New Zealand has been relatively free of COVID-19 since June 2020. It’s a rare spot in the world where live music thrived this past year. Ayisha Jaffer reports on how New Zealand focused on it’s local music scene in a way they never have before, and sees music as a key pillar to recovery once the global pandemic is over.   We also hear from Amanda Palmer who’s been living in New Zealand since the last stop of an international tour that landed her in the country in mid-March of 2020. She shares her journey and take on the country’s music scene from an outside perspective.  Support the show: https://www.kexp.org/sound/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.