RNZ100: A Century of Stories

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.

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.

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 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.

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.

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.