Natural history and science

Watch as the natural world comes to life.

Natural history and science series and films

A white pick-up truck drives up a winding country road, surrounded by dry New Zealand farmland. The text reads "The Turning Point"

The Turning Point

A new generation of kaitiaki protect and restore our natural environment.
6 episodes
13m
A school of fish swim together in the ocean. The text reads "Turning the Tide"

Turning the Tide

Researchers, kaitiaki, and communities improve the health of Aotearoa’s moana.
6 episodes
13m
A man wearing sunglasses and a tartan hat is looking out to the left. Text reads, "Our Other Islands".

Our Other Islands

Troy Kingi embarks on a journey to explore the "other" islands of Aotearoa.
6 episodes
26m
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.

Fight for the Wild

Documentary series exploring the notion of a Predator Free 2050 in Aotearoa.
4 episodes
45m
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.

The Aotearoa History Show

The story of NZ and its people from its geological origins to modern day.
1 season/14 episodes
19m
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".

My Cyclone Gabrielle

Cyclone Gabrielle left a mark on us beyond the physical destruction.
4 episodes
9m
A portrait of a child looking into the camera. On their head is a collection of blue and green strips of ribbon that intertwine with their long braided hair. They are wearing a blue shirt, a jacket and a bow tie. Text reads, "Loading Docs". Beside the text is a simple graphic circle meant to look like a roll of film.

Loading Docs

Empowers documentarians to unleash bold, creative, & unforgettable NZ stories.
1 season/6 episodes
13m

More to watch

If you are interested in Natural history and science you might also want to check out some of our other series and films.

  • Tamariki6

    Series for children, featuring some very well-known New Zealanders.

    Michal Bush, in all pink, plays a guitar in her music room. The text above reads: "Music with Michal."
    A yellow graphic with two blue penguins dancing. Below them is the text: "Bigsies and Littles."
    In an animated graphic, the top of a man's face is seen in front of fence, above which are a collection of native New Zealand birds. In the middle of the image, in the middle of the birds, is the text: "BIRD'S EYE VIEW 2."

  • Hidden gems10

    A collection of some of the best bits you might have missed on RNZ Video.

    One young woman sits on another who is in a wheelchair in a zany candid moment. Text reads "This is Wheel Life with Soph and Indy"
    Whitney Steel & Nathan Taare sit at a table and smell samples of a perfume. White text below them reads: "JOURNEY OF SCENT."
    Eight seperate images edited into two rows of four, each showing different images of people and art. Text reads, "Marauders".

  • Comedy12

    Docos and drama with a healthy dose of humour.

    A man looking into the camera with his mouth slightly open. His left eye is bugged out in a comically over the top way. Text reads, "A Place Called Te Awamutu".
    Piripi is wearing a shirt and a cap and looks into the camera smiling. He is leaning against the side of a vehicle. Text reads, "Oe, The Adventures of of Piripi Kaiwaru AKA Phillip! Narrated by his Mother" There is a small illustration of a truck under the text, as well as illustrations of deer horns and a kangaroo.
    Against a yellow-and-orange background, the cyan-coloured text reads: "the All Goods Race."

  • New in 202533

    New series and films as well as the latest from our ongoing shows.

    Michal Bush, in all pink, plays a guitar in her music room. The text above reads: "Music with Michal."
    A yellow graphic with two blue penguins dancing. Below them is the text: "Bigsies and Littles."
    On a dark-brown background, the light-brown text reads: "MATA REPORTS."
A large group of people protesting, they're all holding signs. Text reads, "Hīkoi, Speaking Our Truth".
A yellow graphic with two blue penguins dancing. Below them is the text: "Bigsies and Littles."
Michal Bush, in all pink, plays a guitar in her music room. The text above reads: "Music with Michal."
Dark grey background with yellow text reading, "The Barber Shope". There is a illustration in the same yellow of a Māori design.
Text reads, "House Talk" on a white brick wall background.
In a graphic made up of differently coloured brown tiles, the two main hosts of Whakamāori season three pose. Behind them is text reading: "WHAKAMĀORI."
An archival picture of a group of Pacific Islanders posing for a group picture. The text reads "Untold Pacific History"
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 hillside is draped with a large Māori flag, on the ridge line stands a single figure and another Māori flag. Text in a painted font reads "Ake Ake Ake"
The back of someone looking up at a big red firework exploding in the night sky. Text reads, "Giants Giants Giants". The last "Giants" fades into the background.
A mixed crowd with people standing among police officers wearing helmets and masks. The image has a black background with the white title 'Boiling Point, March 2nd'.
Dark purple background with text, "Art Stories in Aotearoa".
On the left side of the graphic is the back of a yellow-on-black female athlete as she walks away. On the right side is a block of yellow. In the middle, written from top to bottom, is the text "OUTSIDE" in black and "THE LINES" in yellow.
Against a yellow-and-orange background, the cyan-coloured text reads: "the All Goods Race."
A birds'-eye view of some military items sitting scattered on a desk, including a map, a hat, playing cards, and a couple of coins. The text in the middle reads "Back to Timor."
A large group of smiling young performers in traditional Polynesian attire pose together outdoors. They wear orange and yellow garments, necklaces made of white spikes, and have black markings on their faces. Above them, on a yellow banner, bold black text reads “SEVEN WEEKS,” with the subtitle “JOURNEY TO POLYFEST” in italics.
Against a black background, a group of opera singers sing. The green text reads: "Toiere."
A portrait of a child looking into the camera. On their head is a collection of blue and green strips of ribbon that intertwine with their long braided hair. They are wearing a blue shirt, a jacket and a bow tie. Text reads, "Loading Docs". Beside the text is a simple graphic circle meant to look like a roll of film.
A woman sitting on a chair next to a desk and coffee table. She's smiling at the camera. Text reads, "Aotearoa's Most Bizarre Conspiracies".
A group of Pasifika women pose for a picture. Below them the text reads: "Myths & Maidens."
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".
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.
A man with their back towards the camera, they're looking on onto an ocean. The image is in grey scale. Text reads, "The Art of War".
A woman siting on a two person sized couch, she has her arms spread to the sides. She's looking at the camera. Text reads, "I Got You".