Two men in conversation sit opposite each other in a recording studio.

Logo that reads "Context"

42m

Guyon Espiner & Corin Dann explore the backstory to today’s front page, diving into NZ’s political past and asking, "How did we get here?" But there's a twist: one knows the topic, the other doesn’t.

Hosted by Corin Dann and Guyon Espiner

10 episodes

The Great NZ Sell-Off

From Telecom to Air New Zealand, the BNZ to our power companies why did governments sell our state assets, and what did we get in return? Now the Government is eyeing a sale of its Chorus debt. Join Guyon Espiner and Corin Dann as they look back at four decades of selling the family silver.
Season 1/Episode 10
42m

Pension Wars: The NZ Super Promise That Changed Politics

It's the third rail of New Zealand politics: Touch it and you die. From Richard Seddon's groundbreaking old-age pension, to Rob Muldoon's Dancing Cossacks to, Jim Bolger's "No ifs, no buts, no maybes" Corin and Guyon trace the history of New Zealand Superannuation.
Season 1/Episode 9
41m

How MMP changed politics

New Zealand’s MMP voting system promised fairness and diversity — but has it delivered? In this episode of Context, Guyon Espiner and Corin Dann look back at how MMP came to be, from a slip-up by David Lange in the 1980s to Winston Peters’ rise as kingmaker, and now Christopher Luxon’s challenge of managing a three-party government.
Season 1/Episode 8
41m

Behind the picket lines

From the Cook Strait ferry strikes to the fiery union battles of the 1970s, New Zealand’s history is written in industrial action. Now, as nurses, teachers and doctors walk off the job, what lessons can we draw from a century of strikes?
Season 1/Episode 7
45m

The Wild History of Inflation in NZ

From Muldoon’s Price Freeze to Today’s Cost of Living Crisis. Corin and Guyon look back to a time when the PM set the price of milk and froze wages on a whim. Plus, how the NZ reserve bank launched a groundbreaking new monetary policy, which changed how countries controlled inflation for good.
Season 1/Episode 6
30m

NZ's United Nations History

As Winston Peters heads to the UN, Context looks back at how NZ has shaped the world stage — from Peter Fraser at its founding to peacekeepers in Korea and Timor, and a fiery clash with Israel.
Season 1/Episode 5
45m

Booze, Bans & Backlash

Why is alcohol reform such a political minefield? With new reforms on the table, Guyon Espiner and Corin Dann trace liquor laws back through history — from the 6 o’clock swill to Muldoon’s drunken election call and the Black Budget.
Season 1/Episode 4
44m

Parliament's Rules

Inside Parliament’s Rulebook: Why can’t MPs call each other liars? And which MP was kicked out for sarcasm? In this episode, Guyon and Corin trace 175 years of standing orders, Speaker’s rulings, and legendary one-liners. that shaped NZ’s democracy.
Season 1/Episode 3
46m

Spies, Allies, and the FBI

From Kash Patel’s surprise visit to Kim Dotcom’s infamous raid, our relationship with the FBI and America has been anything but simple. We uncover how NZ has balanced alliances, espionage, and independence and why it matters now more than ever.
Season 1/Episode 2
39m

The Brain Drain Backstory

Corin Dann and Guyon Espiner dig into New Zealand’s decades-long “brain drain” to Australia. From Muldoon’s famous one-liner to John Key’s stadium stunt, this is the surprising backstory of the great Kiwi exodus.
Season 1/Episode 1
43m

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A podcast cover for "The Aotearoa History Show" features the title written in colorful, chalk-like letters on a blackboard background. The words "THE" and "AOTEAROA" are in light blue, "HISTORY" is in pink, and "SHOW" is in green with green chalk lines radiating outwards.
A man operating a cannon, theres smoke coming out of it and a man next to it holding his hands over his ears. Text reads, "NZ Wars: Stories of Waitara".
A person sitting on a hill looking out onto an inlet. The image is take from behind the person. Text reads, "Inside Outside". There is an overlay of a recording boarder along the perimeter of the image.
Young man with soot on his face looking into the camera, in his left hand he's holding a Patu (weapon). Text reads, "NZ Wars: Stories of Tauranga Moana".
A yellow baroque style wallpaper. A white line drawing of a house is in the bottom right corner. White handwritten text reads, "Kāinga".
Illustration of two women looking defiantly at the viewer. The background is yellow with illustrated yellow simple flowers. The text reads, "Conversations with my Immigrant Parents".
A half light purple and half yellow background with host, Josh Thomson, in the centre. Behind him are black and white images of six historical figures from various time periods. They have been superimposed so that they appear in a staggered star burst sort of pattern. Yellow text reads, "My Favourite Dead Person".
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A coastal scene of a land mass with cliffs leading down to a beach and the ocean. Text reads, "My Cyclone Gabrielle, Four Filmmakers Four Views".
Misty Frequency's mask sits by other masks on a shelf in a dressing room. The text reads "What's the Disability-Tea"
Guyon Espiner on a black background, looking at camera with logo behind him
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In India, a group of people walk down a path in front of a historic building. Above the building in orange reads: "1984"
Charlotte Cook leaning on a bench and smiling. Beside her is a stack of cookbooks and a bowl of tomatoes. Text reads, "Grilled, with Charlotte Cook".
We see a coastline of New Zealand. On the right is the land; on the left is the ocean; above are clouds. Golden text in the middle reads: "STOLEN LANDS A HIGHLANDER'S QUEST."
A sepia toned image of a family photograph depicting a woman holding the hands of two young children. The photo is deteriorating and the child on the left is almost obscured by the damage. The text reads, "Farewell Guangdong" there are also four Chinese characters, or 'Hanzi', above the text.
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Black and white image of a portion of an All Blacks rugby team photo. Men standing with arms folded looking at the camera wearing sports uniforms. Text reads, "All Blacks at War".
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