Media Releases
History Matters: Untold Pacific History season two explores New Zealand's role in little-known Pacific stories
Released at 11:45 am on 9 April 2024
Untold Pacific History 2 banner Photo: Tikilounge Productions
A dynamic and often provocative account of New Zealand's relationship with the Pacific. Across three episodes, season two of Untold Pacific History shines a light on three key events in the Pacific nations of Samoa, Niue and Rarotonga that have been little told in Aotearoa and the extraordinary stories that resulted.
From the hundreds of Niuean soldiers who died while taken to fight a war that was not their own, to the feats of a Kiwi Cook Islander who helped send the first monkey to the moon, and Samoa's unsung hero I'Iga Pisa - the new series of Untold Pacific History explores little known snippets of history of the region that we live in.
Informed by the most recent research and theory from renowned Pacific history heavyweights, like Professor Toeolesulusulu Damon Salesa and Gatoloai Tili Afamasaga, this unique series provides a comprehensive and engaging overview of the Pacific Islands’ past.
Directed by Tuki Laumea and produced by Lisa Taouma (Tikilounge Productions) for RNZ, the first video series was awarded NZ On Air Best Pasifika Programme at the NZ TV Awards. The podcast is produced in-house by RNZ Podcasts and hosted by RNZ Pacific News Editor Koroi Hawkins.
RNZ's Chief Content Officer Megan Whelan says Untold Pacific History is a brilliantly produced series that brings important stories of the Pacific region to life in an easy to understand way.
“The release of the new series of Untold Pacific History coincides with a new collection on our website titled History Matters, showcasing new and evergreen history content across RNZ podcasts, series and radio programmes.”
The first video episode of the new series, The Forgotten Soldiers of Niue, will be released tomorrow, with the first podcast episode released this Friday 12 April at rnz.co.nz/untold and podcast platforms. The History Matters collection is available at rnz.co.nz/history. Untold Pacific History is made with the support of NZ On Air.
History Matters
History Matters is a collection of new and evergreen videos, podcasts and radio features that tell the stories of Aotearoa and our Pacific neighbours. Explore all the chapters of the award-winning NZ Wars series, including the new episode NZ Wars: Stories of Tauranga Moana, the new series of Untold Pacific History and a new video and radio documentary All Blacks at War, releasing on Anzac Day. Browse the History Matters collection at rnz.co.nz/history