re_covering

RNZ
  • 4.8 (32)
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  • WEEKLY SERIES

Media chaplain and broadcaster Rev Frank Ritchie sits down with top New Zealand journalists to unpack that one story that most impacted them, personally and professionally.

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  1. EPISODE 1

    Te Aniwa Hurihanganui | Treaty Principles Bill

    When Te Aniwa Hurihanganui received a leaked document revealing details about the Government’s ill-fated Treaty Principles Bill, it sparked a political firestorm that would dominate headlines in 2024. Content warning: contains violent and racist language. Watch the video version of the episode here. TVNZ Māori Affairs Correspondent Te Aniwa Hurihanganui was on her way to a hui-a-motu when she received a leaked document revealing key details about the Government’s Treaty Principles Bill. Pivoting quickly from her original planned coverage, Te Aniwa got an immediate reaction to the document from arriving leaders, marking the start of a political firestorm that would dominate headlines over the next year. In this interview with broadcaster and media chaplain Rev Frank Ritchie, Te Aniwa Hurihanganui also discusses the racism she has faced in her work, the sense of responsibility she carries in her reporting, and how she switches off. Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

    45 min

  2. EPISODE 2

    Jonathan Milne | Hiding from Nazis

    Sixty years after the Battle of Crete, a Kiwi WWII veteran travelled back to Greece to find the family of the men who sheltered him from Nazi soldiers. Journalist Jonathan Milne chronicled their emotional meeting. Watch the video version of the episode here. On a flight to Greece in 2001, journalist Jonathan Milne met a Kiwi veteran determined to find the Cretan locals who sheltered him from German troops for a year in Nazi-occupied Crete during World War II. With only two names on a scrap piece of paper, Jonathan helped facilitate the reunion of Alan Hepburn with the family of his heroes – and uncovered a surprising New Zealand connection. In this kōrero with broadcaster and media chaplain Rev Frank Ritchie, Jonathan also discusses his award-winning career, journalism’s problems with revenue and public trust, and why it’s healthy for reporters to own their mistakes. Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

    51 min

  3. EPISODE 3

    Dana Johannsen | The System that Broke Olivia Podmore

    The death of Olympic cyclist Olivia Podmore confirmed warnings journalist Dana Johannsen had long been hearing about the mental health risks for elite athletes. Her reporting would go on to expose the dark underbelly of high-performance sport in NZ. Content warning: This podcast discusses mental health and suicide. Watch the video version of the episode here. When Olympic cyclist Olivia Podmore died in 2021, journalist Dana Johannsen was shocked – but it wasn’t completely out of the blue. For years, athletes and their advocates had been sounding the alarm over a silent mental health crisis gripping elite sport in Aotearoa. As speculation over the death swept the nation, Dana’s unrelenting coverage sought to understand how the system had failed a gifted athlete so badly at what should’ve been the prime of her career. In this kōrero with broadcaster and media chaplain Rev Frank Ritchie, Dana also discusses reporting on the America’s Cup and Olympics, the reality of working in lockdown, and her love of home DIY. Where to get help: Need to Talk? Free call or text 1737 any time to speak to a trained counsellor, for any reason. Lifeline: 0800 543 354 or text HELP to 4357 Suicide Crisis Helpline: 0508 828 865 / 0508 TAUTOKO (24/7). This is a service for people who may be thinking about suicide, or those who are concerned about family or friends. Depression Helpline: 0800 111 757 (24/7) or text 4202 Samaritans: 0800 726 666 (24/7) Youthline: 0800 376 633 (24/7) or free text 234 (8am-12am), or email talk@youthline.co.nz What's Up: free counselling for 5 to 19 years old, online chat 11am-10.30pm 7days/week or free phone 0800 WHATSUP / 0800 9428 787 11am-11pm Asian Family Services: 0800 862 342 Monday to Friday 9am to 8pm or text 832 Monday to Friday 9am - 5pm. Languages spoken: Mandarin, Cantonese, Korean, Vietnamese, Thai, Japanese, Hindi, Gujarati, Marathi and English. Rural Support Trust Helpline: 0800 787 254 Healthline: 0800 611 116 Rainbow Youth: (09) 376 4155 OUTLine: 0800 688 5463 (6pm-9pm) If it is an emergency and you feel like you or someone else is at risk, call 111. Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

    54 min

  4. EPISODE 4

    Lloyd Burr | The Pike River Report

    As politicians lost interest in seeking a resolution for the Pike River families, Lloyd Burr took up their cause. His tireless reporting exposed injustice and turned a waning news story into a pressing election issue. Watch the video version of the episode here. Six years on from the Pike River Mine disaster, hope was fading that the remains of the 29 men who lost their lives would ever be found. Politicians insisted it was too dangerous to re-enter the mine, and media interest in the story was waning. But when Lloyd Burr came across a report suggesting re-entry was possible, he started to probe. His tireless reporting brought the issue back into the public consciousness and created renewed political will to seek justice for the Pike River families. In this conversation with broadcaster and media chaplain Rev Frank Ritchie, Lloyd talks about calling out injustice, what it’s like being made redundant twice in just over a year, and his hopes for the future of the media industry. Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

    51 min

  5. EPISODE 5

    Tommy Livingston | Trials and Tribulations

    A late-night dispute ended in tragedy when a young man killed his abusive father. Tommy Livingston’s sensitive reporting of the ensuing murder trial captured its emotion and complexity – and ultimately led him to leave journalism for good. Content warning: Discusses suicide, domestic violence, abuse and violent themes. Watch the video version of the episode here. While reporting on the trial of a man accused of murdering his violent father, reporter Tommy Livingston became consumed by the case and the heartbroken family’s story, turning up to court even on his days off. Through discerning coverage of a complex death – one that both shattered a family and freed it from generations of abuse – Tommy earned their respect, but also came to the realisation journalism was no longer for him. In this kōrero with broadcaster and media chaplain Rev Frank Ritchie, Tommy talks about the toll reporting took on his mental health, what he’s learned about trauma, and his new career as a counsellor. Where to get help: Need to Talk? Free call or text 1737 any time to speak to a trained counsellor, for any reason. Lifeline: 0800 543 354 or text HELP to 4357 Suicide Crisis Helpline: 0508 828 865 / 0508 TAUTOKO (24/7). This is a service for people who may be thinking about suicide, or those who are concerned about family or friends. Depression Helpline: 0800 111 757 (24/7) or text 4202 Samaritans: 0800 726 666 (24/7) Youthline: 0800 376 633 (24/7) or free text 234 (8am-12am), or email talk@youthline.co.nz What's Up: free counselling for 5 to 19 years old, online chat 11am-10.30pm 7days/week or free phone 0800 WHATSUP / 0800 9428 787 11am-11pm  Asian Family Services: 0800 862 342 Monday to Friday 9am to 8pm or text 832 Monday to Friday 9am - 5pm. Languages spoken: Mandarin, Cantonese, Korean, Vietnamese, Thai, Japanese, Hindi, Gujarati, Marathi and English. Rural Support Trust Helpline: 0800 787 254 Healthline: 0800 611 116 Rainbow Youth: (09) 376 4155 OUTLine: 0800 688 5463 (6pm-9pm) If it is an emergency and you feel like you or someone else is at risk, call 111. Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

    47 min

  6. EPISODE 6

    Amanda Gillies | An Angel in Te Kuiti

    Amanda Gillies was on the way to an interview when she got a call confirming Newshub’s closure. Despite the shock, she continued on – and in the telling of a brave Te Kūiti amputee’s story was reminded what had first drawn her to journalism. Watch the video version of the episode here. After a tip-off, Amanda Gillies drove to Te Kūiti to meet Bev McIndoe – a woman who had survived a catastrophic accident that left half her body amputated, and who now faced losing her home after an ACC funding cut. But just five minutes from her destination, Amanda’s phone rang with news that turned her own world upside-down: Newshub was closing. In shock, she decided to push on – and in sharing Bev’s story of grit and generosity, found her own perspective shifting and a timely reminder of why she became a journalist in the first place. In this kōrero with Rev Frank Ritchie, Amanda Gillies opens up about the moment she learned her workplace of 23 years was shutting its doors, reflects on her time fronting The AM Show, and talks about her new role hosting RNZ’s The Detail. Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

    49 min

  7. EPISODE 7

    Jack Tame | Trump's Rise to Power

    Standing at Hillary Clinton’s election night ‘victory’ party in 2016, Jack Tame realised the real winner was elsewhere. Donald Trump’s rise to power exposed his blind spots as a reporter and fundamentally changed his journalism. Watch the video version of the episode here. On election night 2016, Jack Tame joined the throngs of media at Hillary Clinton’s victory party. But as the results filtered through, it quickly became clear they were in the wrong place. The real party was across town. Underdog Donald Trump had won. Like many journalists, Jack had overlooked the discontent precipitating Trump's rise to power, and the experience rattled him – drawing attention to his blind spots as a reporter and fundamentally changing the way he covered major stories. In this conversation with Rev Frank Ritchie, Jack Tame speaks about being 1NEWS’ US correspondent in the Trump era, the radio skills that have helped him excel on TV, and how he landed a chance interview with Sir David Attenborough in Antarctica. Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

    56 min

  8. EPISODE 8

    Melissa Chan-Green | Til Death

    After his bride’s death just hours after their wedding, a devastated groom struggles to process his grief. Five years later, he turns to Melissa Chan-Green to tell his heart-wrenching story for the first time. Content warning: contains discussion of death and loss, and sexual assault. Watch the video version of the episode here. A day after their wedding, a mourning groom struggles to process the death of his bride. A few kind words from Melissa Chan-Green brought him comfort, but her offer for him to tell his story was gently turned down. Five years later, he would get back in touch with Melissa – ready to talk for the first time about the trauma of that day, and to channel his grief into raising awareness of the dangers of meningitis, the disease that claimed his beloved wife’s life. In this conversation with Rev Frank Ritchie, Melissa reflects on the skill of being a human first and a journalist second, how she handled two young kids and a morning TV show on little sleep, and her career pivot after Newshub’s collapse. Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

    57 min
See All Season 5 (8)

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4.8
out of 5
32 Ratings

About

Media chaplain and broadcaster Rev Frank Ritchie sits down with top New Zealand journalists to unpack that one story that most impacted them, personally and professionally.

Information

  • Creator
    RNZ
  • Episodes
    41
  • Seasons
    5
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © (C) Radio New Zealand 2026
  • Show Website
    re_covering

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