Crisis and Conflict

This episode of RNZ100 explores moments of crisis and conflict that have shaped New Zealand's national identity. It examines how the country has responded to both devastating events and perceived moral panics, featuring insights from Kim Hill and Nigel Roberts. The discussion begins with the celebrations of VJ Day in 1945, questioning whether the full horrors of the bombings of Japan were known at the time. The podcast also covers the Mazengab Report on teenage promiscuity in the Hutt Valley, the divisive 1981 Springbok Tour, and natural disasters such as the Tangiwai rail disaster and the Erebus plane crash. It concludes by examining more recent events, such as the Pike River mine explosion and the Marmite shortage, reflecting on New Zealand's resilience and its sometimes peculiar priorities.