Former Prime Minister Walter Nash enters the Kremlin 1937–1939.
Photo: Archives New Zealand Te Rua Mahara o te Kāwanatanga.

THE NORTHERN BEAR

New Zealand’s relationship with Russia has been characterised by instability — cycling between friend and foe, the nation and its citizens have often become a symbol of our own fears and anxieties.

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Heaven or a Place on Earth?

What awaits us after death?

The Lost Islands

Historic artefacts washed up by the tides hint at lost lands whose full stories we can only guess at.

Beyond the Badlands

Strange monsters and ominous ghosts can be traced to repressed memories of violent histories, argues one Australian researcher looking at the past through a novel lens.

The Northern Bear

Our relationship with Russia has been characterised by instability — cycling between friend and foe, the nation and its citizens have often become symbols of our own fear and anxieties.

Echoes of History

Most New Zealanders remain unaware of the Surafend massacre by Anzac soldiers in 1918.

Gone Bush

To evade New Zealand’s draft in both world wars, scores of conscientious objectors fled deep into the bush.

Closed Encounters

Covid-19 checkpoints are not the first time some parts of the country have been sealed off from the rest.

As a Matter of Fact

Dismissal by Western scientists of mātauranga Māori and indigenous knowledge as unscientific “myth” often succumbs to its own criticism.

Men of God?

Destiny Church Brian Tamaki has made headlines during the latest phase of the pandemic.

By Any Other Name

How long has Aotearoa been a name for these islands?

Bad Dreams

Could a mysterious sleeping sickness from the early 20th century give us clues for navigating the uncertain prospect of "long Covid”?

From America With Love

A promising start with the Biden White House is just the latest twist in the US-NZ relationship.
Satellite image of Hunga-Tonga Hunga Ha‘apai island. Photo: CC.

Historic artefacts washed up by the tides hint at lost lands whose full stories we can only guess at.

THE LOST ISLANDS

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Cook Island Connections

The Cooks have a fascinating history and connected in some surprising ways to our own.
An anti-vaccination cartoon from the late 1800s.

Big lessons from smallpox

Long before Covid-19, people have been sceptical about life-saving vaccines.

Cancel Culture, 1880s Style

The rich history of boycotts dates back to the 19th century — no Twitter account required.

From the Islands

The troubled history of imported labour in the Pacific.

Unrest Room

Arguments over public toilets are a recurring flashpoint in the fight for trans rights.

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