History
Preserving the past
A restoration studio in Auckland has been drawing on the skill of people from different arts cultures to help preserve and restore Kiwi antiques. Produced by Kadambari Raghukumar
AudioThe Bassett Road machine-gun murders (part 2)
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
Lawnmowing – a simple task with an illuminating history and uncertain future
John Bluck explores the past, future, and current state of lawnmowing in a light-hearted but informative talk in six closely-cropped chapters. Audio
Today in music history for 19 August 2020
On this day in1961 Patsy Cline recorded the classic Willie Nelson song, 'Crazy'. Audio
The History of NZ's Constitutional Crises
Earlier this week, NZ avoided a constitutional crisis. There was a possibility that NZ First could withdraw confidence in the Government if the election date was not moved. The election was moved and… Audio
The chefs who fed tyrants
Even a dictator has to eat. And Polish journalist and trained chef Witold Szablowski has tracked down the cooks for notorious leaders from Saddam Hussein to Pol Pot to get their views from the… Audio
Ngā Taonga Sound Archives: A feeling for the forest Part 1 & 2
Today Nga Taonga's Kahu Kutia (who is also from Ngāi Tūhoe) shares excerpts of the one of RNZ's Spectrum programme made in 1982 from the sound archives. Audio, Gallery
Eat the Buddha: Barbara Demick
Pulitzer prize-nominated writer, former LA Times Beijing bureau chief and foreign correspondent Barbara Demick's new book is Eat the Buddha - Life and Death in a Tibetan Town. It's a narrative… Audio
Machine-gun Murder: the story of Bassett Road (part 1)
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
The Rest is History: Digging for record gold
It's time for the Rest is History, and tonight we're looking back not at a specific date but at rare New Zealand records, and digging for gold. Renee Jones from NZ music history site Audioculture… Audio
Wellington convention centre named Tākina, botanic gardens area named Paekākā
The council has unanimously approved the name, and formally accepted the name Paekākā for the area around the botanical gardens.
Nga Taonga Sound Archives - V.J Day
This Saturday marks the 75th anniversary of the end of World War II or V.J. Day, with a special commemoration to be held at the Pukeahu National War Memorial in Wellington. Audio, Gallery
Rock College, Mark Derby on Mount Eden Prison
Historian Mark Derby's latest book Rock College - an unofficial history of Mount Eden Prison. Known as 'The Rock' the imposing Victorian fortress-style building incarcerated those found guilty for… Audio
Behind the legend of Madam Flora MacKenzie
Black Sheep - Flora MacKenzie was a hard drinking, hard talking brothel owner from the 1960s and '70s who won the affection of sex workers, police and punters alike.
Japan holds no hatred to US after atomic bombs - diplomat
A Japanese diplomat in New Zealand says his country harbours no hatred at all towards the United States over atomic bombs dropped 75 years ago.
The bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagaskai on 6 August… Audio
Madam: the story of Flora MacKenzie
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
How humans have evolved to become more and less violent
Harvard professor Richard Wrangham talks about why humans are becoming more peaceful as individuals, but with a greater capacity for devastating violence in groups. Audio
The Rest Is History: The 1985 NBL Champs
The 1985 NBL Final between Wellington Exchequer Saints and Auckland the is one of the most memorable games in New Zealand basketball. Audio
The History of NZ's Patriotic Moments with Dr Grant Morris
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
Palmerston North Mayor on sister city Mihara, Horoshima
75 years ago today the US ended the world war in the Pacific by dropping the first atomic bomb over the Japanese city Hiroshima. Taeko Yoshioka Braid was just 13 years old and at high school just out… Audio
