Jack Perkins

Spectrum's Jack Perkins explores the philosophy and history of Levin's Radio Reading Service which provides regional and national news and current affairs for the print disabled. A Print Disabled… Audio

Dotted along Wellington's waterfront are plaques and inlaid benches quoting from some of New Zealand's finest writers. Accompanied by Spectrum's Jack Perkins, Rosemary Wildblood, Barbara Murison and… Audio

Taupo's annual Medieval Fair celebrates the 800th anniversary of Magna Carta, an attempt to make peace between unpopular and unscrupulous King John and the English barons. Magna Carta has resonated… Audio

By March 1915 the war had settled down to a round of recruiting, sending parcels to Belgium and hearing news of the New Zealanders training in Egypt. The anti-military training lobby of the pre-war… Audio

Little Dog Barking Theatre, directed by Peter Wilson, creates endearing tales for children using puppetry and clever props. Spectrum's Jack Perkins drops in on a rehearsal of 'Guji Guji' by acclaimed… Audio

The New Zealand native falcon (karearea) is severely threatened with fewer than 6000 left. The Marlborough Falcon Trust (supported by Brancott Wines) is determined to save this beautiful bird by a… Audio

60, 000 soldiers were trained at the Featherston Military Training Camp from 1916 to 1918. It was built in under a year by 1000 workers, driven by World War One's urgent need for men to fill the… Audio

A team of Marlborough women -and one bloke- take turns hand-milking Daffodil at 3pm each day. From the Jersey cow's milk they process a variety of goodies from cultured butter and cream to cheeses and… Audio

Lifelong innovator and ideas man Lee Bennett has created a workshop space where he and assistant Wolf Hatch encourage young and old to experiment with technology, think like entrepreneurs and sow the… Audio

Scores of bikers ride their BSAs and Nortons, Indians, Harley Davidsons, Ducatis - you name it - to the Boyle Kawasaki shop in the Wellington suburb of Newtown. As well as the bikes, beards (mostly… Audio

In June 1913, William Massey's government clamped down on youths who were avoiding recently introduced military training. When a dozen or so young conscientious objectors were incarcerated in Fort… Audio

Vincent Aspey was a key figure in the development of music in the middle of last century. For 20 years he was leader of the National Orchestra formed in 1946 (later re-named the NZ Symphony Orchestra)… Audio

'Brass banding is a great relaxation,' says Bill Rimmer, a Soprano Cornet player with The Band of the Royal Regiment of New Zealand Artillery, 'We all come from different walks of life…and we're all… Audio

Jack Perkins discovers an Aladdin's cave of oriental rugs and carpets in the central Wellington workshop of Anna Williams. Anna has been repairing these exotic floor coverings and wall hangings for… Audio

Eleven year-old Jo Hamid and her family of seven emigrated from England to New Zealand in 1950. The boat passage cost 10 pounds and children travelled free. During the immediate post war years, this… Audio

Dog adopters gather to picnic and celebrate. Organised by the Wellington SPCA, this open-air event attracts dozens of animal lovers and voluntary SPCA workers but the main focus is on those who have… Audio

Twelve women, aged between 50 and mid-70s and mainly from Taranaki, recently trekked for 3 days through Nepal's mountain passes to the remote village of Kharikhola. They were accompanied by Sherpa… Audio

Wellington's St Peters Anglican church on Willis St, established in 1848, has a long history of providing succour for the poor and under-privileged and taking a strong stand on controversial topics… Audio

Researcher Margaret Tate shows Spectrums Jack Perkins around Palmerston North's Savage Crescent state housing precinct and they also meet long-time residents. Savage Crescent dates from 1937 and was… Audio