History
Hawaiian waka arrives in NZ a week early after 17-day crossing
Hawaiian waka Hokulea arrived a week earlier than expected after a 17-day crossing from Rarotonga. RNZ Pacific's Tiana Haxton reports. Audio
Could this be this country’s finest map?
There is much joy to be had poring over a great map. And this particular map may be the finest in New Zealand to pore over of them all. It's a map of Wellington city first made in 1891 by surveyor… Audio
Regional Wrap: Te Whare Taonga o Kawhia - Kawhia Museum
Regional Wrap: Te Whare Taonga o Kāwhia - Kāwhia Museum. Audio
Living the High Country Life
There's a romance attached to living in the Mackenzie High Country, but does it still exist? For Simon Williamson it is the only life he knows. He grew up through the harsh winters and hot summers and… Audio
Myth Takes: The Roman soldier
Classics educator and enthusiast Ben Jackson talks to Emile Donovan what it took to run the Roman army. Audio
History with Dr Grant Morris
Dr Grant Morris is here to talk all things history, and this week he's turning his attention to languages, specifically the history of official languages in New Zealand. Audio
A-Z of Aotearoa: L for Lamb
Time for the latest installment of our A-Z of Aotearoa and today it is L for Lamb. From humble beginnings as a new immigrant in the 1800's, at one point there were more than 20 per capita! Robert… Audio
Some schools defy government move on Te Tiriti o Waitangi
One says upholding the treaty is the right thing to do and part of its "civic responsibility".
Hawaiian waka returns to Waitangi after 40 years
Hōkūleʻa's historic 1985 journey helped spark the revival of Māori ocean voyaging. Audio
Iconic racehorse Phar Lap reimagined in new musical
The production's writer and composer Steven Kramer joins Emile to share where Phar Lap sits in the pantheon of Australian cultural icons and why he chose 'electro-swing' for the music. Audio
Simon Winchester's new book
The power of the wind is something best-selling author Simon Winchester knows a lot about. He's investigated it in a thought-provoking book called The Breath of the Gods: The History and Future of the… Audio
Capturing Shackelton's Trans-Antarctica Expedition
Sir Ernest Shackleton's Trans-Antarctica Expedition - between 1914 and 1917 - has been described as one of the greatest adventures of all time. While photos were taken during the expedition - the full… Audio, Gallery
Garrison World: historian Charlotte Macdonald
The story of the Redcoats, as they were known, has been told in a new book Garrison World by Victoria University history professor Charlotte Macdonald. Audio
Remembrance Day and the grave of a Gallipoli veteran
With no family, the last resting place of Henry Walter - had fallen into disrepair. Private Walter had been kicked out of the army as "incorrigible" after struggling with the impact of battle and… Audio
History with Emma Kay
Emma runs Small Histories of New Zealand, where she digs up curious stories, funny articles, and lost treasures from our past and shares them on social media. Tonight's topic is ghosts. Audio
Anger at RFU keeping historic All Blacks jersey in storeroom for years
A British woman says Rugby Football Union officials have failed to help her retrieve a 1905 All Blacks jersey linked to her family.
PM's Award for Literary Achievement for Non-fiction: Ross Calman
This week historian, te reo Maori translator and author, Ross Calman received the Prime Minister's Award for Literary Achievement for Non-fiction. Audio
Saul David: Tunisgrad
The Allied campaign in North Africa was a turning point of World War Two. New Zealand forces including the Maori Battalion were major players. Audio
From the Archives - Sheep on the board
In this story for the long-running programme Spectrum, first broadcast in 1972, Jack Perkins joins a Wairarapa shearing gang, on a farm near Masterton. It starts at the beginning of a day's shearing… Audio
Midday Report Essentials for Friday 7 November 2025
The final evaluation for the government's military style boot camps found it was too small to provide any meaningful data, and its implementation was rushed; The teams of Tonga, Samoa and New Zealand… Audio
