New Zealand History

The NZ Wars series goes back to the first shots fired... to Wairau in June 1843. The fourth chapter of this landmark podcast is out February 3. Audio

This is the third episode of our six part series looking at some lesser known events and personalities in New Zealand's history.

Today Thomas Rillstone looks at Bob Semple, the man behind what is… Audio

Historian Dr Jock Phillips' latest work tells the story of New Zealand using 100 objects. Objects such as the sewing kete of an unknown 18th-century Maori woman; cannons from the Endeavour; the… Audio

The final curriculum for teaching Aotearoa's history in schools is out, but what will students actually learn and how will they learn it? Audio

NZ's response to Covid-19 has sparked an increase in patriotism - but Dr Grant Morris from Victoria University belives it has also lead to an increase in nationalism. He asks how this new wave of… Audio

On the 17th of June, 1843, an armed party of New Zealand Company settlers clashed with Ngati Toa over the purchase of land in the Wairau Valley. The settlers came off worst, losing 22 of their number… Audio, Gallery

The Norsewood cemetery reveals a lot about the hardy Scandinavians who came to NZ in the 1870s. What they found here is far from what they were promised but many lived to a ripe old age despite the… Audio

It's highly likely that at one time more New Zealanders had pianos than had cars. What happened to all these instruments? We uncover the colourful adventures of some of New Zealand's pianos.

A historian is concerned that drastic reductions in archive opening hours will make it harder for iwi to conduct crucial research.

From March 2nd, the reading room hours at Archives New Zealand will… Audio

Historian Robert Kelly begins this new weekly spot on Lately With Karyn Hay. Tonight Robert remembers the Wairau Incident in 1843 - one of the most pivotal events in early post-contact New Zealand… Audio

Is the arts a place where women have equal opportunity? And if not, why not? That's the big question at hand in Episode Six of RNZ podcast, Beyond Kate. Audio

The fight over Brett Kavanaugh's confirmation as a US Supreme Court justice was bitter and divisive - the latest in a long line of controversial judicial appointments there. But what about in New… Audio

RNZs Maori News Correspondent Leigh-Marama Mclachlan asks, could compulsory te reo Māori in schools reduce racism? Audio

Paul Moon is a professor of history at AUT whose latest book is "The Waikato - A History of New Zealand's Greatest River". At 425 kilometres long, the Waikato is the longest river in New Zealand and… Audio

The story of a nation is more than great works of art, turbulent moments of history and dramatic discoveries. Sometimes you can see the truth of a country in a piece of fish with a scoop of chips. Audio

It looks like a bit of wood, but it tells a much bigger story of immigration and inspiration. A story as big as a dinosaur. Audio

Fur is controversial in the fashion industry and wearing it today is a statement of nothing more than excess. The controversy lies not only in the hands of the designers producing it, but also those… Audio