Prehistoric New Zealand

Before people there was the land. We start the story of New Zealand 100 million years ago as tectonic forces tear apart Gondwana and Zealandia/Te Riu-a-Maiu is formed.

In part one of The Aotearoa History Show, Zealandia is formed, volcanoes and ice ages make their mark and we ask what happened to our mammals.

Watch the video version of the episode here

By William Ray

I used to think that the Treaty of Waitangi was signed after the New Zealand Wars ended.

That's how wars are supposed to end, right? After the fighting is over you get around a table and work out a deal.

We'd been taught about the Treaty at school and I was vaguely aware of the New Zealand Wars. I knew both were connected somehow so I just leaped to what seemed like the logical conclusion.

Over the past year I've had a chance to talk to a bunch of history teachers and historians and I found out this sort of fundamental misunderstanding of our history is pretty common. When we learn history we usually focus on one facet in isolation - the Goldrush, Gallipoli, the Treaty of Waitangi, the New Zealand Wars, the Nuclear Free Movement. What we often miss is how those facets fit together. Year after year, one person inspiring another, one policy sparking a reaction.

It's past time we start to join the dots.

That's what we set out to do in the Aotearoa History show. We are connecting the pieces so people can see the wider picture of how our land and people have been shaped, and some of the forces that did that shaping.

This series traverses a hundred million years, all way from this land's geological origins, through discovery, and war, and innovation, and political wrangling through until the modern day. Though, to be fair, most of those millions of years are done and dusted in episode one.

What happened to Aotearoa's mammals? How did Aotearoa's first people arrive? What were the geopolitical forces underpinning British colonisation? How come our stereotype of your typical Kiwi bloke looks like that guy from the Speights commercials?

The answers to these questions can go off in all kinds of weird directions. And sometimes they can challenge your assumptions…

Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details