Context

4.9 (34)
NEWS
UPDATED WEEKLY

Guyon Espiner & Corin Dann explore the backstory to today’s front page, diving into NZ’s political past and asking, "How did we get here?" But there's a twist: One knows the topic, the other doesn’t.

22/10/2025

The Great NZ Sell-Off

From Telecom to Air New Zealand, the BNZ to our power companies why did governments sell our state assets, and what did we get in return? Now the Government is eyeing a sale of its Chorus debt. Join Guyon Espiner and Corin Dann as they look back at four decades of selling the family silver. Watch the video version of the episode here. Or you can watch the full series on the RNZ website here. Thanks to Ngā Taonga Sound & Vision. Have a topic you'd like Corin or Guyon to explore? Send your ideas to context@rnz.co.nz Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

43 min
15/10/2025

Pension Wars: The NZ Super Promise That Changed Politics

It's the third rail of New Zealand politics: Touch it and you die. From Richard Seddon's groundbreaking old-age pension, to Rob Muldoon's Dancing Cossacks to, Jim Bolger's "No ifs, no buts, no maybes" Corin and Guyon trace the history of New Zealand Superannuation. Watch the video version of the episode here. Or you can watch the full series on the RNZ website here. Thanks to Ngā Taonga Sound & Vision. Have a topic you'd like Corin or Guyon to explore? Send your ideas to context@rnz.co.nz Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

41 min
08/10/2025

How MMP changed politics

New Zealand’s MMP voting system promised fairness and diversity — but has it delivered? In this episode of Context, Guyon Espiner and Corin Dann look back at how MMP came to be, from a slip-up by David Lange in the 1980s to Winston Peters’ rise as kingmaker, and now Christopher Luxon’s challenge of managing a three-party government. Watch the video version of the episode here. Or you can watch the full series on the RNZ website here. Thanks to Ngā Taonga Sound & Vision. Have a topic you'd like Corin or Guyon to explore? Send your ideas to context@rnz.co.nz Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

42 min
01/10/2025

Behind the picket lines

From the Cook Strait ferry strikes to the fiery union battles of the 1970s, New Zealand’s history is written in industrial action. Now, as nurses, teachers and doctors walk off the job, what lessons can we draw from a century of strikes? Watch the video version of the episode here. Or you can watch the full series on the RNZ website here. Thanks to Ngā Taonga Sound & Vision. Have a topic you'd like Corin or Guyon to explore? Send your ideas to context@rnz.co.nz Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

45 min
24/09/2025

The Wild History of Inflation in NZ

From Muldoon’s Price Freeze to Today’s Cost of Living Crisis. Corin and Guyon look back to a time when the PM set the price of milk and froze wages on a whim. Plus, how the NZ reserve bank launched a groundbreaking new monetary policy, which changed how countries controlled inflation for good. Watch the video version of the episode here. Or you can watch the full series on the RNZ website here. Thanks to Ngā Taonga Sound & Vision. Have a topic you'd like Corin or Guyon to explore? Send your ideas to context@rnz.co.nz Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

31 min
17/09/2025

NZ's United Nations History

As Winston Peters heads to the UN, Context looks back at how NZ has shaped the world stage — from Peter Fraser at its founding to peacekeepers in Korea and Timor, and a fiery clash with Israel. Watch the video version of the episode here. Or you can watch the full series on the RNZ website here. Thanks to Ngā Taonga Sound & Vision. Have a topic you'd like Corin or Guyon to explore? Send your ideas to context@rnz.co.nz Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

45 min
10/09/2025

Booze, Bans & Backlash

Why is alcohol reform such a political minefield in New Zealand? With new reforms on the table, Guyon Espiner and Corin Dann trace liquor laws back through a century of history; from the 6 o’clock swill and failed prohibition votes, to Muldoon’s drunken election call and the Black Budget. Watch the video version of the episode here. Or you can watch the full series on the RNZ website here. Thanks to Ngā Taonga Sound & Vision. Have a topic you'd like Corin or Guyon to explore? Send your ideas to context@rnz.co.nz Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

45 min
03/09/2025

Parliament's Rules

Inside Parliament’s Rulebook: Why can’t MPs call each other liars? Why do Speakers wield so much power? And which MP was kicked out just for sarcasm? In this episode, Guyon and Corin trace 175 years of standing orders, Speaker’s rulings, and legendary political one-liners that have shaped New Zealand’s democracy. Watch the video version of the episode here. Or you can watch the full series on the RNZ website here. Thanks to Ngā Taonga Sound & Vision. Have a topic you'd like Corin or Guyon to explore? Send your ideas to context@rnz.co.nz Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

46 min
27/08/2025

Spies, Allies, and the FBI

From Kash Patel’s surprise visit to Kim Dotcom’s infamous raid, New Zealand’s relationship with the FBI and America has been anything but simple. In this episode, Guyon and Corin uncover how NZ has balanced alliances, espionage, and independence — and why it matters now more than ever. Watch the video version of the episode here. Or you can watch the full series on the RNZ website here. Thanks to Ngā Taonga Sound & Vision. Have a topic you'd like Corin or Guyon to explore? Send your ideas to context@rnz.co.nz Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

40 min
20/08/2025

The Brain Drain Backstory

From quips about "raising the IQ of both countries", to gold fever and neoliberal reform, Corin Dann and Guyon Espiner dig through the history of the "brain drain" Watch the video version of the episode here. Read more about this history in this episode on the RNZ website here. Thanks to Ngā Taonga Sound & Vision. Have a topic you'd like Corin or Guyon to explore? Send your ideas to context@rnz.co.nz Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

43 min
15/08/2025

Introducing: Context

RNZ's Guyon Espiner and Corin Dann explore the backstory to today’s front page, diving into NZ’s political past and asking "how did we get here?". But there's a twist: One knows the topic, the other doesn’t. Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

1 min

TRAILER

Introducing: Context

RNZ's Guyon Espiner and Corin Dann explore the backstory to today’s front page, diving into NZ’s political past and asking "how did we get here?". But there's a twist: One knows the topic, the other doesn’t. Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

15/08/2025

•

1 min

4.9

out of 5

34 Ratings

Enjoyable listen

26/10/2025

O pickled lion

I’ve been enjoying listening to this, it does what it says on the tin. I was born in 92 and this has given me some insight into where we are in New Zealand today. Thanks for making some of the bigger economic subjects easier to understand for those of us that dropped out early 😊 wish we could go back to 1980 and make difference choices
The dream pub or party conversation

26/09/2025

IPunk4567899

Love the format of this - it’s like you’ve ended up eves dropping on a well informed, fascinating conversation at the pub or a party.
A dismal reflection

01/10/2025

ScrapMusic101

That this pair of clowns can be described as ‘journalists’ mostly illustrates how low this profession has shrunk in NZ. Dann spends most of his time acting as a right-wing press secretary. Speaking truth to power. No, he’s far too busy licking their boots (to put it politely.) leading to speculation that he’s aiming for a nice safe seat as well-paid lobby fodder. The presenters would like the audience to think of them as the modern incarnation of Woodward and Bernstein, in reality they wouldn’t be qualified to sharpen their pencils or empty their rubbish bins. That Radio NZ is paying for this rubbish is a graphic demonstration of the paucity of talent available. Favourable assessments? Perhaps immediate family or friends.
Informative and entertaining

12/09/2025

Hgft45678fgd

What more could you want than that?