History
Double Life: the story of Judge Frederick Maning - Part 1
Frederick Maning was one of the first Europeans to settle in Aotearoa, he married a high-ranking Ngāpuhi woman, and wrote two books filled with romantic anecdotes of his time living alongside Māori… Audio
New Zealand's first fibreglass surf rescue canoe
A piece of New Zealand surf lifesaving history has been lovingly restored after being found hidden under a hedge in Port Chalmers near Dunedin. Audio
The enduring allure of the Titanic
Five passengers onboard the submersible Titan died last week after a fatal implosion during its voyage to the wreck of the Titanic. What is it about the wreck of the Titanic that captivates us? Audio
Historian Dr Grant Morris: Biggest sports tournament held in NZ
In exactly three weeks, Auckland will host the opening ceremony and game for the 2023 FIFA Women's Football World Cup. There has been a bit of debate as to whether this will be the biggest sporting… Audio
NZ Sporting History: Wendy Sharpe
As excitement builds for the upcoming 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup we look back of one of most successful football players here in Aotearoa. Wendy Sharpe debuted with the Football Ferns in 1980 when… Audio
Study suggests Stonehenge was built to amplify sound
For centuries, historians and archaeologists have puzzled over the many mysteries of Stonehenge, the huge man-made circle of standing stones found on England's Salisbury Plain in Wiltshire. New… Audio
Richard Benge - WWII footage
A collection of wartime footage capturing military life in New Zealand during World War II has been made available to the public for the first time. It was shot between 1942 and 1943 by Academy… Audio
Long Read: Strange Days on Lake Rotomahana
By Tim Bollinger: Once New Zealand’s very own wonder of the world, the Pink and White Terraces were destroyed in a single night of volcanic destruction. Audio
New direction for traditional farm
With fields of crops, shimmering solar panels and several hundred Wagyu beef cattle, young farmer Ryan Cockburn is changing the landscape on his grandparents' coastal property. Audio
NZ Sporting History: Nico Porteous' 2022 Winter Olympics Gold
For this week's NZ Sporting history we're travelling not too far back in time - in fact to last year's Beijing Winter Olympics. Held under strict Covid quarantine - two young skiers wrote themselves… Audio
The impact Rome has on modern society and why it can help
Rome wasn't built in a day and it didn't crumble in a day either. It is the shining example of one of the most innovative periods in human history, and then it all turned to custard. Audio
WW II footage available to the public for the first time
A collection of wartime footage capturing military life in New Zealand during World War II has been made available to the public for the first time. Richard Benge, chair of the Kapiti US Marine Trust… Audio
Home found for antique grand piano
A story we covered in September about a antique grand piano needing a home has a happy ending! The piano, which dates all the way back to the 1880s once lived at the iconic Athfield house in… Audio
HMS Buffalo prisoner's family receives his wish 185 years on
From Whitianga to Canada, a pair of wooden crosses carved from the shipwrecked HMS Buffalo have been returned home to fulfill a 185-year-old wish. François-Xavier Prieur was one of dozens of rebels… Audio
Dazzling ancient bronze sword found in Germany
German archaeologists are thrilled to have dug up a Bronze Age sword more than 3000 years old which is extraordinarily well preserved.
Ancient Egypt comes alive in new exhibition
New Zealanders have the opportunity to get up close and personal with treasures from Egypt.
Daniel Ellsberg, who leaked Pentagon Papers, dies at 92
The US military analyst had a change of heart on the Vietnam War which led him to leak the classified Pentagon Papers, revealing US government deception about the war.
Death Ray: the story of Victor Penny
In 1935, a series of extraordinary newspaper articles claimed a backyard inventor called Victor Penny was trying to build a Death Ray for the New Zealand government. But were these claims true? RNZ’s… Audio
History with Dr Grant Morris
Today Grant Morris reviews a recent NZ history publication: "Empire City: Wellington becomes the capital of NZ" by John Martin (Te Herenga Waka University Press, 2022). He looks at the importance of… Audio
NZ Sporting History: The 1981 Springbok Tour
New Zealand continued to play rugby against South Africa through the years of apartheid, and toured over there with a 'white only team'. Then in 1981 the Springbok team were welcomed onto our shores.
…