This episode explores the ways culture, creativity, and storytelling have built a uniquely New Zealand identity. From the revival of traditional Māori music to quirky early poetry, National Film Unit travelogues to Shortland Street and the Lord of the Rings, creativity has been our constant.
We’ve embraced new forms, clashed over controversial works, and redefined what art means in Aotearoa. Along the way, we’ve learned that true national pride comes from telling our own diverse, messy, and brilliant stories.Guests:Oscar KightleyWriter, actor, and director, widely recognised for bringing Pasifika voices to the forefront of New Zealand storytelling through Sione’s Wedding and The Naked Samoans.Lynn FreemanBroadcaster and arts advocate, known for championing New Zealand’s creative communities on RNZ’s Standing Room Only and in her role with Forest & Bird.Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details
--------
44:56
Animals and Nature
New Zealand’s landscapes are beautiful but also volatile. Earthquakes have shattered our towns, volcanoes have darkened our skies, and mountain avalanches have taken lives. Natural disasters have tested our resilience and reshaped our communities, yet in every crisis we’ve found ingenuity, solidarity, and hope.This episode traces our deep connection with the environment, and highlights the animals that have captured the nation’s heart. From our battles with pests like possums to the headline making Shrek the sheep. These stories remind us how closely we live alongside nature and how fiercely we fight to protect it.Guests:Maggie BarryVeteran broadcaster and former Minister of Conservation, renowned for her work on Maggie’s Garden Show and for championing New Zealand’s natural heritage both in media and politics.Alison BallanceZoologist, award-winning author, and science communicator, celebrated for her natural history documentaries and as the long-time producer of RNZ’s Our Changing World.Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details
--------
45:07
Health and Wellbeing
This episode explores how New Zealand’s approach to health and wellbeing has transformed over the past century, from state-run health camps and free school milk to jazzercise and the revolutionary invention of brunch. Unpacking shifting attitudes toward public health, nutrition, fitness, and alcohol, tracing a journey from nourishing underfed children to grappling with rising obesity rates, from 6 o’clock pub closures to sipping wine with brunch, and from smoky offices to smoke-free taxis.Along the way, it celebrates iconic moments of Kiwi grit and sporting spirit, from record breaking Jack Lovelock to teenage swimmer Meda McKenzie’s epic channel crossing, reminding us that despite our indulgences, New Zealanders have always had a knack for pushing boundaries and giving things a bloody good go.Guests:Mary WilsonDistinguished journalist and former long-time host of RNZ’s Checkpoint, celebrated for her sharp interviewing skills and commitment to public-interest journalism.Guyon EspinerInvestigative journalist with a 30-year career across print, television, and radio, including 14 years covering politics from the press gallery in Wellington.Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details
--------
45:21
Rebellion and Innovation
A collection of stories rooted in ingenuity and resistance: Ngā Tamatoa’s fight for te reo in schools, Dame Whina Cooper’s historic land march and Eva Rickard’s stand in Raglan, alongside the fight for Pasifika rights, queer rights and the religious rebellion of theologian Lloyd Geering. These are trailblazers who took on church, state, and social norms, proving that New Zealand’s progress has often come from a mix of practical problem-solving and powerful protest.Guests:Kim HillAward-winning broadcaster renowned for her incisive interviews and 38-year tenure at RNZ, including as host of Saturday Morning.Peter LinehamEmeritus Professor of History at Massey University, recognized for his extensive work on New Zealand’s religious history and awarded the MNZM for services to religious history and the community.Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details
Exploring 100 years of Aotearoa's history through RNZ’s audio archive. Hosted by Mike McRoberts, it explores how we’ve changed, stayed the same, and what it means to be a New Zealander.
New Zealand