The Long Read from Stuff

Trailer: Quarantine Nation

Tue, 03 Mar 2026 21:04:00 -0000

A lethal virus. A drastic lockdown. A nation turned upside down.

From the makers of acclaimed podcasts The Commune, True Story and Witi Underwater, this eight-part narrative series revisits the Covid-19 pandemic with the benefit of hindsight and powerful interviews. Adam Dudding and Eugene Bingham delve into what really happened – and what it taught us about ourselves.

Subscribe to "Quarantine Nation" wherever you get your podcasts. There's a bunch of links here: https://linktr.ee/quarantinenation

Made with the support of NZ on Air for Stuff by Te Pūrongo Productions.

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How not to walk Te Araroa

Fri, 11 Oct 2024 11:00:00 -0000

After receiving some unfortunate health news, Senior reporter Martin van Beynen planned an adventure that would test his superb tramping skills. What could go wrong?

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CREDITS

Written and read by Martin van Beynen

Produced by Jen Black

Audio editing by John Ropiha

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How a horse hoof solved a murder

Fri, 04 Oct 2024 11:00:00 -0000

Every murder case has an “aha” moment. It can be anything from a smoking gun to a confession, and sometimes even a hoof print can provide a breakthrough.

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CREDITS

Written and read by Deborah Morris

Produced by Jen Black

Audio editing by John Ropiha

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Introducing: TFN - The F#$%ing News with Paddy Gower

Sun, 29 Sep 2024 23:18:00 -0000

The F#$%ing News flips the script on the news - short, upbeat, inspirational and f%$#ing good fun journalism with the nation’s favourite everyman reporter, Paddy Gower.

TFN sees Paddy talking to Kiwis who are the good, the great and the brains of our nation.

This podcast is hosted by Paddy Gower and Executive Produced by Jon Bridges. It's made in partnership between Stuff and Believer Media.

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The scars and secrets of forced adoptions

Fri, 27 Sep 2024 12:00:00 -0000

A stolen baby, a student, and the cracking of a 70-year secret. A forced adoption led to scars and secrets. But, thanks to a DNA detective, Di Hill now has the answer to a question she’s been asking forever: Who am I?

WARNING: This podcast contains references to sexual assault, which may be distressing for some listeners. For free help, text or call 1737, 24 hours.

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CREDITS

Written and read by Paula Penfold

Produced by Jen Black

Audio editing by Connor Scott

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‘I wish he had hit me’

Fri, 20 Sep 2024 12:00:00 -0000

The 1980 Hague Convention was meant to protect against children being abducted by a parent. Today, it is frequently used by abusive parents to force their partners into an unenviable choice: lose their child or live within reach of their abusers.

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CREDITS

Written and read by Maddy Croad

Produced by Jen Black

Audio editing by John Ropiha

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Why you should care about Lucy Blakiston

Sat, 14 Sep 2024 12:00:00 -0000

You definitely won’t recognise her. You probably won’t even know her name. But from her bedroom in Blenheim, Lucy Blakiston has become a big deal on the internet.

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CREDITS

Written and read by Bridget Jones

Produced by Jen Black

Audio editing by Connor Scott

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Seditious women and other troublemakers

Fri, 06 Sep 2024 12:00:00 -0000

New Zealand has had so many high-profile female firsts ‒ then there are the everyday women who also made a difference. Hear the stories of the unapologetic abortionist, the first suffragist, the seditious woman, and the house of ill repute.

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CREDITS

Written and read by Deborah Morris

Produced by Jen Black

Audio editing by John Ropiha

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Mums shine at the Olympics

Fri, 30 Aug 2024 12:00:00 -0000

Mothers can do anything, and sports organizations are finally catching up. This was highlighted by Kiwi rowers Lucy Spoors and Brooke Francis, who won gold in the double sculls at the Paris Olympics this month.

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CREDITS

Written by Richard Walker

Read by Laura Heathcote

Produced by Jen Black

Audio editing by Connor Scott

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A completed life

Fri, 23 Aug 2024 12:00:00 -0000

Aubrey Welsh is 69, and will not see his 70th birthday. In September, he will voluntarily stop eating and drinking with the goal of ending his life. He does not have a terminal illness, is not mentally unwell, and does not live in pain. He simply believes he's done everything he's wanted to do - his life is "complete".

WARNING: This podcast contains references to mental health and suicide, which may be distressing for some listeners. For free help, text or call 1737, 24 hours.

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CREDITS

Written and read by Mariné Lourens

Produced by Jen Black

Audio editing by John Ropiha

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Breathing room

Sat, 17 Aug 2024 12:00:00 -0000

Cameron Leslie is one of our most successful athletes, dominating the pool for almost 20 years. Ahead of the Paris 2024 Paralympics, Leslie explains why this time his biggest test isn’t in the water - it’s in the air.

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CREDITS

Written and read by Bridget Jones

Produced by Jen Black

Audio editing by Connor Scott

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The solar farms and the bird factory

Fri, 09 Aug 2024 12:00:00 -0000

Solar farms are about to spread across New Zealand amid surging demand for renewable energy. Where some see opportunity, others see a threat; no more so than in the Mackenzie Basin, where solar farms and one of the world’s rarest birds will share what remains of a transformed landscape.

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CREDITS

Written and read by Charlie Mitchell

Produced by Jen Black

Audio editing by John Ropiha

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Inside big biscuit

Fri, 02 Aug 2024 12:00:00 -0000

Ever wondered how Big Biscuit comes up with new product flavours? Or why the dough mixture gets X-rayed? Senior Reporter Steve Kilgallon takes you inside Griffin’s bake room to uncover the truth - and meet a biscuit-maker who doesn’t have a taste for the sweet things in life.

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CREDITS

Written and read by Steve Kilgallon

Produced by Jen Black

Audio editing by Connor Scott

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A murder in toy town

Fri, 26 Jul 2024 12:00:00 -0000

There have been other attempts to get the Parker-Hulme story on screen besides Heavenly Creatures. Why does this story still fascinate so many of us?

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CREDITS

Written and read by Philip Matthews

Produced by Jen Black

Audio editing by John Ropiha

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Slippery Sam, the highwayman and other strange NZ criminals

Fri, 19 Jul 2024 12:00:00 -0000

Criminals can be high-profile, tragic or horrifying. And then once in a while, they are bizarre, hilarious or amazing. This episode of The Long Read looks at some fascinating ones from New Zealand’s history.

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CREDITS

Written and read by Deborah Morris

Produced by Jen Black

Audio editing by Connor Scott

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'Lord of the Manor' Noel Edmonds

Fri, 12 Jul 2024 12:00:00 -0000

What happens when a mega-wealthy celebrity buys large chunks of a small community and starts throwing his weight around? In 2022, British TV star Noel Edmonds' moved to Ngātīmoti buying a vineyard and cafe called Dunbar Estates. The response to his $30m property buyout has divided the South Island area.

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CREDITS

Written by Tony Wall and Amy Ridout

Read by Tony Wall

Produced by Jen Black

Audio editing by Connor Scott

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Frankton: The future Ponsonby of Hamilton

Fri, 05 Jul 2024 12:00:00 -0000

Apartments are going up, new residents are arriving and Hamilton’s inner-city suburb Frankton is having a moment. Some even go as far as to say Frankton is on its way to be the Ponsonby of Hamilton.

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CREDITS

Written by Richard Walker

Read by Philippa Tolley

Produced by Jen Black

Audio editing by Connor Scott

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NZ's dreamlike international fair

Fri, 28 Jun 2024 12:00:00 -0000

For six months in the early 20th century, a magnificent palace was built in Hagley Park for the largest event held in the city, Christchurch's international fair.

The International Exhibition of 1906, held in Christchurch, was scarcely believable in scale and ambition.

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CREDITS

Written and read by Charlie Mitchell

Produced by Jen Black

Audio editing by Connor Scott

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The Cyclone and the Wedding

Fri, 21 Jun 2024 12:00:00 -0000

On February 13, Hawke’s Bay couple Michaela Tait and Mackenzie Wiig were gearing up for the biggest day of their lives. Then Cyclone Gabrielle destroyed their home and their plans. After nine months of treading water, the couple took one step towards reclaiming their future.

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CREDITS

Written and read by Nikki Macdonald

Produced by Jen Black

Audio editing by Connor Scott

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A wife's pain

Fri, 14 Jun 2024 12:00:00 -0000

Joanne* was convicted of inciting her husband's suicide after she encouraged him to harm himself in text messages. This story reveals how a government department broke the couple and helped to tip a desperate father over the edge.

WARNING: This podcast contains references to mental health and suicide, which may be distressing for some listeners. For free help, text or call 1737, 24 hours.

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CREDITS

Written and read by Nadine Roberts

Produced by Jen Black

Audio editing by Connor Scott

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I thought I was going to die

Fri, 07 Jun 2024 12:00:00 -0000

A spate of gay-bashings in Christchurch has resurfaced old fears that the city isn’t safe for rainbow people, and the mayor admits urgent action is needed.

WARNING: This podcast contains references to mental health, abuse, and suicide, which may be distressing for some listeners. For free help, text or call 1737, 24 hours.

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CREDITS

Written and read by Sinead Gill

Produced by Jen Black

Audio editing by Connor Scott

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Nicola Willis on power, sacrifice and her mischievous streak

Fri, 31 May 2024 12:00:00 -0000

We think we know our country's leaders. But do we really? Ahead of her first budget day as finance minister, Tova O'Brien met up with Nicola Willis to talk superstitions, power, and the naughtiest thing she's ever done.

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CREDITS

Written and read by Tova O'Brien

Produced by Jen Black

Audio editing by Connor Scott

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Making coffins isn’t a childhood

Fri, 24 May 2024 12:00:00 -0000

The New Tribes Mission wanted to ‘plant’ churches in far flung communities. But missionary kids, including Kiwis, were subject to abuse. Colin Mee was one of them.

WARNING: This podcast contains references to mental health, abuse, and suicide, which may be distressing for some listeners. For free help, text or call 1737, 24 hours.

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CREDITS

Written and read by Steve Kilgallon

Produced by Jen Black

Audio editing by Connor Scott

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A chosen end to a wonderful life

Fri, 17 May 2024 12:00:00 -0000

Tracy Hickman has lived her life “pedal to the floor” - just existing has never been an option. That's why she's decided she’ll have an assisted death.

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CREDITS

Written by Mariné Lourens

Produced and read by Jen Black

Audio editing by Connor Scott

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Being a funny guy is a serious business

Fri, 10 May 2024 12:00:00 -0000

Guy Montgomery landed on being a comedian as being funny is something he seemed to be the best at, but being a funny guy is a serious business.

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CREDITS

Written and read by Tyson Beckett

Produced by Jen Black

Audio editing by John Ropiha

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The kiwi music act going global

Fri, 03 May 2024 12:00:00 -0000

Combining dance bangers with a full orchestra, Synthony promises Gen X nostalgics their best night out in years.

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CREDITS

Written and read by Steve Kilgallon

Produced by Jen Black

Audio editing by Connor Scott

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Cancer care's postcode lottery

Fri, 26 Apr 2024 12:00:00 -0000

A postcode lottery means some people are more likely to survive cancer than others. People in the likes of Invercargill or Rotorua are given less access to healthcare than those in Auckland or Christchurch.

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CREDITS

Written by Kristie Boland

Produced and read by Jen Black

Audio editing by Connor Scott

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The power of equine therapy

Fri, 19 Apr 2024 12:00:00 -0000

Caroline Szembrener, a Massey University researcher, believes current approaches to treating eating disorders are simply not working for some people. Therapy with horses teaches patients to be present and to reconnect with their bodies.

WARNING: This podcast contains references to mental health, suicide, and eating disorders, which may be distressing for some listeners. For free help, text or call 1737, 24 hours.

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CREDITS

Written by Hanna McCallum

Produced and read by Jen Black

Audio editing by Connor Scott

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Our crumbling cemeteries

Fri, 12 Apr 2024 12:00:00 -0000

Cemeteries across Christchurch have faced neglect, vandalism, and damage over time. But whose job is it to look after cemeteries? Is it worth the time and money, when the city’s living have their own urgent needs?

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CREDITS

Written and read by Philip Matthews

Produced by Jen Black

Audio editing by Connor Scott

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The Mysterious Murder of David Robinson

Fri, 05 Apr 2024 11:00:00 -0000

In 1998, David Robinson, a drifter and petty criminal, was found dead on a West Coast beach. With few clues about how he died, or why, the investigation petered out. But now, police have what every cold case craves – a new suspect.

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CREDITS

Written by Sam Sherwood and Michael Wright

Read by Michael Wright

Produced by Jen Black

Audio editing by Connor Scott

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NZ's baby scoop era

Fri, 29 Mar 2024 11:00:00 -0000

NZ's baby scoop era marks a dark time in our country's history, where children were stolen from their mothers under a state-know-best policy.

WARNING: This podcast contains references to mental health, suicide, and abuse, which may be distressing for some listeners. For free help, text or call 1737, 24 hours.

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CREDITS

Written and read by Paula Penfold

Produced by Jen Black

Audio editing by Connor Scott

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Meet the Monarchists

Fri, 22 Mar 2024 11:00:00 -0000

From Northland to the Catlins, thousands of Kiwis give up their homes, gardens, and time to help the Danaus plexippus butterfly, more commonly known as the monarch butterfly.

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CREDITS

Written and read by Nikki Macdonald

Produced by Jen Black

Audio editing by Connor Scott

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The Kings Arms

Fri, 15 Mar 2024 11:00:00 -0000

The Kings Arms became a hub of metal, punk, indie, and reggae scenes throughout its 198 years in Newton, Auckland. There hasn't been a venue to fill its hole in the music scene since it closed in 2018.

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CREDITS

Written by Steve Kilgallon

Read by Elmo Johnstone

Produced by Jen Black

Audio editing by Connor Scott

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Alleged Abuse in the Sacristy Room

Fri, 08 Mar 2024 11:00:00 -0000

Father Damian Carlile was sent to Aotearoa after he was accused of sexual abuse in Gabon, Africa. But then allegations about altar boys in Whanganui arose in the early 2000s.

WARNING: This podcast discusses abuse, which may be distressing for some listeners. For free help, text or call 1737, 24 hours.

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CREDITS

Written by Federico Magrin

Read by Aaron Dahmen

Produced by Jen Black

Audio editing: Connor Scott

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Odin and Lorazepam

Fri, 01 Mar 2024 11:00:00 -0000

Charmaine Wolmarans is a self-described animal rescue vigilante whose carefully crafted public image suggests she does it for the love of the pets she takes in. But why does she have so many “haters”?

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CREDITS

Written by Tony Wall and Caroline Williams

Read by Caroline Williams

Produced by Jen Black

Audio editing: Connor Scott

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New Zealand's screen identity

Fri, 23 Feb 2024 11:00:00 -0000

Since the Lord of the Rings trilogy, New Zealand's screen industry has flourished, spotlighting its breathtaking landscapes and talented workforce. Challenges may remain for the industry, like the need for stable rebates for screen productions, but the future looks bright for the next generation of workers.

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CREDITS

Written and read by André Chumko

Produced by Jen Black

Audio editing: Connor Scott

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Les Mills: The McDonald’s of Fitness

Fri, 16 Feb 2024 11:00:00 -0000

One trainer calls it the McDonald’s of fitness. He’s not being insulting. What he means is wherever you go in the world, the quarter pounder with cheese is the same.

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CREDITS

Written and read by Steve Kilgallon

Produced by Jen Black

Audio editing: Connor Scott

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The reality of NZ’s nicotine addiction

Fri, 09 Feb 2024 11:00:00 -0000

A surge in the popularity of vaping nicotine, especially among young Kiwis, has left a cloud over Aotearoa's smokefree ambitions.

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CREDITS

Written and read by Jonathan Killick

Produced by Philippa Tolley

Audio editing: Connor Scott

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The hidden struggles of homeless women in Aotearoa

Fri, 02 Feb 2024 11:00:00 -0000

Women make up over 50% of Aotearoa’s homeless population. And yet they are often overlooked - because they aren’t seen. Advocates say unless gendered issues are specifically addressed, women will continue to fall through the gaps.

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CREDITS

Written by Hanna McCallum

Read by Imogen Wells

Produced by Philippa Tolley

Audio editing: Connor Scott

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A lonely death at Horseshoe Lake

Mon, 29 Jan 2024 11:00:00 -0000

Frances Rawling lived in the ruins of an abandoned suburb in east Christchurch. When she passed, her body remained undiscovered in the red zone for weeks. The mystery of her life - and why she stayed living in the ruins of an abandoned suburb - are still being unravelled.

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CREDITS

Written and Read by Charlie Mitchell

Produced by Jen Black

Audio editing: Connor Scott

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Death of a highway

Fri, 26 Jan 2024 11:00:00 -0000

SH25A connects one side of the Coromandel peninsula to the other and was closed after extensive cyclone damage. For 10 months communities were isolated and businesses struggled while repair work was completed on SH25A.

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CREDITS

Written by Annemarie Quill

Read by Sam Smith

Produced by Jen Black

Audio editing: Connor Scott

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National treasure Kim Hill

Mon, 22 Jan 2024 11:00:00 -0000

Kim Hill is well known for her many years of service at RNZ and her fearless interview style. She left her Saturday Morning slot in November 2023 after 21 years in the role. Senior Journalist Adam Dudding reflects on Hill's career and discusses her legacy.

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CREDITS

Written and Read by Adam Dudding

Produced by Jen Black

Audio editing: Connor Scott

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The Search for the Sydenham Slasher

Fri, 19 Jan 2024 11:00:00 -0000

On the face of it, there appeared little reason why anyone would want the pensioner, Alfred Anderson, dead. Although police have a possible DNA profile of the 64-year-old’s killer - once dubbed the “Savage Sydenham Slasher” - a suspect has died, and his family has refused to cooperate.

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CREDITS

Written and Read by Blair Ensor

Produced by Jen Black

Audio editing: Connor Scott

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Anatomy of an arrest

Mon, 15 Jan 2024 11:00:00 -0000

Previously described as an officer who served with distinction, former cop Reece Marshall says he wouldn't change anything about the actions that saw him prosecuted.

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CREDITS

Written by Marty Sharpe

Read by Elmo Johnstone

Produced by Jen Black

Audio editing: John Ropiha

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Amanda Palmer's NZ Experience

Sat, 13 Jan 2024 11:00:00 -0000

In the vacuum of Covid, stranded US musician Amanda Palmer found community and controversy in New Zealand. She explains how she got through those days of personal and public turmoil to become an accidental semi-Kiwi.

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CREDITS

Written and read by Adam Dudding

Produced by Jen Black

Audio editing: Connor Scott

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Double Standard

Mon, 08 Jan 2024 11:00:00 -0000

The medicinal cannabis industry is booming globally, while in New Zealand, industry figures and users alike struggle with intense regulations, high costs and other barriers, relegating most people to the black market.

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CREDITS

Written and read by Keiller MacDuff

Produced by Jen Black

Audio editing: John Ropiha

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Not under your jurisdiction

Fri, 05 Jan 2024 11:00:00 -0000

The phenomenon known as 'psuedolaw' is clogging up courts around New Zealand. Researchers describe it as a parallel legal system with rules and practices that vaguely represent the actual legal system, except no legal practitioner would recognise it as legally authoritative.

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CREDITS

Written by Charlie Mitchell

Read by Aaron Dahmen

Produced by Jen Black

Audio editing: Connor Scott

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Scumlord or housing crisis hero?

Mon, 01 Jan 2024 11:00:00 -0000

Christchurch Landlord Lee Bennett has been called a "Scumlord" for his unhealthy and damaged rentals. However, he says he’s just doing his best for the suburb others abandoned after the earthquakes by providing affordable rentals.

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CREDITS

Written and read by Sinead Gill

Produced by Jen Black

Audio editing: Connor Scott

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Making Tracks

Fri, 29 Dec 2023 11:00:00 -0000

Jonah Franke-Bowell is now a journalist but for months amid the pandemic he was working on New Zealand’s railway, learning how to lay tracks, finding the best provincial sandwich, and making friends along the way. This is his story.

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CREDITS

Written by Jonah Franke-Bowell

Read by Karanama Ruru

Produced by Jen Black

Audio editing: Connor Scott

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Shipwreck, hungry ghosts, and a bitter controversy

Mon, 25 Dec 2023 11:00:00 -0000

In 1902, the SS Ventnor sank off Hokianga harbour, carrying the remains of nearly 500 Chinese goldminers being returned to their villages. The ship’s discovery in 2013 has sparked a decade of accusation, and antagonism towards those who helped find it. Now, that group’s side of the story has been told, but it’s done little to quell a controversy involving the Chinese community, iwi, top government officials, and some of the world’s most famous divers.

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CREDITS

Written by Mike White

Read by Philippa Tolley

Produced by Jen Black

Audio editing: Connor Scott

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Justice for Angela Blackmoore

Sat, 23 Dec 2023 11:00:00 -0000

David Hawken and Rebecca Wright-Meldrum’s pasts had caught up. On December 9, 2023, the jury found the pair guilty of the murder of Angela Blackmoore in 1995. Justice for Angela Blackmoore was slow but it had finally arrived.

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CREDITS

Written and read by Martin Van Beynen

Produced by Jen Black

Audio editing: Connor Scott

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Axing relationship education

Fri, 15 Dec 2023 11:00:00 -0000

Advocates fear removing and replacing the relationship and sexuality education guidelines will be taking a step backwards in ending sexual violence and reversing improvements in the wellbeing of rainbow communities.

Written by Hanna McCallum

Read and produced by Jen Black

Audio editing by Connor Scott

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Where your food scraps go

Sat, 09 Dec 2023 11:00:00 -0000

Have you ever wondered where your food scraps go once you place your green bin on the kerbside? In Auckland, senior journalist Steve Kilgallon takes the 555km round trip in which food scraps are transformed via anaerobic digestion to create energy and fertiliser.

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CREDITS

Written and read by Steve Kilgallon

Produced by Jen Black

Audio editing: Connor Scott

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I nailed Tamihere

Fri, 01 Dec 2023 11:00:00 -0000

As David Tamihere’s conviction for murdering two Swedish tourists returned to court this week, allegations of a shock confession surfaced, along with grisly revelations that body parts from one of the victims remained on display at a laboratory for more than 20 years.

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CREDITS

Written and read by Mike White

Produced by Jen Black

Audio editing: John Ropiha

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How I escaped a cult

Sat, 25 Nov 2023 11:00:00 -0000

Born with no arms and legs, Jess Stewart became somewhat of a celebrity within the Exclusive Brethren. However, when it came time to leave, it had to be carefully planned.

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CREDITS

Written and read by Steve Kilgallon

Produced by Jen Black

Audio editing: Connor Scott

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Dilworth's internal memos

Fri, 17 Nov 2023 11:00:00 -0000

A survivor of sexual abuse at Dilworth School in the 1990s says memos written by senior school administrators shows they knew staff had sexually abused boys – and that it would continue.

WARNING: This episode contains graphic content, references to sexual abuse and may be distressing for some listeners. For free help, text or call 1737, 24 hours.

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CREDITS

Written and read by Edward Gay

Produced by Jen Black

Audio editing: John Ropiha

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Ikea’s interior design gurus vs my home

Sat, 11 Nov 2023 11:00:00 -0000

They took photos, asked personal questions, and looked in every nook and cranny of this journalist's home. As part of their qualitative research for the new Ikea mega store coming in late 2025, Ikea's interior designers are checking out NZ homes for what storage solutions we may want and need.

This story was made possible by subscribers to The Post and was first featured in this week’s edition of the Sunday Star-Times. If you want to support more beautifully-told New Zealand stories go to thepost.co.nz

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CREDITS

Written and read by Aimee Shaw

Produced by Jen Black

Audio editing: John Ropiha

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The characters of public meetings

Fri, 03 Nov 2023 11:00:00 -0000

Like protests or petitions, public meetings are a cornerstone of democracy. From NIMBYs to Legal Beagles and everything in between, community reporter Jonathan Killick lifts the lid on the characters that usually go along.

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CREDITS

Written and read by Jonathan Killick

Audio editing by John Ropiha

Produced by Jen Black

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I still have nightmares

Fri, 27 Oct 2023 11:00:00 -0000

Described as a One-man crime wave’ Prisoner Damon Exley escaped Rimutaka Prison in February 2022 disguised as a prison guard and then abducted and raped a woman.

WARNING: Warning this episode contains strong language and references to rape and may be distressing for some listeners. For free help, text or call 1737, 24 hours.

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CREDITS

Written and read by Blair Ensor

Audio editing by Connor Scott

Produced by Jen Black

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Kisses in the carwash

Fri, 20 Oct 2023 11:00:00 -0000

Disabled Kiwis face more dating hurdles than most, with non-disabled people often awkward or anxious around them. Olivia Shivas explores the disabled dating experience - and it’s not all about ‘those sex questions’.

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CREDITS

Written and read by Olivia Shivas

Audio editing by Connor Scott

Co-produced by Michael Wright and Jen Black

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The Changing State of Social Housing

Fri, 13 Oct 2023 11:00:00 -0000

These people slept on couches, in cars and on floors. For The Post, Ethan Te Ora tells the story of the diverse group of people moving into new units created by community provider, Dwell, and the politics surrounding the funding of social housing. Who are these people? How did they end up needing housing help? An perhaps most importantly, do they now have a chance of creating a community.

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CREDITS

Written and read by Ethan Te Ora

Audio editing by Connor Scott

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The New Zealanders and the genocide

Fri, 06 Oct 2023 11:00:00 -0000

As New Zealand struggled with race relations at home in the late 19th century, some of its citizens were participating in a genocide overseas. Among the most damning accounts of the genocide surviving today come from reports published in New Zealand newspapers. They indicate other New Zealanders were involved in squads that hunted Selk’nam (one of the indigenous peoples of Tierra Del Fuego) capturing them for relocation to a concentration camp, and, in some cases, killing them.

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CREDITS

Read and produced by Michael Wright

Audio editing by Connor Scott

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A prickly problem

Fri, 29 Sep 2023 11:00:00 -0000

Should Hedgehogs be treated as pests or pets? To some, they’re seen as pests and even worse than rats to our native species but to others, they are much loved, protected, and a cute surprise in the garden.

This story first appeared in print in The Sunday Star Times. To avoid missing any of our great reads, subscribe at www.thepost.co.nz/subscribe.

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CREDITS

Written and read by Craig Hoyle

Produced by Jen Black

Audio editing by John Ropiha

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It's part of the game

Sat, 23 Sep 2023 12:00:00 -0000

UFC mixed martial artist Israel Adesanya is many things: champion fighter, fashion plate, a particular version of modern masculinity. Adam Dudding sat down with him ahead of the release of Stylebender a new feature-length film about him which aims to show all the different facets of Adesanya, in and out of the ring.

This story first appeared in print in Sunday magazine and online at https://www.thepost.co.nz/culture/350077646/israel-adesanya-ufcs-stylebender-about-become-movie-star. To avoid missing any of our great reads, subscribe at www.thepost.co.nz/subscribe.

Stylebender is on general release from September 28.

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CREDITS

Written by Adam Dudding

Produced by Jen Black

Audio editing: Connor Scott

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Blind Ambition

Sat, 16 Sep 2023 17:00:00 -0000

Minnie Baragwanath was diagnosed with a degenerative disease at age 15 which left her legally blind. This story discusses how facing her own challenges drives her to change how we think about disability.

This story was made possible by subscribers to The Post. If you want to support more beautifully-told New Zealand stories go to thepost.co.nz

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CREDITS

Written by James Borrowdale

Produced by Jen Black

Audio editing: John Ropiha

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Forsaken

Fri, 08 Sep 2023 12:00:00 -0000

No one really knows how many people in New Zealand have Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder. In its Disordered project, the Stuff Circuit team laid bare our chronic mismanagement of the disability. Co-author Paul Penfold reads their lead written investigation.

To watch and read the full Disordered project, click here.

WARNING: This episode contains strong language

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CREDITS

Written by Louisa Cleave and Paula Penfold

Produced by Jen Black

Audio editing: Connor Scott

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Peak Barber

Mon, 04 Sep 2023 12:00:00 -0000

How chemical weapons, economic theory and the internet combined to squeeze ten barbershops into one Auckland suburb.

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Aotearoa's only indigenous dog

Fri, 01 Sep 2023 12:00:00 -0000

With prices running to thousands and scientists set to study their DNA, some say the huntaway dog – and its contribution to New Zealand – still doesn’t get the recognition it deserves.

Read this story and more like it on our masthead sites: Waikato Times, The Press, The Post

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CREDITS

Written by Virginia Fallon

Produced and read by Jen Black

Audio editing by John Ropiha

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The mystery of the Berserk expedition

Mon, 28 Aug 2023 12:00:00 -0000

In 2011, a Norwegian yacht sank off the coast of Antarctica during a storm. Three of its crew were lost. A decade on, a Stuff investigation finds new revelations about why the yacht sank and New Zealand's involvement.

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CREDITS

Written and read by Lee Kenny

Produced by Philippa Tolley

Audio editing by John Ropiha

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The One He Never Forgot

Fri, 25 Aug 2023 12:00:00 -0000

On the face of it, Sergeant Alastair Dickie had an easy choice to make: attend a suspected armed incident or process a disqualified driver sitting in front of him? But as Nadine Roberts found out, it’s never that simple, especially when the disqualified driver goes on to commit a brutal crime just hours later.

WARNING: This podcast contains graphic content, strong language, and references to sexual assault. For free help, text or call 1737, 24 hours.

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CREDITS

Written and read by Nadine Roberts

Produced by Jen Black

Audio editing by Connor Scott

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The Hoarder's Treasure

Mon, 21 Aug 2023 12:00:00 -0000

For decades, a rundown house in Christchurch secretly harboured one of New Zealand’s greatest literary treasures. This is the story of the reclusive hoarder who hid it, the woman who wrote it, and the man who rediscovered it.

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CREDITS

Written and read by Michael Wright

Produced by Philippa Tolley

Audio editing: Connor Scott

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In her mind - The trial of Lauren Dickason

Fri, 18 Aug 2023 12:00:00 -0000

On Wednesday 16th August, the jury of eight women and four men reached a majority verdict, that Dickason was guilty on all three counts of murder. Over the four-week trial, the jury had to decide whether Dickason was or was not criminally responsible for killing her three children at their home in Timaru on the 16th of September 2021.

WARNING: This podcast covers issues that may be distressing for some, including mental health, suicidal thoughts, and the death of young children. For free help, text or call 1737, 24 hours.

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CREDITS

Written and read by Martin Van Beynen

Produced by Jen Black

Audio editing by John Ropiha

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A Solitary Murder

Mon, 14 Aug 2023 12:00:00 -0000

In 1927, 82-year-old André Jose was bludgeoned to death in a Stewart Island boarding house. His death is the only known homicide on the island.

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CREDITS

Written by Hamish McNeilly

Read by Dominic Harris

Produced by Philippa Tolley

Audio editing: John Ropiha

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The wonderful world of pedigree guinea pigs

Fri, 11 Aug 2023 12:00:00 -0000

Welcome to a world where the best bodies look like bricks and $35 buys you the chance of a championship. At a Porirua guinea pig show, Virginia Fallon meets the people who know good things really do come in small packages.

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The Kiwi Indiana Jones who fought Nazis and hunted for treasure

Mon, 07 Aug 2023 12:00:00 -0000

Cool under fire, Kiwi Sergeant Edgar "Sandy" Sanders was known for his wartime heroics as part of a clandestine British army unit, The Long Range Desert Group.

The unit operated in Tunisia, Libya and Egypt and their hit-and-run tactics made them a formidable fighting force.

But after the war, Sanders continued his daring exploits, this time sailing the Pacific for the fabled Treasure of Lima.

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The bird park, the conspiracy, and the council

Fri, 04 Aug 2023 12:00:00 -0000

Murray and Margaret Shaw retired and started a small bird park, but not before becoming embroiled in a sprawling saga involving a late-night arrest, an early-morning raid, and a music festival called Birdstock.

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The Short Game

Mon, 31 Jul 2023 12:00:00 -0000

What drives someone to make competitive mini-golf their mission? Well, something does .. and it's something Stuff's National Correspondent Steve Kilgallon investigated.

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CREDITS

Read by Steve Kilgallon

Produced by Philippa Tolley

Audio editing: Connor Scott

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The Last Person Standing

Fri, 28 Jul 2023 12:00:00 -0000

One had broken ribs and two years of heartbreak to overcome. The other had been a national celebrity but never faced anything like this before. Now they were running against each other, to the death. Stuff’s Mike White and Lawrence Smith recorded the drama of the Riverhead Backyard ReLaps Ultra, the race that keeps on going until only one person is left standing.

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CREDITS

Read and produced by Jono Willliams

Audio editing: John Ropiha

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The Price of Fish

Mon, 24 Jul 2023 12:00:00 -0000

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Fixing Lucy

Fri, 21 Jul 2023 12:00:00 -0000

At the top of her sport and destined to row for New Zealand at the Olympic Games, Lucy Strack suddenly forgot how to scull.

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CREDITS

Read by Philippa Tolley

Produced by Michael Wright

Audio editing: Connor Scott

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The Heist

Mon, 17 Jul 2023 12:00:00 -0000

As detectives set about looking for an international crime syndicate, two local lads were crumpling their crisp new bank notes to avoid suspicion. More than 50 years on, Chloe Ranford discovers some of the money was never recovered.

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CREDITS

Read by Adam Dudding

Produced by Jono Williams

Audio editing: Connor Scott

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Kicking and Screaming

Fri, 14 Jul 2023 12:00:00 -0000

Reinventing yourself after quitting your dream job can be pretty painful. Just ask All Black great Dan Carter - which is what Adam Dudding did.

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CREDITS

Read by Adam Dudding

Produced by Jono Williams

Audio editing: John Ropiha

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Big Brother is Watching (and Listening)

Mon, 10 Jul 2023 12:00:00 -0000

How much are we being watched? Or is it all in our imagination? With the increase in CCTV and smart ware, from phones to fridges, the feeling is we are all increasingly being tracked. But is the increase in surveillance more a result of ‘mission creep’ as businesses and government agencies expand their brief, than an overarching conspiracy?

You can read Richard's story here

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Feedback? We’re listening! Email us at thelongread@stuff.co.nz

CREDITS

Read by Michael Wright

Produced by Philippa Tolley

Audio editing: John Ropiha

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The double-lives of Corallee Collins-Annan

Fri, 07 Jul 2023 12:00:00 -0000

A book deal, a possible Netflix documentary and a tale of success in the face of adversity, was the life painted on social media by wannabe New Zealand lawyer Corallee Collins-Anan.

In a tale that mirrors a Walter Mitty creation or a version of Inventing Anna, the reality seemed to be deceit, missing money and academic failings.

In this episode of The Long Read, Steve Kilgallon sets out the life Collins-Anan painted for herself verses real life.

You can read Steve's story here

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CREDITS

Read by Philippa Tolley

Audio editing: Connor Scott

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Too Bland for Bond

Mon, 03 Jul 2023 12:00:00 -0000

Beautiful scenery good enough for Lord of The Rings, so why has 007 - James Bond - never been to New Zealand?

In this episode from the archives of The Long Read, Lee Kenny charts this country's connections with Bond and the reasons why we may just be too far away.

You can read Lee's story here

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CREDITS

Read by Lee Kenny

Produced by Philippa Tolley

Audio editing: Connor Scott

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Duckie, Drakie and a bizarre legal saga

Fri, 30 Jun 2023 12:00:00 -0000

It started off with two pekin ducks living contentedly on a pond in Southland.

But a dog attack later and the fate of Duckie and Drakie has sparked a five year court saga that has made legal history.

You can read Martin's story here

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Feedback? We’re listening! Email us at thelongread@stuff.co.nz

CREDITS

Read by Martin Van Beynen

Produced by Philippa Tolley

Audio editing: John Ropiha

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The Electric Lake

Mon, 26 Jun 2023 12:00:00 -0000

How a shallow lake nestled high in the Central Otago hill country could electrify the country and serve as the biggest public infrastructure project in nearly half a century.

You can read Charlie's story here

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Feedback? We’re listening! Email us at thelongread@stuff.co.nz

CREDITS

Read by Adam Dudding

Produced by Philippa Tolley

Audio editing: Connor Scott

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Lessons from Antarctica on how to get through winter

Fri, 23 Jun 2023 12:00:00 -0000

While the dark days of New Zealand’s winters don’t hold a candle to Antarctica’s, there’s no doubt they can still affect our physical and mental health. So what can we learn from the experts - people who spend six months of the year in darkness.

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The Great Kea Cull

Mon, 19 Jun 2023 12:00:00 -0000

It's hard to believe, but there used to be a bountry on the beak of every kea.

They were accused to attacking sheep and hunters killed about 150,00 in a hundred years of slaughter.

In this episode from the archives of The Long Read Charlie O'Mannin sets out the how kea have gone from being regarded as the enemy to the focus of consevation.

You can read Charlie's story here

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Feedback? We’re listening! Email us at thelongread@stuff.co.nz

CREDITS

Read by Michael Wright

Produced by Philippa Tolley

Audio editing: Connor Scott

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Hope and the Loafers Lodge Fire

Fri, 16 Jun 2023 12:00:00 -0000

One month on from the Loafers Lodge fire, the man who jumped to safety rather than burn, tells Nikki Macdonald he’s been given “a fighting chance to get the life I never had”.

But he wonders why it took a fatal fire for people to care.

You can read Nikki's story here

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Feedback? We’re listening! Email us at thelongread@stuff.co.nz

CREDITS

Read by Nikki Macdonald

Produced by Philippa Tolley

Audio editing: John Ropiha

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Did his partner try to kill him?

Fri, 09 Jun 2023 12:00:00 -0000

Stephen Lewis trusted and cared about his partner, Dr Shelagh Dawson. It never occurred to him that she could be secretly trying to kill him.

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The Collapse of New Freeland

Fri, 02 Jun 2023 12:00:00 -0000

What if you could build a new society inside a national park? A motley crew of sovereign citizens tried to do just that, with an ambitious – but mostly incompetent – attempt to establish “New Freeland” under the Department of Conservation’s nose.

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The full story of the Mama Hooch rapists

Fri, 26 May 2023 12:00:00 -0000

The identities of two men who drugged and sexually assaulted numerous women have been revealed after earlier being found guilty. Blair Ensor and Jake Kenny give the full report on Operation Sinatra.

A warning: this episode does have references to sexual abuse. Resources are at the bottom of the show notes.

You can read Jake Kenny and Blair Ensor's story here.

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Feedback? We’re listening! Email us at thelongread@stuff.co.nz

CREDITS

Host: Philippa Tolley

Read by Blair Ensor

Produced by Philippa Tolley

Audio editing: John Ropiha

Where to get help:

Rape Crisis 0800 88 33 00, click link for local helplines.
Victim Support 0800 842 846.
Safetalk text 4334, phone 0800 044 334 webchat safetotalk.nz or email support@safetotalk.nz.
The Harbour Online support and information for people affected by sexual abuse.
Women’s Refuge 0800 733 843
Male Survivors Aotearoa Helplines across NZ, click to find out more (males only).
If you or someone else is in immediate danger, call 111.

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The Māori soldiers of Colditz

Fri, 19 May 2023 12:00:00 -0000

They are the forgotten Māori soldiers of Colditz. The two men served time in the infamous German prison and went on a dangerous mission at the close of World War II in Europe. Charlie Gates uncovers their full story for the first time.

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The unchecked power of strip clubs

Fri, 12 May 2023 17:00:00 -0000

After 19 women were fired from the Wellington strip club, Calender Girls over contract negotiations, Hanna McCullum was given access to the inner sanctum of a strip club. She discovered a bond between the dancers and shocking employment conditions.

A warning: this episode does have references to sexual abuse.

You can read Hanna McCullum's story here.

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GET IN TOUCH

Feedback? We’re listening! Email us at thelongread@stuff.co.nz

CREDITS

Host: Philippa Tolley

Read by Imogen Wells

Produced by Jono Williams

Audio editing: Connor Scott

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The Perfect Storm

Fri, 05 May 2023 17:00:00 -0000

A storm with the destructive force of Cyclone Gabrielle could temporarily cripple the capital and sink parts of the Hutt Valley under four metres of floodwater. Ethan Te Ora examines the hypothetical path and fallout of such an event.

You can read Ethan Te Ora's story here.

Need more great podcasts? Check out Stuff's full catalogue here.

GET IN TOUCH

Feedback? We’re listening! Email us at thelongread@stuff.co.nz

CREDITS

Host: Philippa Tolley

Read by Ethan Te Ora

Produced by Jono Williams

Audio editing: Connor Scott

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Convicted killer insists he was framed

Fri, 28 Apr 2023 17:00:00 -0000

Convicted killer Mark Pakenham insists he was 'framed' in Sara Niethe disappearance. He claims he confessed to accidentally killing her rather than be charged with murder. As Jono Williams recounts, her body and her car have never been found.

You can read Tony Wall's story at: https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/crime/300847790/convicted-killer-mark-pakenham-lives-on-a-boat-in-far-north-insists-he-was-framed-in-sara-niethe-disappearance

Need more great podcasts? Check out Stuff's full catalogue here.

GET IN TOUCH

Feedback? We’re listening! Email us at thelongread@stuff.co.nz

CREDITS

Host: Philippa Tolley

Read and Produced by Jono Williams

Audio editing: John Ropiha

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How to find love in a hundred dates

Fri, 21 Apr 2023 17:00:00 -0000

Freshly divorced, psychologist Dr Angela Ahola decided to take dating to the next level. After going on 100 dates, here is what she learnt about finding love.

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Barbie: Feminist foe or marketing masterpiece?

Fri, 14 Apr 2023 17:00:00 -0000

Barbara Millicent Roberts, the blond bombshell doll better known as Barbie, is now 64 years old. She is sold in 150 countries worldwide at a rate of more than 100 every minute. Barbie, and her unrealistic proportions, have come in for a lot of stick over the years, despite efforts to diversify. But she remains steadfastly popular and has even inspired a movie due out later this year.

Barbie: Feminist foe or marketing masterpiece? - written and read by Virginia Fallon

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Making history - single, gay and a surrogate parent

Sat, 08 Apr 2023 17:00:00 -0000

Matthew Williams always imagined he'd be a parent someday. With the help of a close friend and his big sister, he's believed to have become the first single gay man in New Zealand to achieve that dream through surrogacy,

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The Kiwi fashion designer and the duplicate dresses

Fri, 31 Mar 2023 16:00:00 -0000

Within New Zealand’s tight-knit fashion industry questions have been swirling about Adrian Hailwood’s design practices, after it emerged the same dresses worn by the likes of Tova O’Brien, Wendy Petrie and even former Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern are widely available through Chinese manufacturers trading on wholesale site Alibaba. So what's going on?

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The Infernal Reo Machine

Fri, 24 Mar 2023 16:00:00 -0000

No artificial intelligence had ever really cracked the Māori language before, and now here are at least two. Pou Tiaki Reporter Joel Maxwell had conversations with ChatGPT and the Bing chatbot in Te Reo Māori to see if it could hold form coherent sentences in Aotearoa's indigenous language.

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I was seeing six people

Fri, 17 Mar 2023 16:00:00 -0000

Many people still believe in finding ‘the one’, but a growing number of Kiwis believe love goes further than that. Polyamory, often misunderstood, can also be freeing.

You can read Eda Tang's Story from this episode at https://www.stuff.co.nz/pou-tiaki/130649407/i-was-seeing-six-people-polyamory-often-misunderstood-can-also-be-freeing

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GET IN TOUCH

Feedback? We’re listening! Email us at thelongread@stuff.co.nz

CREDITS

Host: Michael Wright

Reader: Eda Tang

Producers: Jen Black and Michael Wright

Audio editing: Connor Scott

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Our plastic love affair

Sun, 12 Mar 2023 16:00:00 -0000

New Zealand’s newest national park - and one of the most isolated spots in the country - is polluted with plastic trash. Although just over 400 people live on Rakiura/Stewart Island, they're dealing with a rubbish problem bigger than themselves.

You can read Andrea's story from this episode at https://www.stuff.co.nz/environment/131400830/how-our-love-affair-with-plastic-is-fouling-a-national-park

Need more great podcasts? Check out Stuff's full catalogue here.

GET IN TOUCH

Feedback? We’re listening! Email us at thelongread@stuff.co.nz

CREDITS

Host: Adam Dudding

Reader: Sam Smith

Producer: Jen Black

Audio editing: Connor Scott

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The 'madman' and the road worker

Fri, 03 Mar 2023 16:00:00 -0000

Police hid in bushes, bugged phones and kept him under surveillance for two years before arresting the man charged with the senseless murder of road worker George Taiaroa. 10 years on, Stuff National Correspondent Tony Wall, the only reporter to have interviewed his killer and reveals new details of the police operation to snare a “madman”.

You can read stories supporting this episode on https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/crime/300815913/the-madman-and-the-road-worker-how-police-moved-in-on-a-delusional-killer

Need more great podcasts? Check out Stuff's full catalogue here.

GET IN TOUCH

Feedback? We’re listening! Email us at thelongread@stuff.co.nz

CREDITS

Host and Reader: Philippa Tolley

Producer: Jen Black

Audio editing: Connor Scott

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Would you kill if he told you to?

Sat, 25 Feb 2023 16:00:00 -0000

Everyone describes him as articulate, well-educated, intelligent. He ran daycare centres, was a school trustee. So why did he lie over and over again to Immigration New Zealand? Steve Kilgallon tells a story of religious worker visas, fake passports and leaders treated as God's.

You can read Steve Kilgallon's story at https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/crime/131234840/rajvinder-singh-had-a-unique-defence-ive-fallen-under-the-spell-of-a-godlike-figure

Need more great podcasts? Check out Stuff's full catalogue here.

GET IN TOUCH

Feedback? We’re listening! Email us at thelongread@stuff.co.nz

CREDITS

Host: Adam Dudding

Producer: Jen Black

Audio editing: Connor Scott

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The Last Flight of the Dragonfly

Fri, 17 Feb 2023 16:00:00 -0000

New Zealand’s biggest aviation mystery has it all: a daring pilot, a vintage plane, a tourist flight to the most beautiful place on earth, and a honeymooning couple. But what happened to Dragonfly ZK-AFB, which disappeared more than 60 years ago, remains unknown despite decades of searching.

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Forgetting Aaron Gilmore

Fri, 10 Feb 2023 16:00:00 -0000

Former National MP Aaron Gilmore wants people to know who he is – again. A group of people, with whom he is mired in a messy business dispute, wish they never met him. Ethan Te Ora investigates a story of unpaid bills, forced entries, and an apartment hotel proprietor.

First Story: https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/local-body-elections/129679744/the-apartment-owners-who-wish-they-didnt-know-aaron-gilmore

Second Story: https://stuff.co.nz/national/politics/131161959/this-time-aaron-gilmore-didnt-want-to-be-served

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Lucky Man

Fri, 03 Feb 2023 16:00:00 -0000

Breakfast radio host and veteran entertainer Gary McCormick is on the move again. After 18 years of cheering up listeners on their daily commute or making sure their day starts with a laugh, Gary McCormick reflects on his life thus far as he transitions into his new role. One thing for sure is he really won't be missing Taylor Swift.

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The Pā Wars

Fri, 27 Jan 2023 16:00:00 -0000

The J Swap contracting conglomerate has known for years that it was quarrying near an old pā site of significance to Māori, but even after part of the site collapsed, it kept blasting. National Correspondent Tony Wall investigates.

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Kai stands still for nobody: Can you be a real Māori and pursue a vegan diet?

Sat, 21 Jan 2023 16:00:00 -0000

Mana, liberation. Chicken crafted from peas. Reporter Joel Maxwell blends observation, opinion, and the voices of fellow vegans, including Tāme Iti, in a quest to find what it means to be a Māori vegan.

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Why Wellington Should No Longer Be The Capital of New Zealand

Fri, 13 Jan 2023 16:00:00 -0000

Wellington exists because of a propaganda campaign, which led to it becoming the capital under questionable circumstances. Charlie Mitchell makes the case that Hamilton (that’s right) is a better bet.

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Finding Ben

Thu, 05 Jan 2023 16:00:00 -0000

In March 2018, Ben Lott fell and suffered a severe brain injury while competing in an adventure race. Two days later, he was found disoriented in the middle of a forest by fellow racer Scott Worthington. Over the following days, Worthington helped Lott make it to the race finish. Over the next four years, he stayed beside Lott while he made an incredible recovery. This is the story of Finding Ben.

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SPECIAL EPISODE: The Short Read - Home by Bernard Steeds

Sat, 31 Dec 2022 16:00:00 -0000

If you love The Long Read, why not check out The Short Read, a new podcast in the Stuff Podcast Network. Listen to the very best of the 2022 Sunday Star Times Short Story Competition in The Short Read. Each episode contains a winning entry or judges’ choice - and insights from its author. The perfect way to relax this summer without getting sand in your book.This is episode 1: "Home by Bernard Steeds". If you like what you hear, go subscribe to the whole series. More info at stuff.co.nz/theshortread

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Alfred Hitchcock's Kiwi Holiday

Fri, 23 Dec 2022 16:00:00 -0000

When Alfred Hitchcock came on holiday to New Zealand in 1967, he popped in to see an old friend in the Wellington suburbs. A collection of letters reveals his 50-year Kiwi friendship for the first time. Reporter Charlie Gates tells us all about it in this weeks episode of The Long Read.

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The Conductor

Sat, 17 Dec 2022 16:00:00 -0000

A New Zealander has a stroke every 55 minutes. When it happened to classical conductor Hamish McKeich it robbed him of the one thing he needs to perform. Andrea Vance and Iain McGregor tell his story.

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This Charming Man

Fri, 09 Dec 2022 16:00:00 -0000

Forget the shenanigans of Newsboy, and welcome the new “moderate” Jeremy Wells: a man who meditates at lunchtime, is restrained in his drinking, jogs, eats well, tries to be an engaged parent and describes himself as politically centrist. National Correspondent Steve Kilgallon chats to Michael Wright about his piece on Jeremy Wells.

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The 'Strategic Hunters'

Fri, 02 Dec 2022 16:00:00 -0000

In 2018, New Zealand police began using a controversial interviewing tactic to crack cold case killings. The public knew nothing about it until this year. However, a 12-month Stuff investigation has revealed strong concerns about police interviewing tactics were raised long before one interview led to a false confession and a collapsed murder case. Moreover, the actions of the top officer who created the technique have been questioned for many years before he retired in October. Senior Writers Mike White and Blair Ensor reported on this story together.

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Out of the Darkness

Fri, 25 Nov 2022 16:00:00 -0000

At an eye clinic in Fiji, blindness can be reversed with a swift, transformative surgery. But out of the corner of the medics’ eyes, a worrying new threat is looming. Podcast Director Adam Dudding tells us about the story, and reads it for The Long Read.

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SPECIAL EPISODE: True Story - My Boss is a Robot

Tue, 22 Nov 2022 16:00:00 -0000

If you love The Long Read, why not check out True Story, a new podcast in the Stuff Podcast Network. Hosted by Adam Dudding and Eugene Bingham who created The Commune, True Story is a weekly current affairs podcast. Each episode, Adam and Eugene take their microphones on the road to bring you one true New Zealand story: sometimes quirky, sometimes serious – always surprising. This is episode 1: "My boss is a robot". If you like what you hear, go subscribe to the whole series. More info at stuff.co.nz/truestory

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Jo Vs Cancer

Fri, 18 Nov 2022 16:00:00 -0000

Who is Jo Mckenzie Mclean? What is Stuff’s new podcast Jo vs Cancer? Jo Mckenzie Mclean’s life was turned upside down after a stage 4 bowel cancer diagnosis. In Stuff's new podcast Jo Vs Cancer, the mother-of-two and Stuff journalist offers frank - and sometimes darkly funny - insights into life with an incurable illness. Reporter Nadine Roberts asks Jo why she has gone public with her diagnosis in this Long Read.

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Jane Campion - Always Fearless

Sat, 12 Nov 2022 16:00:00 -0000

Ahead of accepting Aotearoa’s highest arts accolade, Dame Jane Campion talks about a life of creativity, and bringing women’s desires to screen. National Correspondent Michelle Duff tells us about the story, and reads it for The Long Read.

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The Race With No End

Fri, 04 Nov 2022 16:00:00 -0000

The race with no end: Mud, blood and heartbreak at running's most brutal event.It’s a race with no end. Entrants have to keep running until they simply can’t go on, until they drop, until there’s only one person left standing. Mike White wrote about the heroics and heartbreak that unfolded in the most brutal race imaginable.

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What Happened to Baby Penny-Tui

Mon, 31 Oct 2022 16:00:00 -0000

In 1985, 1-year-old Penny-Tui Taputoro suffered fatal injuries while in the care of family friend, Kathleen Smith. Nearly four decades later, despite conflicting evidence, lies and an admission extracted using a controversial interviewing technique, Smith has not been charged. And Penny-Tui’s family is still searching for the truth. Listen to Reporter Blair Ensor explain What Happened to Baby Penny-Tui.

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The Bully Buster

Sat, 22 Oct 2022 16:00:00 -0000

David Farrier has reported from radioactive wastelands and conspiracy rabbit holes, but his latest documentary may have taken him to the most toxic place yet.

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Willy de Wit Talks Drugs, Strokes and Depression

Fri, 14 Oct 2022 16:00:00 -0000

New Zealand comedian Willy de Wit has packed a lot into his 62 years - and his new book 'Drink Smoke Snort Stroke' details the highs and lows with surprising frankness.

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The Conundrum of Peter Ellis

Fri, 07 Oct 2022 01:45:00 -0000

After 30 years, Peter Ellis' convictions for child sexual abuse have been quashed. Listen to full story and hear reporter Martin van Beynen discuss the Supreme Court judgment.

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After the Fall

Fri, 30 Sep 2022 16:00:00 -0000

Eighteen years ago, Chris Canham jumped off a hospital building because he thought the devil was after him. He woke three weeks later with broken legs and a smashed pelvis. But he still felt lucky.

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Road to Redemption

Sat, 24 Sep 2022 16:00:00 -0000

Nearly 3000 people have been deported to New Zealand since Australia began hardline enforcement of a populist immigration policy in late 2014. More than half of them have gone on to commit crimes, but some are on the road to redemption.

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The Bard and the Dame

Fri, 16 Sep 2022 17:00:00 -0000

Dame Ngaio Marsh is best known as a crime writer. But she devoted most of her life to turning one New Zealand city into a beacon of high culture.

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Fire and Fury

Fri, 09 Sep 2022 17:00:00 -0000

The Wellington occupation was supposed to be about ending the mandates, but a new Stuff Circuit documentary investigates those behind the protest and discovers they have far bigger and more dangerous goals. Fire and Fury is a Stuff Circuit investigation into disinformation in Aotearoa New Zealand. Watch the full documentary here: https://interactives.stuff.co.nz/2022/08/circuit/fire-and-fury-disinformation-in-new-zealand/

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What Lies Beneath

Sat, 03 Sep 2022 17:00:00 -0000

It's a mystery that just won't go away: is one of Auckland's most prominent landmarks still hiding secrets?

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Miscarriage of Justice: The Tragic Case of Alan Hall

Fri, 26 Aug 2022 17:00:00 -0000

Alan Hall spent 19 years in jail for a murder he didn't commit, but the authorities repeatedly refused to acknowledge a terrible mistake had been made. When the Supreme Court quashed Hall’s conviction, calls grew for those responsible to be held accountable.

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Melanie Lynskey's Moment

Sat, 20 Aug 2022 17:00:00 -0000

Melanie Lynskey has always been brilliant. Why did it take till now for the world to realise? Zoe Walker Ahwa reads her NZ-exclusive interview with the Emmy-nominated actress.

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The Liberator

Fri, 12 Aug 2022 17:00:00 -0000

The story of an aging communist with oxygenated fish tanks in his car who roamed New Zealand's countryside for decades in a bizarre crime spree that forever changed our environment.

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SPECIAL EPISODE: The Thrill of The Chase

Fri, 05 Aug 2022 02:55:00 -0000

The chase is on. The Long Read is breaking character harder than a Bradley Walsh laughing fit to discuss Stuff's data project on TV quiz show The Chase. Mike is joined by Stuff data journalist Kate Newton and Stuff to Watch pod host James Croot to dissect the project and talk about why the show is such a phenomenon in NZ.

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Killer Blow - The Kirsty Bentley Mystery

Fri, 29 Jul 2022 17:00:00 -0000

The unsolved murder of 15-year-old Kirsty Bentley in 1998 in Ashburton is seared into the national consciousness. Now, police have announced a major move in the case.

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Your Affectionate Wife

Fri, 22 Jul 2022 17:00:00 -0000

Murder, madness, exile, redemption: For more than 100 years, Albert Moss was the only New Zealander to take all 10 wickets in an innings in first-class cricket. It was just the start of his remarkable life story.

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The One Who Got Away

Fri, 15 Jul 2022 17:00:00 -0000

When "Robert" first came across Bert Potter and his followers, he was all in. But after uncovering a dark secret at the Centrepoint commune, he was faced with a terrible decision – should he stay or should he go?

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The World's Best Liar

Fri, 08 Jul 2022 17:00:00 -0000

Sandy Graham shot dead her partner, Dale Watene, then had her best friend bury the body in a shallow grave, deep in a forest. Then she told lie after lie to hide what she’d done.

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Show Me The Money

Sat, 02 Jul 2022 17:00:00 -0000

The Marist Brothers and Fathers have educated prime ministers, judges, cardinals and All Blacks. But their record of sexual abuse is horrific. Why have survivors receive pitifully small compensation payouts?

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See No Evil – Episode 2 of 2

Thu, 23 Jun 2022 17:05:00 -0000

For many, the terror attacks on the Christchurch mosques seemed to come from nowhere. But not everyone was blind to the looming danger. In the series See No Evil, Stuff investigates how a group of women desperately tried to get the attention of officials – and why they failed. (Episode two of a two-episode special.)

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See No Evil – Episode 1 of 2

Thu, 23 Jun 2022 17:00:00 -0000

For many, the 2019 terror attacks on the Christchurch mosques seemed to come from nowhere. But not everyone was blind to the looming danger. In the series See No Evil, Stuff investigates how a group of women desperately tried to get the attention of officials – and why they failed. (Episode one of a two-episode special.)

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Tortured Soul

Fri, 17 Jun 2022 17:00:00 -0000

Sleeping rough and suffering from terminal bowel cancer, Barbara Campbell, known as Rose, was allegedly murdered in the shopfront she’d made her home. How did she come to be estranged from her family and living on the street? WARNING: One instance of strong language.

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The Heist

Fri, 10 Jun 2022 17:00:00 -0000

The drinking buddies who bamboozled police with their near-perfect bank job.

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The Electric Lake

Fri, 03 Jun 2022 17:00:00 -0000

A shallow lake nestled high in the Central Otago hill country could electrify the country, and serve as the biggest public infrastructure project in nearly half a century. Will reality, and a protected wetland, stop it in its tracks?

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The Media and the Megachurch

Fri, 27 May 2022 17:00:00 -0000

Allegations about megachurches have prompted significant media attention. Do they signal the end of the age of the 'hype priest'?

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The Battle of Wainuiōmata

Sat, 21 May 2022 17:00:00 -0000

When the anti-mandate protesters were driven off parliamentary grounds in March, many went looking for somewhere else to occupy. They set their sights on a marae in Lower Hutt.

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The murder that ripped a town apart

Fri, 13 May 2022 17:00:00 -0000

The killing of 15-year-old schoolgirl Kylie Ann Smith left a rural community in tatters and drove a pastor into hiding.

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Cabaret Confessions

Fri, 06 May 2022 17:00:00 -0000

For a few weird months in 1991, Adam Dudding played piano for New Zealand’s most celebrated female impersonator. But when he went in search of memories of Diamond Lil, he found a strange, tragic tale of opera, filthy double entendres – and alleged sex crimes.

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The Disappearing River

Fri, 29 Apr 2022 17:00:00 -0000

It was one meeting, in one town, about one river. But it was the flash point for a debate consuming rural New Zealand - How do we conserve our fresh water and our economy?

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The Secret History of New Zealand's Indiana Jones

Fri, 22 Apr 2022 17:00:00 -0000

During WWII, Edgar 'Sandy' Sanders from Christchurch was part of an elite Allied unit operating behind enemy lines. After the war, he became a treasure hunter.

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The Vanishing of Allan Woodford

Fri, 15 Apr 2022 17:00:00 -0000

Thirty-seven years ago, Allan Woodford walked out the door of his home in the middle of the night and disappeared forever. The case has confounded his family and the police ever since. Did Woodford take his own life? Or was he murdered?

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The Short Game

Fri, 08 Apr 2022 17:00:00 -0000

There has been a surprising emergence of competitive minigolf and putting towards representing New Zealand.

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Premmies: Raising too-tiny humans

Fri, 01 Apr 2022 16:00:00 -0000

Over 16 years, Stuff reporter Nikki Macdonald has followed five families with children born before 28 weeks gestation. These are their stories.

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Framed for murder: Episode 2 of 2

Fri, 25 Mar 2022 16:05:00 -0000

(Two-episode special – make sure you listen to Episode One first!) When David Lyttle’s best friend disappeared, police accused Lyttle of murder, then lured him into a fantasy world to get him to confess. This is Mike White’s investigation into an undercover operation that went way too far.

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Framed for murder: Episode 1 of 2

Fri, 25 Mar 2022 16:00:00 -0000

When David Lyttle’s best friend disappeared, police accused Lyttle of murder, then lured him into a fantasy world to get him to confess. This is Mike White’s investigation into an undercover operation that went way too far. (Episode one of a two-episode special.)

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Guy Hatchard and the Antivax Empire

Thu, 17 Mar 2022 16:00:00 -0000

The strange story of the man who pivoted from complaining about “bullet-hard” lentils to becoming a leading voice in New Zealand’s anti-vax movement.

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The Gospel According to Ruby Tui

Sat, 12 Mar 2022 16:00:00 -0000

Black Ferns sevens player Ruby Tui shot to international fame last year on the back of some star turns during post-match interviews at the Tokyo Olympics. Since then, she's cultivated a deeper public persona.

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The Murder of Lisa Blakie - Lone Kill or Gang Hit?

Fri, 04 Mar 2022 16:00:00 -0000

In February 2000, 20-year-old Lisa Blakie was murdered after she started hitchhiking towards the West Coast. The man convicted of the killing remains in jail, but some say police have the wrong man.

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The Great Wellington Flat Hunt

Fri, 25 Feb 2022 16:00:00 -0000

It’s a student rite of passage: first year in the halls, second year flatting. But in Wellington, finding a flat has never been more expensive, or the students more desperate. This is the story of five students, embarking on the annual quest.

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The Killing of James Dorgan

Fri, 18 Feb 2022 16:00:00 -0000

In the early hours of August 27, 1921, Constable James Dorgan was shot while investigating a possible burglary in downtown Timaru. His death is the only unsolved murder of a police officer in New Zealand, but new evidence points to a suspect close to home.

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Billy the Hunted One

Fri, 21 Jan 2022 16:00:00 -0000

For 236 days across 2008 and 2009, William Stewart was the most wanted man in New Zealand. In that time he became so notorious he inspired a folk song and his own T-shirt. But the reality was much darker. This is the true story of Billy the Hunted One.

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The Berserk Incident

Fri, 14 Jan 2022 16:00:00 -0000

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Punching Above His Weight

Sat, 08 Jan 2022 16:00:00 -0000

From crime boss, to circus act boxer, to relentless force for good. Dave Letele's rollercoaster life is finally on the level.

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The Strange Case of the Christchurch Horse Fiend

Fri, 31 Dec 2021 16:00:00 -0000

A macabre killer targeting horses terrorised Christchurch at the end of the 19th century. Who was the horse fiend, whose spree spanned a decade and drew comparisons with Jack the Ripper?

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A Solitary Murder

Thu, 23 Dec 2021 16:00:00 -0000

It's the only known murder on Stewart Island. On December 14, 1927, 82-year-old André Jose was bludgeoned to death in a Stewart Island boarding house.

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Metoo and the New Zealand Drama School

Fri, 17 Dec 2021 16:00:00 -0000

They say they were traumatised at Toi Whakaari. This is the story of a group of students who helped force New Zealand's national drama school to overhaul its sexual harassment and bullying policies.

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Safety on the Pae

Fri, 10 Dec 2021 16:00:00 -0000

Kāwhia, in Waikato, is the ancestral home of the Tainui tribe. 100 years ago, it battled to keep the influenza pandemic at bay. Today, it is adopting a unique way of keeping Covid-19 out.

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The Madness and Genius of Tarras International Airport

Sat, 04 Dec 2021 16:00:00 -0000

For two years, a small team at Christchurch Airport plotted an audacious strike – to move in on their rival's territory. This is the unlikely story of the plan to build an international airport in a tiny town in Central Otago.

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Fried Chicken: A Love Story

Fri, 26 Nov 2021 16:00:00 -0000

Covid-19 lockdowns exposed something approaching a national fixation with KFC. Why are Kiwis so obsessed with fried chicken? The Long Read examines the light and dark sides of our collective fascination.

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The Sins of the Father

Fri, 19 Nov 2021 16:00:00 -0000

In 1991, Noeleen Marinovich was abandoned during her pregnancy by a local priest, who left her fighting a financial battle with the Catholic Church. Twenty-seven years later, Noeleen was murdered by their son.

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What Happened to Carolina Lewis?

Sat, 13 Nov 2021 16:00:00 -0000

Carolina Lewis had her whole life ahead of her, then she was gone. For two years, her family kept her story close, hoping for justice. But their pleas for a better investigation into Carolina’s death are yet to be answered.

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Still Down the Covid Rabbit Hole

Fri, 05 Nov 2021 16:00:00 -0000

Stuff journalist Charlie Mitchell reports once more from deep in the alternate universe of Covid-19 conspiracies. This time, the confounding case of a small group of doctors opposed to vaccination and other public health measures.

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Big Brother is Watching (and Listening)

Fri, 29 Oct 2021 16:00:00 -0000

A Stuff reporter was alarmed to discover his car's dashcam had been recording trips for years, long before he bought it. How far is too far for surveillance?

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The Flying Phoenix

Fri, 22 Oct 2021 16:00:00 -0000

A mysterious group called the Flying Phoenix Trust spared no expense building a large compound on farmland near Waihi. A decade on, the $50m complex is mainly used for school camps and the odd retreat. Who's behind it?

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The Price of Fish

Sat, 16 Oct 2021 16:00:00 -0000

The Antipodean albatross will be functionally extinct in 30 years. This is the story of how US supermarkets are unwittingly helping to kill New Zealand's most endangered bird.

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Why has James Bond never been to New Zealand?

Fri, 08 Oct 2021 16:00:00 -0000

In 60 years of saving the world, 007 has visited more than 50 countries but never been to New Zealand. Why not? Despite our natural beauty and burgeoning film industry, is Aotearoa too bland for Bond?

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Love Under Fire

Fri, 01 Oct 2021 16:00:00 -0000

The untold story of Major David Foote – the New Zealand army nurse who wrote a goodbye letter to his daughter, then risked his life to save others in Afghanistan.

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The Mystery of Mrs Muir

Fri, 24 Sep 2021 17:00:00 -0000

When two historians set out to learn more about the first coach of the Silver Ferns, they did't even know her first name. Their journey took them from the netball courts of Wellington to the Central Otago goldfields, revealing a story of immigrant labour, poverty and marginalisation.

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The Whaanga Sisters

Fri, 17 Sep 2021 17:00:00 -0000

Three sisters, Mei, Charmaine and Francess Whaanga, were children when their whānau moved from the East Coast to the city. Now in their 60s, they, like so many children of the great Māori urban migration, are without homes of their own.

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The Hoarder's Treasure

Fri, 10 Sep 2021 17:00:00 -0000

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Down the Covid Rabbit Hole

Sat, 04 Sep 2021 17:00:00 -0000

One intrepid reporter dives headlong into the world of Covid-19 conspiracies and emerges to tell the tale.

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The Trouble With Truby King

Fri, 27 Aug 2021 17:00:00 -0000

Plunket's founder is widely acknowledged as a white supremacist who established the society to help preserve the "master race". More than 100 years on, can Plunket shake its racist past?

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INTRODUCING: What's Wrong With You?

Tue, 24 Aug 2021 17:00:00 -0000

Olivia Shivas joins Michael Wright to talk about Stuff's latest podcast What's Wrong with You? – about life with a disability –and share the most inappropriate question she's ever been asked about using a wheelchair. Listen to the first episode of WWWY and, if you like what you hear, subscribe to the series: https://interactives.stuff.co.nz/2021/08/whats-wrong-with-you-podcast/.

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After the Tampa

Sat, 21 Aug 2021 17:00:00 -0000

From refugee to Fulbright scholar. Abbas Nazari was seven years old when he fled the Taliban and was rescued from a sinking boat by the cargo ship Tampa.

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Forty years of pain: Remembering the 1981 Springbok Tour

Fri, 13 Aug 2021 03:30:00 -0000

Forty years on, protesters recall the heart-stopping moments and enduring consequences of the 1981 Springbok tour of New Zealand.

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The Awful Secret of Flight 149

Sat, 07 Aug 2021 17:00:00 -0000

The terrible truth about why 385 passengers and crew were held hostage by Saddam Hussein; and the New Zealand journalist who refused to let the story go.

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The Battle of Aotearoa

Fri, 30 Jul 2021 17:00:00 -0000

More and more of us call our home New Zealand Aotearoa, but as its popularity rises, so does the noise around it. Why is New Zealand also called Aotearoa?

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Enduring: The Restoration of Te Urewera

Fri, 23 Jul 2021 17:00:00 -0000

Seven years since Te Urewera was officially recognised as a legal person, her people – Ngāi Tūhoe – are facing up to the wounds of colonisation and a Crown partnership haunted by the past.

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The Nazi and the Mountain

Thu, 15 Jul 2021 17:00:00 -0000

Willi Huber, the pioneer behind Canterbury's Mt Hutt ski field, hid a dark past on his immigration forms. Now, the woman who was closest to him is breaking her silence.

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The Trial of Maketū Wharetōtara

Thu, 08 Jul 2021 17:00:00 -0000

Nearly 180 years ago, at a central Auckland intersection, a Māori teenager was hanged before hundreds of settlers, changing the course of history.

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Kei roto i ō tātou toto – It’s in our Blood

Fri, 02 Jul 2021 17:00:00 -0000

Moko kauae is resurging in New Zealand. One woman's journey to receiving the traditional Māori chin tattoo, and a reporter grappling with her own identity.

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The Revenge of the Zombie Rivers

Fri, 25 Jun 2021 17:00:00 -0000

New Zealand’s braided rivers have been systematically strangled, and in some case, left behind zombie rivers. Now, academics and scientists are re-imagining what it means to live with rivers.

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Peak Barber

Fri, 18 Jun 2021 17:00:00 -0000

How chemical weapons, economic theory and the internet combined to squeeze ten barbershops into one Auckland suburb.

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Bunny Boilers

Thu, 10 Jun 2021 17:00:00 -0000

Skulduggery, bullying and death threats in New Zealand's rabbit breeding community.

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The Great Kea Cull

Thu, 03 Jun 2021 17:00:00 -0000

The story of how a roguish, beloved New Zealand bird was nearly eradicated.

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Life on the Edge of the Olympics

Thu, 27 May 2021 17:00:00 -0000

Thousands of people have strived to represent New Zealand at the Olympic Games. Just 1371 have succeeded. This is the story of Joseph Millar's decade-long quest to be one of them.

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Plan B and the 'Infodemic'.

Thu, 20 May 2021 17:00:00 -0000

One public health expert still believes New Zealand’s widely-lauded response to Covid-19 has been a disaster. But how did Dr Simon Thornley become the 'extreme outlier' in his profession and a hero to anti-vaxxers and conspiracy theorists?