History

New excavations in Liang Bua cave on the Indonesian island of Flores suggest that the diminutive early human Homo floresiensis (nicknamed the 'Hobbit') disappeared much earlier than previously… Audio, Gallery

New information, revealed in the book Spies Against Armageddon, shows Lieutenant Colonel Otto Skorzeny lived out his post war days working for Israel's top spy agency Mossad. One of the co-author's of… Audio

Victoria University legal history lecturer Grant Morris discusses the orgins of New Zealand's free education system. Audio

there's no such thing as a free lunch - with independent scholar Brian Easton... low interest rates and world secular stagnation... Audio

You can't make this stuff up: a family that rules a vast empire for 300 years by using torture against their enemies. A family that throws wild parties including dwarfs jumping out of pies. The House… Audio

Rome-based American food writer Katie Parla writes for Bon Apetit and the New York Times. She has just published a book called Tasting Rome: Fresh Flavours and Forgotten Recipes from an Ancient City.

In 1928 the first english speaking team competed in the Tour de France. The Ravat Wonder team was made up of cyclists from New Zealand and Australia. Wellington man, David Coventry happened upon their… Audio

New Zealand's First World War history texts about Gallipoli will have to be rewritten - we now know that there were twice as many soldiers there than we believed. It reminds us that despite all the… Audio

Charlotte Badger is believed to be the first Pakeha woman ever to have lived in New Zealand. Researcher Jennifer Ashton is trying to piece her story together, but with very little to go on do obscure… Audio

Voters may tend to trust journalists about politics and politicians more than expensive ad campaigns that run in the lead up to elections. But are we well served by our media these days, or are they… Audio

The 100th anniversary of the Easter Rising celebrates the courage and ideals that characterised the events and people of 1916. Historian Diarmaid Ferriter reflects on the history and national identity… Audio

Dame Patsy Reddy will take over from Lt Gen The Rt Hon Sir Jerry Mateparae as Governor General in August. With 5 months left to run on his tenure Sir Jerry Mataparae shares some highlights of his time… Audio, Gallery

New Zealand's legendary aviatrix Jean Batten remains something of a mystery despite her many well-documented achievements in the air. She made the first-ever solo flight from England to New Zealand… Audio, Gallery

Senior Curator, Mackelvie Collection, International Art, at the Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tamaki, discussing the depiction of eggs in art. Audio

When they captured the city of Mosul in Iraq Islamic State posted videos online of fighters smashing statues built by the Assyrian empire thousands of years ago. Morehshin Allahyari is an artist who's… Audio

Two of the last surviving soldiers of 28 Maori Battalion have told the Waitangi Tribunal of their experiences of war and its aftermath. Lois Williams was there. Audio

It was heady times when Tom Agee was working as an ad executive in the early 1970s, and his agency was engaged in a campaign to elect the first Republican senator in Virginia for 100 years.. Audio

New Zealand, as you are probably aware, is right in the middle of a referendum on whether or not to change its flag. We are being asked to choose between the incumbent - a blue ensign with the Union… Audio