Bob Lowry, wearing an eyepatch and crown, holds a finger in the air. The graphic is white and teal.

I Am a Dark River

1h 10m

A playful and experimental documentary focused on the story of New Zealand modernist printer and publisher Bob Lowry, through the eyes of his granddaughter Tess.
Warning: suicide references.

Made with the support of Creative New Zealand

Series details.

Credits

Orlando Stewart
Producer
Dr. Emma Willis
Associate Producer
Tess Mitchell
Director

Where to get help:

Need to talk? Free call or text 1737 any time to speak to a trained counsellor, for any reason.
Lifeline: 0800 543 354 or text HELP to 4357
Suicide Crisis Helpline: 0508 828 865 / 0508 TAUTOKO (24/7). This is a service for people who may be thinking about suicide, or those who are concerned about family or friends.
Depression Helpline: 0800 111 757 (24/7) or text 4202
Samaritans: 0800 726 666 (24/7)
Youthline: 0800 376 633 (24/7) or free text 234 or email talk@youthline.co.nz
What's Up: Free counselling for 5 to 19 years old, online chat 11:00am-10.30pm, 7 days a week, or free phone 0800 WHATSUP / 0800 9428 787 11:00am-11:00pm
Asian Family Services: 0800 862 342 Monday to Friday 9:00am to 8:00pm or text 832 Monday to Friday 9:00am-5:00pm. Languages spoken: Mandarin, Cantonese, Korean, Vietnamese, Thai, Japanese, Hindi, Gujarati, Marathi, and English.
Rural Support Trust Helpline: 0800 787 254
Healthline: 0800 611 116
Rainbow Youth: (09) 376 4155
OUTLine: 0800 688 5463 (6:00pm-9:00pm)

If it is an emergency and you feel like you or someone else is at risk, call 111.

Funded by

Creative NZ

Get in touch

More like this

  • Thomas Coysh

    New
    After some difficulty finding employment, Thomas Coysh turned his focus to Para alpine skiing and spends the ski season training on Cardrona's slopes. Bunking in a yurt nearby, he skis with his ski guide, John, who uses audio cues through the use of headsets or speakers for Thomas to ski untethered.
    Sight Unseen/Episode 1
    7m

  • Back to Timor

    Back to Timor follows the journey of four Kiwi military veterans who return to East Timor 25 years after serving as peacekeepers there. The big question for them: did they make a difference?
    Back to Timor/Film
    43m

  • Documentary

    In 2018, RNZ followed the St Paul's College Samoan group as they sacrificed weeks of their lives to compete for Polyfest glory.
    Seven Weeks: Journey to Polyfest/Film
    1h 0m

  • Full Concert

    Toiere (meaning to sing) unites beloved operatic arias, duets, and ensembles in their original languages and te reo Māori, celebrating voice, language, and identity while honouring Aotearoa New Zealand's rich cultural landscape and opera's universal emotions. Experience the beauty, drama, and emotion of these operatic treasures reimagined through the lends of Aotearoa's rich cultural tapestry. Starring some of NZ's hottest operatic talent, including Kawiti Waetford, Katherine Winitana, Elisha Fa'i-So'oialo, Emmanuel Fonoti-Fuimaono, and Joel Amosa with pianist Juan Kim.
    Toiere/Film
    1h 21m

  • Documentary

    After Indira Gandhi's assassination, the 1984 Sikh Massacre unfolded, with thousands of Sikhs violently killed over three days. Many sought asylum. 1984 follows their journey to find home in Aotearoa after enormous tragedy.
    1984/Film
    1h 4m

  • Documentary

    This documentary looks at the results of Niue's constitution through the eyes of those who have stayed, those who left, those who returned. But most importantly for the survival of Niue, this will be for those to come...
    Being Niuean/Film
    44m

  • Documentary

    RNZ’s Guyon Espiner asks why the world is passing New Zealand by in changing its approach to drug reform. He investigates the waste of money, lives, and wellbeing that continues to mount as a result.
    Guyon Espiner: Wasted/Film
    44m

  • Fly Like a Moa

    Kauri isn't allowed to go rock-climbing with Lani. Kauri meets a moa and learns that everyone has different strengths.
    What Will I Be Today?/Season 1/Episode 1
    5m

  • Documentary

    Contains nudity, opinion and strong language. Myths & Maidens is a rich tapestry of stories from women across the Pacific. It delves into colourism, fatphobia, and how our societies have been taught to view women of colour across the ages.
    Myths & Maidens/Film
    56m

  • The Rise and Fall

    Isabella Moore’s career soared with body positivity, but fashion’s return to thinness now threatens everything she’s fought for as a Samoan-Kiwi curve model.
    Cutting the Curve/Episode 1
    10m

  • Documentary

    Joy, Full & Fearless follows the trauma and triumph of Joy Cowley's astonishing life as New Zealand's prolific, widely published and celebrated author of children's fiction. Available in NZ, Australia and the Pacific Islands.
    Joy, Full & Fearless/Film
    56m

  • 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.
    Context/Season 1/Episode 10
    42m

  • Melissa Chan-Green | Til Death

    Content warning: discusses death and loss, and sexual assault. After his bride’s death just hours after their wedding, a devastated groom struggles to process his grief. Five years later, he turns to Melissa Chan-Green to tell his heart-wrenching story for the first time.
    re_covering/Season 5/Episode 8
    57m

  • Documentary

    New
    This documentary exposes Antarctica's dramatic climate shifts, from melting ice to rising seas, showing how changes at the world's edge threaten Earth's shared future.
    Antarctica in a Warming World/Film
    18m

  • "No Ride. Just Pure Vibes and Aroha."

    Torrell and Trexx kick off their race across the North Island, relying on Kiwi kindness to complete their first challenges in Auckland and Wellington.
    The All Goods Race/Episode 1
    10m

  • Flight Night

    Rumour has it that every Halloween, the tiny humans transform into hideous monsters—including something so unspeakably awful, even grown-ups have nightmares about it.
    Bird's Eye View/Season 2/Episode 1
    5m

  • Documentary

    Boiling Point is the first major broadcast production to provide a feature-length, straightforward account of the final day of one of Aotearoa’s most infamous protests.
    Boiling Point/Film
    45m

  • NZ Wars: Stories of Waitara

    The Taranaki pā site of Pukerangiora holds a significant place in New Zealand’s military history as a lasting symbol of Māori resistance and resilience.
    NZ Wars: Stories of Waitara/Film
    44m

  • Whitiki

    A video documentary that tells the stories of three Māori Pioneers who went to battle in WWI, through the eyes of their descendants.
    Whitiki/Film
    52m

  • NZ Wars: Stories of Tainui

    NZ Wars: Stories of Tainui is the third compelling chapter in RNZ’s award-winning documentary project on the New Zealand Wars.
    NZ Wars: Stories of Tainui/Film
    48m

  • Dealing with Loss

    This episode looks at the devastating effect introduced mammals have had on New Zealand’s unique wildlife.
    Fight for the Wild/Episode 1
    45m

  • Aotearoa - Waking Up to the Dawn Raids

    The Dawn Raids story is overdue to be told. Long whispered about in secret family conversations, people have heard the words "dawn raids" but not what really happened.
    Untold Pacific History/Season 1/Episode 1
    14m

  • Episode 1

    We investigate the occupation at Ihumātao from the perspective of the leaders of the campaign to #ProtectIhumātao.
    Ake Ake Ake/Episode 1
    55m

  • Beneath the Surface

    There's more to these islands than what you see.
    Chatham Islanders/Episode 1
    26m

  • Kororā: Little Blue Penguin

    In 2020, a Banks Peninsula family works to protect and survey the Indigenous population of white-flippered penguins, through predator trapping and citizen science.
    Kororā: Little Blue Penguin/Film
    30m

  • Proverbs

    New
    In this episode of Whakamāori, the team—Chey Milne, Tākuta Anaha Hiini, & Tamati Waaka—translate some of the world's most recognisable proverbs: phrases passed down through generations, across cultures and continents. From "what goes around comes around" to "every cloud has a silver lining," these sayings carry life lessons, warnings, and words of encouragement—often wrapped in metaphor. The panel explores how these ideas can be expressed in te reo Māori, and what shifts when we bring them into our own cultural and linguistic lens. Whether you're learning new kupu or just love the art of a god whakataukī, this episode if all about finding the meaning between the lines.
    Whakamāori/Season 3/Episode 11
    35m

  • Crown Lynn: A Māori Story

    A riveting slice of New Zealand history telling the iconic story of Crown Lynn pottery and the generations of Māori families that worked there.
    Crown Lynn: A Māori Story /Film
    53m

  • Meng

    Meng is a one hour bilingual documentary that follows former Gisborne mayor and current Race Relations Commissioner Meng Foon.
    Meng/Film
    52m

  • NZ Wars: Stories of Wairau

    The fourth epic chapter in the award-winning NZ Wars series. Presented by Mihingarangi Forbes.
    NZ Wars: Stories of Wairau/Film
    56m

  • Tākuta Ferris levels new allegations against Te Pāti Māori executive

    New
    Ousted Te Tai Tonga MP Tākuta Ferris speaks candidly to Mihingarangi Forbes about the mounting internal tensions within Te Pāti Māori that led to the current fall out. John Tamihere was approached to respond to the allegations made in this episode. He declined to comment on what he described as "any matters based on hearsay, innuendo, accusation, or insinuation."
    MATA with Mihingarangi Forbes/Season 3/Episode 22
    48m

  • The Chief

    In episode one, we first meet the prominent Māori chief Te Whakatōhea Chief Mokomoko who dedicates his life to protecting the land and people of Bay of Plenty's Te Whakatōhea Iwi.
    Stolen Lands/Season 1/Episode 1
    29m

  • Bondi Babes

    Soph's first flight to Sydney leads her to Bondi Beach post-accident, where sand and wheelchairs clash. With the help of lifeguards, she discovers how accessible the beach can be!
    This Is Wheel Life/Season 2/Episode 7
    14m

  • Flower Pot Boombox

    Fat Freddy’s Drop depart Auckland, bound for London, 2003. Taking up residence for six weeks in Tooting, South London, the band sets up a studio in the lounge, and get straight into rehearsals and making beats.
    MARAUDERS/Season 1/Episode 1
    9m

  • Part 1 (2024)

    Ruamata captures the journey of Te Kura Kaupapa Māori o Ruamata's rise to the top of hockey in Aotearoa as they become the first Māori immersion school in a century to compete in the prestigious Rankin Cup.
    Ruamata: It's More Than Hockey/Film
    1h 0m

  • Katchafire: Legacy

    The story of the Māori band Katchafire, as they struggle to find their way through volatile creative differences and a changing music landscape.
    Katchafire: Legacy/Film
    53m

  • Sir Bill English

    New
    Sir Bill English weighs in on Chris Luxon’s performance and whether National should consider a new leader before the election. He also reflects on his years working with Te Pāti Māori, and why he barely recognises the party today.
    30 with Guyon Espiner/Season 4/Episode 4
    32m

  • All Blacks at War

    Former All Black Andrew Mehrtens MNZM shares the story of the 13 All Blacks killed in WWI.
    All Blacks at War/Film
    44m

  • NZ Wars: Stories of Tauranga Moana

    The fifth chapter of this series, NZ Wars: Stories of Tauranga Moana recounts the events that unfolded in the Bay of Plenty and their far-reaching consequences for future generations.
    NZ Wars: Stories of Tauranga Moana/Film
    48m

  • Gloss Finish

    A person with sweaty hands searches for a dance partner who, like them, bears the clammy burden of a gloss finish.
    Day One Shorts/Season 2/Episode 1
    13m

  • Not Her Destiny: Former church member asks, "Did I not deserve to be protected?"

    For years, Destiny Church shaped every part of Lynia Morseu-Tol's life: her faith, her family, and her identity. As a takatāpui wahine Māori, its teachings left her feeling ashamed, conflicted, and alone—all while she endured years of abuse at home. 16 years after leaving the church, Lynia speaks out about its leaders, whom she believes failed to protect her, and condemns Ngāti Uenuku - Rainbow Community. This is Lynia's story of reckoning with faith, identity, and whānau.
    MATA Reports/Season 2/Episode 2
    28m

  • Hīkoi – Speaking Our Truth

    It was the social movement that changed the country's political landscape. 20 years on, Tāmati Rimene-Sproat retraces the 2004 Foreshore and Seabed march, all the way back to the steps of Parliament.
    Hīkoi – Speaking Our Truth/Film
    59m

  • The Political "Cost" - Tim Costley

    In the final episode of Ngā Porokate, we head back to the ahi and sit down with National MP for Kāpiti, Tim Costley. Our kōrero dives into his whakaaro on the coalition government, the cost of living, co-governance, and whether he'll be standing again in the 2026 election. A straight-up, no-frills conversation on politics, perspectives, and the future direction of our communities.
    Hori on a Hīkoi/Episode 10
    25m

  • James McKenzie

    The outlaw who committed the most Kiwi of crimes: sheep-stealing. James McKenzie rustled hundreds of sheep and became such a legend that a large part of the South Island still bears his name.
    My Favourite Dead Person/Season 3/Episode 1
    9m

  • Ground Work

    In the first of a three-part series, bands from Christchurch, Wellington, and Auckland travel to Scotland to compete in the World Pipe Band Championships.
    12,000 Miles/Episode 1
    36m

  • Lau Yuet Seen

    It was September 1938 when Lau Yuet Seen received word from her husband to leave Fah Dei for Hong Kong as soon as possible. The Japanese troops were close to landing north of Hong Kong.
    Farewell Guangdong/Episode 1
    22m

  • Overview

    We dive into Te Tiriti o Waitangi—Aotearoa's founding document—and how it's shaped Aotearoa. Kara Rickards sits down with treaty experts, educators, and lawyers to delve deeper into the historical context.
    Treaty Talks/Episode 1
    46m

  • Inspiration to Write

    Nina Mingya Powles (writer & poet) grew up near Katherine Mansfield's Wellington home. KM ‘loomed’ over her childhood. Powles & graphic artist Sarah Laing make Mansfield a contemporary character.
    Shine On Katherine Mansfield/Episode 1
    7m

  • Documentary

    Two years ago, Guyon Espiner stopped drinking. Now, the award-winning journalist and podcast-maker has made a documentary about New Zealand's drinking culture and the alcohol industry.
    Guyon Espiner: Proof/Film
    44m

  • Mamas Return to Play

    Juggling new motherhood in often-isolated countries and continuing a sports career can have big pressures on Pasifika women.
    Outside the Lines/Episode 1
    9m

  • Main Feature

    From visionary director Katie Wolfe comes an unflinching documentary of a forgotten history retold from every side.
    The Haka Party Incident/Film
    1h 28m

  • Smells Like Home - Rotorua: Dr. Anaha Hiini

    New
    Te reo Māori expert Dr. Anaha Hiini calls sulphur and steam the scent of home. Can the hosts balance creativity and wearability in this unusual, Rotorua-inspired scent?
    Journey of Scent/Episode 6
    16m

Video section home

Browse all
Photo of Anika Moa in black with hands on hips, looking straight ahead to camera, on a light grey background. The podcast title ‘It’s Personal with Anika Moa’ is written above her head.
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".
In India, a group of people walk down a path in front of a historic building. Above the building in orange reads: "1984"
Misty Frequency's mask sits by other masks on a shelf in a dressing room. The text reads "What's the Disability-Tea"
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.
Black text on a beige background, text reads "Fight for the Wild". Behind the text are three illustrations, one is of New Zealand the other is a disembodied head of a Tūī and the third is a fantail.
Two men embracing in a MMA octagon ring. They look sweaty post match. It's dark around them but they are standing in a spotlight. Text reads, "Fighting Chance".
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".
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 multi-media illustration of four different figures in different art styles. Text reads, "Our Aotearoa".
A white pick-up truck drives up a winding country road, surrounded by dry New Zealand farmland. The text reads "The Turning Point"
An archival picture of a group of Pacific Islanders posing for a group picture. The text reads "Untold Pacific History"
Person on purple background resting their head in their hand. Only their head and chest is visible. Purple text along bottom of image reads, "AMPLIFIED".
Two people holding microphones and singing into them, another person stands behind playing a keyboard piano. The scene is lit with a purple hued light. Text reads, "The Barber Shop Sessions".
On a dark-brown background, the light-brown text reads: "MATA REPORTS."
Text reads, "Treaty Talks Aotearoa, Hosted by Kara Rickard". Surrounding the text is an image of a version of the Coat of Arms, the 'Crown' figure is holding a Māori flag.
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.
9 images of individual people, lined up in two rows of 5. They are all looking into the camera. Text reads, "Generation Next".
A group of people performing a haka outside amongst the trees. The person at the front is in focus and doing a pukana. Text reads, "NZ Wars: The Stories of Ruapekapeka".
Woman looking into the camera, standing side on. She has a staunch expression and Is wearing a bright pink blouse. Text reads, "Breaking Silence". Text and woman stand against a dark, almost black background.
The silhouette of a man against a sun either rising or setting, the sky is mostly green with a thin bank of orange light along the horizon. Text reads, "Meng".
An adult person is holding a young child in their arms and hugging them. Text reads, "Blind Bitter Happiness".
The back of a woman walking down a path, she's wearing white pants and a silver shiny top with silver tassels coming off the back and arms. Her arms are outstretched. Text reads, "Inside Splore".
A man standing in front of a mural of the Tino Rangatiratanga flag (Māori flag). Text reads, "Hori on a Hīkoi".