RNZ100: A Century of Stories

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.

Hosted by Mike McRoberts

RNZ podcast cover with bold white text “RNZ” on a dark red background. Below it, the subtitle reads “A century of stories” in white. On the right side, the number “100” is repeated vertically in red, except for one instance in white.

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Episode shared with you:

Wealth and Work

Episode 6
From the desperate struggle for employment during the Great Depression to the rise of iconic exports like wool, kiwifruit, and dairy, this episode dives into Aotearoa’s deep-rooted work ethic. It explores the ingenuity, tenacity, and occasional absurdities that have shaped New Zealand’s working life over the past century.
Wealth and Workshared with you
The words “Animal and Nature” appear in bold black on a tan background. A black-and-white photo of sheep fills the right side, framed in a stylized open-book shape. A light blue starburst and wavy lines add playful graphic accents.

All episodes:

Wealth and Work

Episode 6
From the desperate struggle for employment during the Great Depression to the rise of iconic exports like wool, kiwifruit, and dairy, this episode dives into Aotearoa’s deep-rooted work ethic. It explores the ingenuity, tenacity, and occasional absurdities that have shaped New Zealand’s working life over the past century.
Wealth and Workshared with you
The words “Animal and Nature” appear in bold black on a tan background. A black-and-white photo of sheep fills the right side, framed in a stylized open-book shape. A light blue starburst and wavy lines add playful graphic accents.

Crisis and Conflict

Episode 5
From the battlefields of Crete to the panic of Marmageddon, this episode looks at how New Zealanders have faced some of their darkest, proudest, and oddest moments. We hear voices from VJ Day celebrations, soldiers dreaming of roast lamb from thousands of miles away, and grieving through disasters like Tangiwai, Wahine, and Erebus.
The words “Animal and Nature” appear in bold black on a tan background. A black-and-white photo of sheep fills the right side, framed in a stylized open-book shape. A light blue starburst and wavy lines add playful graphic accents.

Art and Culture

Episode 4
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.
The words “Art & Culture” appear in bold black on a purple background. A black-and-white people looking at artwork on the walls of an art gallery appears in the right hand side. A yellow starburst and wavy lines add playful graphic accents.

Animals and Nature

Episode 3
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.
The words “Animals and Nature” appear in bold black on a tan background. A black-and-white photo of sheep fills the right side, framed in a stylized open-book shape. A light blue starburst and wavy lines add playful graphic accents.

Health and Wellbeing

Episode 2
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.
Bold black text reads “Health and Wellbeing” on a soft yellow background. The right side features a black-and-white photo of children and a man exploring by a river, framed by a stylized open-book shape. A lilac starburst and wavy lines add playful visual elements.

Rebellion and Innovation

Episode 1
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.
Bold black text reads “Rebellion and Innovation” on a coral red background. The right side of the image features a black-and-white photo of a protest scene, framed by an open-book shape. A man with a mask raises his arms, holding a sign. A pale yellow starburst and wavy lines add graphic flair.

Introducing: RNZ100: A Century of Stories

Trailer
RNZ100: A Century of Stories is a six-part podcast celebrating 100 years of broadcasting in Aotearoa New Zealand. Hosted by Mike McRoberts, it showcases the connection RNZ has brought to New Zealanders with each episode shaped by a central theme.

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