William Ray

Sir George Grey led Aotearoa into some of the worst conflicts of the New Zealand Wars. But at the beginning of his career many saw him as a defender of indigenous rights - including some Māori! So… Audio

Black Sheep returns for a Sixth Season! Audio

On his quest to research for another Black Sheep podcast, RNZ's William Ray came across the story of how a song about George Wilder was banned on public radio. He talks to Jesse about his… Audio

The war on Waikato reaches its climactic conclusion at the Battle of Ooraakau—but that's just the beginning of the struggle for Kiingitanga. Audio

Governor George Grey launches his invasion of Waikato. Kiingitanga forces are heavily outnumbered and outgunned, but the invasion doesn't go smoothly for the British. Audio

Through the 1840s and '50s, Waikato Maaori had been close allies of Paakehaa settlers living in Auckland—so why did the war break out between the two factions in 1863? Audio

When is the Covid-19 vaccine coming? Will it work? William Ray talks to NZ experts charting our path towards immunity. Audio

Lawn owner William Ray looks at the ecological benefits of not mowing and letting your grass grow longer. Audio

Minnie Dean must rank as one of New Zealand's most infamous figures. The only woman to be judicially executed in New Zealand history. For years she was portrayed as a cold-blooded killer who murdered… Audio

The case breaks wide open, two key witnesses come forward with critical information. But the most interesting part of the Bassett Road murders is what happens after the conviction... Audio

It's 1963 and two bodies are found in a house at Bassett Road in Remuera. Detectives are shocked to discover they were killed by a submachine-gun. Newspaper headlines read "Chicago Comes to New… Audio

We hoped it wouldn't happen but we knew there always a risk. Covid-19 is back in the community so the Coronavirus Podcast is also returning with all the information and advice you might need. Audio

Flora MacKenzie is one of the most colourful characters in New Zealand history: A hard drinking, hard talking brothel owner from the 1960s and 70s who won the affection of sex workers, police and… Audio

'Covid-19 unmasked: understanding the outbreak' is a panel discussion from the 2020 New Zealand International Science Festival. Audio

Between the 1960s and late 2000s Stewart Smith went on a one-man crusade, releasing thousands of invasive fish into New Zealand’s rivers, lakes and streams. In this episode of Black Sheep, we… Audio

In part two of Black Sheep's series on Edward Gibbon Wakefield we see theories of "systematic" and "humanitarian" colonisation run into bitter realities. The result is conflict, death and disaster… Audio