From the desperate struggle for employment during the Great Depression to the rise of iconic exports like wool, kiwifruit, and dairy, this episode dives into Aotearoa’s deep-rooted work ethic. It explores the ingenuity, tenacity, and occasional absurdities that have shaped New Zealand’s working life over the past century.
Archival audio in this series is from the RNZ collection at Ngā Taonga Sound & Vision.
There are tales of sharemilkers and shearing gangs, Depression-era riots and wage protests, black-market massage parlours, and the birth of EFTPOS.
Along the way, we hear from those who’ve worked with their hands, hacked the system, and even lost fingers for a payout. From coal dust to decimal currency debates, this episode traces the highs and lows of earning a living in Aotearoa, showing how work hasn’t just been about money, but about purpose, pride, and pushing through.
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From the battlefields of Crete to the panic of Marmageddon, this episode looks at how New Zealanders have faced some of their darkest, proudest, and oddest moments. We hear voices from VJ Day celebrations, soldiers dreaming of roast lamb from thousands of miles away, and grieving through disasters like Tangiwai, Wahine, and Erebus.
Archival audio in this series is from the RNZ collection at Ngā Taonga Sound & Vision.
There are moments of national outrage, moral panics, and protest batons. Through tragedy and triumph, protest and panic, Kiwis have met the moment with resilience, resourcefulness, and the occasional ridiculous headline. These stories reveal not just how Aotearoa has changed, but the values we keep coming back to; fairness, connection, and a good feed.
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This episode explores the ways culture, creativity, and storytelling have built a uniquely New Zealand identity. From the revival of traditional Māori music to quirky early poetry, National Film Unit travelogues to Shortland Street and the Lord of the Rings, creativity has been our constant.
We’ve embraced new forms, clashed over controversial works, and redefined what art means in Aotearoa. Along the way, we’ve learned that true national pride comes from telling our own diverse, messy, and brilliant stories.
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New Zealand’s landscapes are beautiful but also volatile. Earthquakes have shattered our towns, volcanoes have darkened our skies, and mountain avalanches have taken lives. Natural disasters have tested our resilience and reshaped our communities, yet in every crisis we’ve found ingenuity, solidarity, and hope.
This episode traces our deep connection with the environment, and highlights the animals that have captured the nation’s heart. From our battles with pests like possums to the headline making Shrek the sheep. These stories remind us how closely we live alongside nature and how fiercely we fight to protect it.
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This episode explores how New Zealand’s approach to health and wellbeing has transformed over the past century, from state-run health camps and free school milk to jazzercise and the revolutionary invention of brunch.
Unpacking shifting attitudes toward public health, nutrition, fitness, and alcohol, tracing a journey from nourishing underfed children to grappling with rising obesity rates, from 6 o’clock pub closures to sipping wine with brunch, and from smoky offices to smoke-free taxis.
Along the way, it celebrates iconic moments of Kiwi grit and sporting spirit, from record breaking Jack Lovelock to teenage swimmer Meda McKenzie’s epic channel crossing, reminding us that despite our indulgences, New Zealanders have always had a knack for pushing boundaries and giving things a bloody good go.
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A collection of stories rooted in ingenuity and resistance: Ngā Tamatoa’s fight for te reo in schools, Dame Whina Cooper’s historic land march and Eva Rickard’s stand in Raglan, alongside the fight for Pasifika rights, queer rights and the religious rebellion of theologian Lloyd Geering. These are trailblazers who took on church, state, and social norms, proving that New Zealand’s progress has often come from a mix of practical problem-solving and powerful protest.
It’s a collection of stories rooted in ingenuity and resistance: Bruce McLaren’s early beginnings before building a motorsport empire, Jean Batten’s record-breaking flight that shattered gender expectations, Ngā Tamatoa’s fight for te reo in schools, Dame Whina Cooper’s historic land march, and Eva Rickard’s stand in Raglan.
These are trailblazers who took on church, state, and social norms, proving that New Zealand’s progress has often come from a mix of practical problem-solving and powerful protest.
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RNZ100: A Century of Stories is a six-part podcast celebrating 100 years of broadcasting in Aotearoa New Zealand. Hosted by Mike McRoberts, it showcases the connection RNZ has brought to New Zealanders with each episode shaped by a central theme.
Drawing from RNZ’s rich audio archive from the last 100 years, the series brings to life the voices of New Zealanders who lived through the country’s most defining (and surprising) moments. Many of the clips featured haven’t been heard since they were first broadcast decades ago!
From the frontline of protest, to the joys of free school milk, from national tragedies to cultural triumphs, this series threads together archival clips, conversations, and historical reflection to tell a story of who we are, how we’ve changed, and what connects us across the decades.
Each episode has Mike McRoberts joined by two guests to unpack the people and events that helped shape the national character. RNZ100: A Century of Stories is a fresh take on the history we thought we knew.
Host: Mike McRoberts (Ngāti Kahungunu)
Veteran broadcaster, award-winning journalist, and long-time face of New Zealand television news. Currently the Te Ao Māori editor at NBR.
