History
Mike Lee on Wrights Hill Fortress
A unique piece of New Zealand's wartime history can be found on the hills above the Wellington suburb of Karori. Wrights Hill Fortress was built in 1942 to protect Wellington from possible enemy… Audio
70 years of the Aoraki Mount Cook vintage car rally
The Aoraki Mount Cook Vintage Car Rally is winding up after a long weekend - it's 69th year on the motoring calendar since it began over Labour Weekend in October 1956. The rally has been run every… Audio
Hamish Coney: the auction of the collection of late curator Ron Brownson
In 2023 Aotearoa lost one of its most beloved curators and supporters of contemporary photography, and Maori and Pacific art and artists, Ron Brownson. When he died Brownson was Senior Curator New… Audio
Ōtāhuhu Food Festival: Charlotte Macdonald, Garrison World
Professor Charlotte Macdonald talks to Mihi about the significance of Auckland's Great South Road in the New Zealand Wars. Audio
Ōtāhuhu Food Festival: Karen Wilson
In early times Ōtāhuhu was a bustling trading spot with a portage for waka on the Manukau. Local iwi Chairperson of Te Akitai Waiohua, Karen Wilson shares the history of the region. Audio
Ōtāhuhu Food Festival: Aroha Harris
Aroha Harris is a history lecturer at Auckland University, she shares the story of the Marmaduke Nixon monument in the Auckland suburb of Ōtāhuhu. Audio
Sam Dalrymple: creating modern nations
Sam Dalrymple's debut book explores the collapse of the Indian Empire and how five major partitions between 1931 and 1971 created twelve modern nations. Audio
New book to focus on Southland's tragic and odd events
The author is historian, columnist, and former Invercargill city councillor Lloyd Esler, who joins Emile Donovan. Audio
The Silverstream Clydesdales - gentle giants of the horse world
Susie Izard and her daughter Cate Smith have a passion for Clydesdales which they breed at Kimbell in South Canterbury. They're trying to help save the rare breed. Only 5000 are left around the world.
…Bressa Creeting Cake - Bressa Creeting Cake
Bressa Creeting Cake came of out of West Auckland in the mid-1990s with an album full of sonic and songwriterly surprises. Nick Bollinger takes a close listen and talks to members Geoff Maddock and… Audio
A-Z of Aotearoa: K for Kauri
It's time to return to the A-Z of Aotearoa. We've been making our way through the alphabet to look back at the iconic people and cultural touchstones that form New Zealand. We've arrived at 'K' today… Audio
Former Prime Minister Jim Bolger's funeral held in Paraparaumu
Former Prime Minister Jim Bolger's funeral took place in Paraparaumu on Thursday afternoon. RNZ reporter Lillian Hanly spoke to Charlotte Cook. Audio
A tiny fossil offers clue on lost-lost bird species
Technologies such as micro-CT scanning are now helping to reveal the secrets of some of New Zealand's smallest birds. Video
The Great NZ Sell-Off
From Telecom to Air New Zealand, the BNZ to today’s Chorus debt debate. New Zealand’s history of asset sales still shapes our politics. This week on Context, Corin Dann and Guyon Espiner trace four… Video, Audio
History and archaeology 'chose me' - Professor Atholl Anderson
For decades the Ngāi Tahu archaeologist and historian has explored the origins and historic migration of peoples around the Pacific. Audio
Midday Report Essentials for Wednesday 22 October 2025
Fire and emergency New Zealand is stepping up efforts to fight multiple fires around Kaikoura, as weather forecasts predict worsening conditions; New Zealand video game developers will have more… Audio
Plans to make Oamaru Victorian precinct an historic landmark
Oamaru's Victorian precinct and port could become New Zealand's third National Historic Landmark, if a proposal gets enough support from the public. Audio
Small Histories of New Zealand with Emma Kay
Tonight she's chatting about letters to the editor sent by dogs. Audio
Ongaonga shows out for 150th jubilee in style
More than a thousand people flocked to the small rural village in central Hawke's Bay at the weekend to celebrate its 150th year with a parade, markets, singing, dancing and even a golf tournament. Audio
Ongaonga in Central Hawkes Bay celebrates 150th jubilee
Ongaonga, in Central Hawke's Bay celebrated its 150th jubilee over the weekend - with a parade, markets, singing, dancing, and even a golf tournament. Hawke's Bay Tairawhiti reporter Alexa Cook… Audio
