Media Releases
Monthly highlights: June
Released at 11:46 am on 26 May 2025
21 May 2025
Coming soon to RNZ
Aotearoa Music Awards streaming on rnz.co.nz
RNZ is the official media partner for AMA 2025 and will be broadcasting the live video stream on the night, as well as extensive awards coverage in the lead up and on the night across radio and digital channels. 2025 is a special one as it marks 60 years of the Music Awards in Aotearoa.
Watch the live stream exclusively on rnz.co.nz and on RNZ Music YouTube channel on Thursday 29 May from 6pm.
New podcasts
New podcasts added to rnz.co.nz/podcasts. Bookmark, browse or listen or subscribe on your favourite podcast app.
Kelly Tarlton's Final Treasure Hunt | Podcast
Friday 23 May
History, Aotearoa
Kelly Tarlton's Final Treasure Hunt is a new six-part podcast looking into Kelly Tarlton's final expedition. Kelly Tarlton is widely known as the visionary of Kelly Tarlton’s Underwater World. He was also a highly successful treasure hunter of multiple shipwrecks across the world. 40 years after his death a team made up of friends, family and marine enthusiasts embark upon an adventure to complete one of his final expeditions, the location of the oldest European artifact in New Zealand - the third anchor of the St Jean Baptiste. From the bottom of Doubtless Bay to the display walls of Te Papa, the quest to complete Kelly Tarlton's Final Treasure Hunt is on.
Produced in partnership with Motuihe Group. Available from Friday 23 May on rnz.co.nz/podcasts. Episodes out weekly on Fridays and on RNZ National weekly on Sundays at 7am.
Witi Underwater | Podcast
Monday 16 June
NZ History
In 2024, Witi Ihimaera is doing something that surprises even himself – studying te reo Māori in a fulltime immersion class for the entire year. He’s Aotearoa’s most famous Māori kaituhi, but he has never been a fluent speaker. He now plans to put that right. In the five-part bilingual podcast Witi Underwater, Eugene Bingham (Pākehā, Ngāpuhi) and Adam Dudding (Pākehā) follow Papa Witi all year, tracking the struggles and triumphs of him and his hoa tauira. Fly-on- the-wall reporting is interwoven with vignettes and anecdotes from Witi’s life, his fiction and his memoirs. Made by Te Pūrongo Productions, with the support of Te Māngai Pāho. Available from Monday 16 June at rnz.co.nz/podcasts.
New video content
Enjoy these great new films and series on RNZ’s new video hub. Visit rnz.co.nz/video to bookmark, browse or watch.
Ruamata: It's More Than Hockey 2 | Documentary
Monday 2 June
History, Aotearoa
The next chapter of award-winning* documentary Ruamata: It’s More Than Hockey sees Te Kura Kaupapa Māori o Ruamata return to the Rankin Cup with the hope of becoming the first Kura Kaupapa Māori ever to win the prestigious hockey tournament. Meanwhile, head coach Tenga Rangitauira pursues his dream of representing New Zealand at the Masters World Cup in South Africa. Available on Monday 2 June on rnz.co.nz/video. Made with support from Te Māngai Pāho.
*Best Sports Programme, NZ TV Awards 2024
I Am A Dark River | Film
Monday 9 June
NZ History, Arts/Culture
I Am A Dark River is a film exploring the life of Bob Lowry. Typographer, printer, publisher, poet, artist, radical, binder, teacher, political activist, host extraordinaire, husband and father, sexual adventurer, rule breaker, raconteur, champion of free speech and human magnet for the disenfranchised and revolutionary. Bob Lowry was many things but nearly 60 years after his tragic suicide he remains one of the most pivotal and influential individuals in New Zealand’s rich literary history. This film comes to rnz.co.nz/video on Monday 9 June after a cinema release. Made with the support of Creative New Zealand.
1984 | Documentary series
Monday 16 June
History
1984 is a new documentary series about the 1984 Sikh Massacre in India, and the subsequent diaspora that led to an influx of Punjabi & Sikh immigrants into Aotearoa. Watch the series on rnz.co.nz/video. Made with support from NZ On Air.
Stolen Lands 2 | Documentary
Coming soon
NZ History
In this gripping documentary, follow the Clan MacDonald survivors as they unite with Māori and chief Te Rauparaha against the British Crown. Witness their journey, cultural exchange, and unyielding bond with the land in this inspiring tale of resilience. Made with support from NZ On Air and coming soon to rnz.co.nz/video.
Radio news
Budget Day Special
Corin Dann will host a Budget Day Special from 2pm on Thursday 22 May on RNZ National featuring Finance Minister Nicola Willis’ speech and analysis from Political Editor Jo Moir and other RNZ journalists.
Follow all of RNZ’s Budget Day coverage online at rnz.co.nz/budget25.
Nights live from Kelly Tarlton's
Nights with Emile Donovan will broadcast live from SEA LIFE Kelly Tarlton’s Aquarium ahead of the launch of the new podcast Kelly Tarlton’s Final Treasure Hunt. Join Emile and a live audience from 8pm on Thursday 22 May on RNZ National.
King's Birthday - Monday 2 June
RNZ National
King’s Birthday programming will feature Paddy Gower from 8-midday, and long-time holiday programme Matinee Idle from midday-5pm.
RNZ Concert
Three to Seven host Bryan Crump presents a Regal Sonic Tonic dedicated to King Charles, with music from RNZ’s collection and archival gems from Ngā Taonga Sound and Vision. Expect a mix of soundbites of local reaction to various visits to Aotearoa from Charles before he became King, along with some recordings of our reigning monarch himself, interspersed with musical responses to the monarchy ranging from John Lydon to Sir William Walton.
Weeknight schedule changes on RNZ National - From 3 June
Our audience has told us that listening to live radio at night is all about connection. Whether that’s connection to a presenter, guests, other listeners or simply connecting with the news of the day we are introducing some small but significant changes to our nightly schedule to better meet the needs of our audience. These updates allow for more time in the early evening for live radio, for host interaction and discussion. From 3 June, The Panel with Wallace Chapman will be extended into the 7pm hour allowing Wallace, alongside guests and audience members, to respond to issues discussed during the preceding hour. On Wednesdays at 7:30pm Wallace will host a new politics segment with a rotating cast of guests analyzing the latest political news. The expanded version of The Panel will run Monday to Thursdays, with a new episode of long-running regional podcast Country Life continuing to air on Fridays at 7:05pm. Nights with Emile Donovan will feature more live interviews in the early part of the programme after the 8pm news. Popular daily podcasts The Detail and Pacific Waves will move to 9:45 and 10:15pm respectively, alongside the extended 10pm bulletin creating an unmatched hour of news and current affairs from Aotearoa and the Pacific at the end of the day.
Our Changing World
Same time, new day! For the first time in its 20-year history Our Changing World podcast is shifting its radio play from a Thursday. From 3 June, it will now air at 7:30pm on Tuesdays.
Matariki - Friday 20 June
RNZ National
Join Julian Wilcox and Mihingarangi Forbes for a special live Matariki broadcast from Mt Tongariro at dawn. On the Air with Mark Williams & Kara Rickard returns from midday to 5pm.
RNZ Concert
Bryan Crump presents a Stellar Sonic Tonic dedicated to Matariki, with music from RNZ’s collection and archival gems from Ngā Taonga Sound and Vision from 4pm.
Recent releases
Tukua | Podcast
Monday 16 June
Arts, Culture
Tukua is a new podcast that explores an intergenerational response to arts and cultural events & exhibitions in Aotearoa. Panellists include Ngahuia Te Awekotuku – academic, author and activist, Gen Z, sculptor Brett Graham, and stand-up comedian and creative, Kura Turuwhenua. A focus Māori and Pasifika artists but no-one is safe from the Tukua lens.They attend openings of events, interview creatives, go home and think about it and then meet up again to air their views in a studio at RNZ. Leading this process is veteran broadcaster, Kathryn Graham, and the team are ably supported by line producer, Parehuia Mackay. Made with the support of the Creative NZ, NZ On Air and RNZ arts and culture podcast co-fund. Listen now on rnz.co.nz/podcasts or on podcast apps.
ENDS
