and podcasts, all free. Listen online or download the iHeart App.

Connect

© 2025 iHeartMedia, Inc.