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Context

RNZ

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.

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20 episodes
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Avg 40 min
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#23
Yesterday · 47 min
What to Listen to Next: The Reality Machine
RNZ podcast producer Phil Vine introduces you to his latest RNZ podcast, The Reality Machine. Hosted by television insider Dylan Reeve, Dylan dives into the history of reality TV in Aotearoa pulling back the curtain on what makes reality TV what it is. Phil also shares a short update about what stories are coming next to The Lodge podcast feed. Dylan Reeve dives into the fuzzy origins of reality TV in Aotearoa to try and figure out what we even mean when we say ‘Reality’. He looks at our local shows, ranging from fly-on-the-wall docuseries like Motorway Patrol into heavily constructed social strategy games like Treasure Island and The Traitors, exploring how a format with almost no fixed rules managed to grow into one of our biggest pop-cultural touchstones. Keep listening here for the first episode of The Reality Machine, What Even Is Reality? and check out the rest of the series on the RNZ website or on your favourite podcast app. Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details
#22
September 2 · 43 min
The Rise and Fall of Minor Parties
As the Opportunity Party climbs above the crucial 5% threshold,, Context looks back at New Zealand's minor parties. From kingmakers and coalition partners to spectacular failures, who made it into Parliament and who fell short? Season 3 Episode 6 Watch the video version of the episode on YouTube or TVNZ+. Or you can watch the full series on the RNZ website here. Thanks to Ngā Taonga Sound & Vision. Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details
#21
August 26 · 48 min
Property Nation: NZ's Housing Obsession
Today's housing downturn has decades of booms and busts behind it. Context explores how governments, investors and global shocks helped turn New Zealand into a country where property became both a home and an obsession. Season 3 Episode 5 Watch the video version of the episode on YouTube or TVNZ+. Or you can watch the full series on the RNZ website here. Thanks to Ngā Taonga Sound & Vision. Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details
#20
August 19 · 39 min
Winston Peters' Foreign Policy Fallout
A controversial remark in Parliament becomes the starting point for a deeper story. From Chinese gold miners and the poll tax to free trade and modern geopolitical tensions, Guyon Espiner and Corin Dann trace the history of one of New Zealand's most important relationships Season 3 Episode 4 Watch the video version of the episode on YouTube or TVNZ+. Or you can watch the full series on the RNZ website here. Thanks to Ngā Taonga Sound & Vision. Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details
#19
August 12 · 40 min
Who Gets Saved? The History of Government Bailouts
National is spending millions to bail out Golden Bay Cement. But when Watties and Heinz faced closure, the Government turned its back. So why do some companies get rescued while others are left to fail? A look back at the history of bailouts, who gets saved and who doesn't? Season 3 Episode 3 Watch the video version of the episode on YouTube or TVNZ+. Or you can watch the full series on the RNZ website here. Thanks to Ngā Taonga Sound & Vision. Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details
#18
August 5 · 37 min
The Tax New Zealand Won't Touch
New Zealand is the only country in the OECD without wealth tax - so why are we so afraid to tax the rich? The This week, Context looks back on the wealth taxes we had, why we got rid of them and whether this Election will see the tables turn. Season 3 Episode 2 Watch the video version of the episode on YouTube or TVNZ+. Or you can watch the full series on the RNZ website here. Thanks to Ngā Taonga Sound & Vision. Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details
#17
July 29 · 44 min
New Zealand's GE Wars
Genetic engineering has sparked protests, divided governments and resulted in one of the most famous interviews in NZ history. As Parliament once again looks at our GE laws, Context looks back at the political storm that never really ended. Season 3 Episode 1 Watch the video version of the episode on YouTube or TVNZ+. Or you can watch the full series on the RNZ website here. Thanks to Ngā Taonga Sound & Vision. In 2002, allegations of a government cover-up over genetically modified corn exploded into one of New Zealand's biggest political scandals. Nicky Hager's Seeds of Distrust landed in the middle of an election campaign. Helen Clark accused John Campbell of ambushing her in an interview that became the stuff of broadcasting legend. Protesters filled Queen Street, politicians turned on each other, and the debate over genetic engineering became one of the most divisive issues of the era.More than two decades later, the Government is once again trying to change New Zealand's genetic engineering laws. But why are they still among the strictest in the world? How much of the fear was about the science and how much was about trust, politics and the power of the media? This week on Context, Corin Dann and Guyon Espiner revisit the story behind Corngate, unpack the ethics of one of New Zealand's most controversial political interviews, and explore why a debate that began more than 25 years ago is still shaping our politics today. Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details
#16
April 15 · 42 min
Sin and Scandals: When the Personal becomes Political
Labour leader Chris Hipkins cries in response to a social media post by his ex-wife. Should we be listening? We chart the history of political scandals from the Profumo Affair through to Bill Clinton and Monica Lewinsky. Season 2 Episode 6 Watch the video version of the episode here Or you can watch the full series on the RNZ website here. Thanks to Ngā Taonga Sound & Vision. Political scandals from the Profumo Affair through to Bill Clinton and Monica Lewinsky – how has journalistic reporting on this thorny issue evolved and how much do we really need to hear about the private lives of our political leaders? Labour leader Chris Hipkins cries in response to a social media post by his ex-wife. Is that something we need to know about? What about Shane Jones watching blue movies and putting it on his ministerial credit card? Are we bothered about Meteria Turei's benefit claiming history? How about the sexual preferences of Michael Joseph Savage? Is it in the public interest or are the public just interested? Where should reporters draw the line expecially when social media breaks the story? Have a topic you'd like Corin or Guyon to explore? Send your ideas to context@rnz.co.nz Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details
#15
April 8 · 46 min
NZ's Royal Problem: The Power of the Crown
After Andrew Mountbatten Windsor's arrest for his links to Epstein, questions arise about his place in the line of succession. We explore how New Zealand remains tied to the Crown and why changing it is more complex than it seems. Season 2 Episode 5 Watch the video version of the episode here. Or you can watch the full series on the RNZ website here. Thanks to Ngā Taonga Sound & Vision. As scandal surrounds Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, attention has turned to his place in the royal line of succession in New Zealand. In this episode of Context, we explore how New Zealand remains tied to the Crown and why changing it is more complex than it seems. Here’s the catch: if the UK moves to remove him, countries like New Zealand would need to pass their own laws to match it. So what does that actually mean? And if New Zealand became a republic what would have to change? Corin Dann and Guyon Espiner trace the long evolution of our system from the Treaty of Waitangi, through dominion status and the Constitution Act 1986, to the modern role of the Governor-General. Along the way: Why NZ has a legal say in the line of succession What would replace the monarch as head of state And what happens to agreements made with the Crown Could New Zealand walk away from the monarchy and what would we be walking into? Have a topic you'd like Corin or Guyon to explore? Send your ideas to context@rnz.co.nz Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details
#14
April 1 · 44 min
Pharmac: Bitter Pill or Best Medicine?
New Zealand is the only country with a drug-buying agency like Pharmac - but how did we get here? This episode traces its origins, and through politics and patient stories explores the tough trade-offs at the heart of our health system. Season 2 Episode 4 Watch the video version of the episode here. Or you can watch the full series on the RNZ website here. Thanks to Ngā Taonga Sound & Vision. Pharmac decides which medicines New Zealanders get and which they don’t. It’s one of the most powerful institutions in our health system, negotiating hard with global drug companies to save billions. But that success comes with a trade-off: not every life-saving treatment can be funded. So how did New Zealand end up with a system like this? In this episode of Context, we trace the history of Pharmac from its creation in the 1990s to the controversial role it plays today. Along the way, we unpack how it works: the tough negotiations, the use of generics, and the cost-benefit decisions that can determine who gets access to medicine. We also explore the human side of those decisions. The cancer patients forced to go overseas for treatment. The families campaigning for drugs that aren’t funded. And the growing political pressure on a system that was designed to stay independent. As new, high-cost treatments emerge, including weight-loss drugs like Ozempic, the stakes are only getting higher. Is Pharmac a world-leading model that protects New Zealand’s health budget? Or a system that leaves some patients behind? This is the story of the trade-offs at the heart of New Zealand’s healthcare system. Have a topic you'd like Corin or Guyon to explore? Send your ideas to context@rnz.co.nz Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details
#13
March 25 · 44 min
Words Matter: The Speech that Shifted the Polls
As fresh polling fuels political debate, Guyon and Corin look back on our most explosive poll results - including the one that truly changed the game. What makes voters change their minds? Season 2 Episode 3 Watch the video version of the episode here. Or you can watch the full series on the RNZ website here. Thanks to Ngā Taonga Sound & Vision. In this episode of Context, a potted history of Political Polling. With the National Party making headlines with its latest numbers, Corin and Guyon examine one of the most explosive poll results in NZ history: Subscribe: @RNZvideoAt the centre of the story is the 2004 Orewa speech by Don Brash: one of the most controversial speeches in New Zealand political history. It drew fierce criticism but at the same time it triggered a huge surge in voter support for National producing one of the biggest polling swings ever seen.So what explains that shift? Why did voters respond so strongly and what does it reveal about the gap between political commentary and public opinion? We also explore: How political polls work in New Zealand Famous polling moments, from Jim Bolger’s “bugger the pollsters” to modern campaigns The role of media coverage, debates, and messaging in shaping voter behaviour Whether a sudden swing like Orewa could still happen in today’s political climate As new polls continue to shape the narrative around Christopher Luxon and the National Party, this episode asks a bigger question: should we pay attention to Polls? Have a topic you'd like Corin or Guyon to explore? Send your ideas to context@rnz.co.nz Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details
#12
March 18 · 43 min
NZ's Free Trade Hustle
As New Zealand closes in on its first trade deal with India, we look back at the agreements that shaped the country: from Britain’s betrayal in the 1970s to closer economic relations with Australia. For a small nation at the edge of the world, survival has often meant learning to hustle Season 2 Episode 2 Watch the video version of the episode here. Or you can watch the full series on the RNZ website here. Thanks to Ngā Taonga Sound & Vision. New Zealand's free trade agreement with India has been decades in the making, ut this isn’t the first time trade deals have reshaped the country. In this episode of Context, Guyon Espiner and Corin Dann trace the story of the agreements that transformed New Zealand’s economy: from the shock of Britain joining the European Economic Community in 1973, to CER with Australia, the fight over TPP, and the huge impact of our China free trade agreement. The stakes are high, our economy depends on these deals. Along the way: Why New Zealand became one of the world’s biggest champions of free trade The industries that were lost along the way The protests and political battles that followed And whether the global backlash against globalisation could bring the free trade era to an end. Have a topic you'd like Corin or Guyon to explore? Send your ideas to context@rnz.co.nz Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details
#11
March 11 · 41 min
Think Big: Muldoon's Attempt at Energy Independence
As new tensions in the Middle East rattle global energy markets, we look back at the oil shocks of the 1970s and how they reshaped New Zealand’s energy story: from carless days, to Muldoon’s massive Think Big projects - and how we’re grappling with the challenge today. Season 2 Episode 1 Watch the video version of the episode here. Or you can watch the full series on the RNZ website here. Thanks to Ngā Taonga Sound & Vision. As our government tries to fix NZ's energy crisis, and tensions in the Middle East rattle global energy markets, we look back at the oil shocks of the 1970s and how they reshaped New Zealand’s energy story: From carless days, to Muldoon’s massive Think Big projects, what worked, what didn't and what do we need to do now? When oil producers in the Middle East tightened supply during the 1973 oil crisis, the shockwaves reached even the bottom of the world. Fuel prices surged. New Zealand faced an energy crisis. The response from Robert Muldoon was bold and controversial: the massive Think Big programme: dams, synthetic fuel plants and huge state-backed energy projects designed to make the country less dependent on imported oil. How do those big projects stack up now? In Context, Corin Dann and Guyon Espiner trace how geopolitics in the Middle East reshaped New Zealand’s energy system and why those lessons matter again today. Have a topic you'd like Corin or Guyon to explore? Send your ideas to context@rnz.co.nz Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details
March 11 · 45 sec
Context Season 2 | Trailer
Guyon Espiner & Corin Dann are back for a new season of Context. Using their decades of journalistic experience, the explore the history behind what's happening today, diving into NZ’s political past and asking, "How did we get here?" As the country heads into election year, they revisit New Zealand’s most dramatic political moments. Season 2 You can watch the full series on the RNZ website here or on YouTube Thanks to Ngā Taonga Sound & Vision. Have a topic you'd like Corin or Guyon to explore? Send your ideas to context@rnz.co.nz Watch video episodes on the RNZ website: Context with Guyon Espiner and Corin Dann Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details
#10
Oct 22, 2025 · 42 min
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 Watch the video version of the episode here. Or you can watch the full series on the RNZ website here. Thanks to Ngā Taonga Sound & Vision. Have a topic you'd like Corin or Guyon to explore? Send your ideas to context@rnz.co.nz Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details
#9
Oct 15, 2025 · 41 min
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 Watch the video version of the episode here. Or you can watch the full series on the RNZ website here. Thanks to Ngā Taonga Sound & Vision. Have a topic you'd like Corin or Guyon to explore? Send your ideas to context@rnz.co.nz Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details
#8
Oct 8, 2025 · 41 min
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 Watch the video version of the episode here. Or you can watch the full series on the RNZ website here. Thanks to Ngā Taonga Sound & Vision. Have a topic you'd like Corin or Guyon to explore? Send your ideas to context@rnz.co.nz Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details
#7
Oct 1, 2025 · 45 min
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 Watch the video version of the episode here. Or you can watch the full series on the RNZ website here. Thanks to Ngā Taonga Sound & Vision. Have a topic you'd like Corin or Guyon to explore? Send your ideas to context@rnz.co.nz Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details
#6
Sep 24, 2025 · 31 min
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 Watch the video version of the episode here. Or you can watch the full series on the RNZ website here. Thanks to Ngā Taonga Sound & Vision. Have a topic you'd like Corin or Guyon to explore? Send your ideas to context@rnz.co.nz Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details
#5
Sep 17, 2025 · 45 min
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 Watch the video version of the episode here. Or you can watch the full series on the RNZ website here. Thanks to Ngā Taonga Sound & Vision. Have a topic you'd like Corin or Guyon to explore? Send your ideas to context@rnz.co.nz Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

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