Face-off with a Great White
Is this what it's like to die? This was one of the thoughts drifting through sixteen year old Barry Watkins mind as he clung on to the edge...
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Eyewitness
What it’s like to come face-to-face with history.
Episodes
20 of 94 episodesSir Bryan Williams - altering rugby history
Rugby legend Sir Bryan Williams made All Blacks rugby history as the first player of Pasifika blood to play in Apartheid-era South Africa in...
Inside the Controversial North Beach Zoo
Not much is known of the suburban zoo that was once situated in Christchurch's North Beach. But those who visited recall eyeing up a mysteri...
When the dress made the woman
At a time when women were embracing their femininity after the war years, Barbara Herrick wanted to change the way women felt about themselv...
The Wizard: A Living Work of Art
Little is known about The Wizard of New Zealand who took centre stage in Christchurch's Cathedral Square from the 70s until the Christchurch...
Radio Dunedin - One of the oldest stations in the world
This year marks 100 years since the first radio transmission in New Zealand and the man behind it is also responsible for laying the foundat...
NZ's Longest Running Children's Show - What Now
What Now is New Zealand's most successful and longest running children's television show and this year celebrated 40 years. Rex Simpson who...
There's Nothing Romantic About Pitcairn
It was the spirit of adventure that took teacher, Tony Washington and his family to Pitcairn Island. One of the most isolated communities in...
New Zealand's most iconic ad: The Great Crunchie Train Robbery
In this episode of Eyewitness Sonia Yee takes a look at why The Great Crunchie Train Robbery was a runaway success at a time when the advert...
The ‘49ers
An epic train journey for a game of rugby marks the end of an era. Produced by Julie Benjamin My father Harry Benjamin came from Westport, a...
Megan Compain: Making History in Women’s Basketball
Basketball has taken Whanganui born and raised, Megan Compain all over the world, including competing in the 2000 and 2004 Olympic Games. Bu...
The Rise and Fall of Empire Day
Empire Day fell on the 24th of May and was celebrated in New Zealand from 1903 - two years after Queen Victoria passed away on 22 January 19...
Making Popstars: Truebliss
What is it like to be catapulted to overnight stardom? That very scenario happened to five Kiwi girls who became part of all-group Truebliss...
Tiwai Point: Fifty Years in the Furnace
Tiwai Point is a polarising place, people tend to love it or hate it. 2021 will be its 50th year of operations, it could also be the smelter...
Changing Medical History - New Zealand's First Open Heart Surgery
Prior to 1958 mortality rates for babies born with heart conditions was extremely high. But a groundbreaking open heart surgery performed 62...
First Female Police Recruits: 'They were a fine bunch of young women'
In the 1940s, Marie Storey was part of the third intake of women to join the police force in New Zealand. She speaks to Sonia Yee about bein...
Rebuilding an iconic road: the making of State Highway 80
Rebuilding the iconic Mount Cook Road was both a challenge and a privilege. Find out more in this episode of Eyewitness. Drive inland from T...
The Leap of Faith To Save a Language
Forty years ago the Māori language was on the brink of dying out. Only 5% of Māori spoke it fluently. A massive push to save it was underway...
The Making of Grace Kwan
How culturally diverse is New Zealand television and when did things start to shift? Sonia Yee explores the making of character Dr Grace Kwa...
The fall and rise of the gold kiwifruit
New Zealand is the third largest producer of kiwifruit in the world. But in November 2010, that looked to change when kiwifruit vines across...