Black Sheep

The shady, controversial and sometimes downright villainous characters of NZ history. Join William Ray as he explores history through the lens of Kiwi dirtbags in NZ's most awarded podcast.

Hosted and produced by William Ray

On air:

Sundays at 7am on RNZ National

The words "Black Sheep" are displayed in a vintage font above a black sheep with a creepy red eye.

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Killer Nurse: the story of Elspeth Kerr (Part 1)

Season 9 / Episode 1
Elspeth Kerr was a beloved local nurse in 1930s Devonport, but when her husband died suddenly and her foster daughter fell into an inexplicable coma, locals discovered the shocking truth: Nurse Kerr was a serial poisoner. But more than 90 years later, elements of her crimes remain a mystery. In the first of a two part episode, Black Sheep investigates the chilling story.
Black and white archival images of a woman (Elspeth Kerr). One image on the left of the woman looking at the camera, with a second image on the right of the woman side on.

Killer Nurse: the story of Elspeth Kerr (Part 2)

Season 9 / Episode 2
In the second of Black Sheep's two-part episode on Elspeth Kerr, detectives unravel the mystery of 9-year old Betty Kerr's poisoning and uncover more potential victims of a beloved nurse, turned serial poisoner.
Black and white image of archival newspaper with text saying "Poisoning Case, Charge Against Nurse" and further text

Saturday Morning: Behind Black Sheep

Bonus episode
New Zealand's most awarded podcast is RNZ's own Black Sheep, and it's back with its 9th season. Hosted and produced by William Ray - he explores New Zealand history through the lens of real life, shady, controversial and sometimes downright villainous characters. Saturday Morning's own Susie Ferguson has even been typecast as a murderous Scottish villain in it. Susie and William discuss how the seasons come to be, and wonder why William is so obsessed with the sketchy side of life.
The words "Black Sheep" are displayed in a vintage font above a black sheep with a creepy red eye.

Preservation and Destruction: the story of Elsdon Best (Part 1)

Season 9 / Episode 3
Described in his own time as "the white Tōhunga of Tuhoeland" and by some today as a "structural rascist" who "stole" knowledge, it's fair to say Elsdon Best is a controvesial character. In the first of a two part episode, Black Sheep traces the early life of this self-taught ethnologist.
Black and white archival image of a man (Elsdon Best) with white hair and white beard looking at the camera in front of a black backgroun.

Black Sheep Season 9 | Trailer

Trailer
Black Sheep returns on Friday 30 January for its 9th season with a new cast of rogues, villains and controversial characters. Murderous nurses, foul-mouthed goldfield barkeepers, sly grogging kāuri gum dealers and more! Join William Ray as he looks at the darker side of New Zealand history.
AN illustration of a black sheep with red eyes set against a textured beige background, and a title 'Season 9' at the bottom of the image.

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