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Episodes and Stories 19
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I Was There 1960s - The Decade in News
Season The 1960s , Episode 1In the premiere episode, Dougal Stevenson looks at the 1960s - a decade of tragic disasters, social change as air travel opportunities opened up, sporting gold and Beatlemania! 1960s - The Decade in News: It was a decade of disasters – the Strongman Mine explosion killed 19, 23 died in our worst domestic civil aviation accident in 1963; 29 died when the MV Kaitawa was lost at sea, an earthquake devastated Inangahua, and of course there was the Wahine sinking. In the crime world, George Wilder became an unlikely folk hero with three prison breaks, while we were shocked by the Basset Road machine gun murders. But there were highlights too… the Lawson quins born in ’65, Brian Barratt Boyes performs our first open heart surgery, the six o’clock swill ends and we change to decimal currency. -
I Was There 70s - The Decade in News
Season The 1970s , Episode 1The Vietnam War, French nuclear testing and the Dawn Raids, Land Marches and oil shocks, the 70s were a tumultuous time. The Crewe murders, Mr Asia and the ongoing mystery of Mona Blades disappearance would mark the decade in crime, while the death of Big Norm would see the election of the most divisive Prime Minister in our history, Robert Muldoon. Britain joins the EEC meaning our role as her larder was in danger, the Cold War saw Bill Sutch charged with spying for the Russians, while Colin Moyle resigned as an MP over homosexual rumours. -
I Was There 1960s - Social Trends
Season The 1960s , Episode 21960s - Social Trends: New Zealand started off the 60s as a quiet farming nation with our own holy trinity of rugby, racing and beer . But overseas travel became more possible by air, and we became increasingly influenced by overseas – our first American style shopping mall opened in 1963, wine began being served in restaurants legally (The Gourmet on Shortland St). Maori were increasingly moving to the city from the country, as were a lot of other people, and when the wool prices collapsed in 1967, unemployment grew, pushing more people the city… dissatisfaction with the golden era would grow, we’d see the protest movement start to grow, and James K Baxter forming Jerusalem. -
I Was There 1960s - Big Event - The Wahine
Season The 1960s , Episode 360s - Big Event – The Wahine: There was no single event that would remain imprinted on our collective consciousness from this decade like the sinking of the Wahine. The loss of life from a single event (53) was unparalleled in New Zealand during the 60s, and the image of the listing ferry off the coast of Wellington is a powerful symbol. -
I Was There 1960s - Sports & Leisure
Season The 1960s , Episode 41960s - Sports & Leisure: Peter Snell got the decade off to a good start with a gold at Rome, and topped it off with a double in Tokyo in 1964, while Bob Charles and Denny Hulme both got world attention in their respective pursuits. Our outdoorsy, rural heritage was still front of mind though, and the sixties saw New Zealand establish the Golden Shears competition in 1961, Outward Bound was set up in 1962. We even had our own crack at a vehicle for the great outdoors, the kiwi made Trekka rolled off the production line in 1966. -
I Was There 1960s - Entertainment
Season The 1960s , Episode 51960s - Entertainment: Television would open New Zealand to the world, while the world would come to New Zealand. Beatlemania would hit hard with the band themselves making it here in 1964, while our very own mop-haired ravers Ray Colombus and the Invaders penned their answer to Twist & Shout that same year. Kiri te Kanawa gets her big break on the Mobil Song Quest while John Rowles breaks into the UK Top 10. By 1966 we had our own music show, C’Mon, but the Government’s firm control over the Radio Waves would send the pirates out into the Hauraki Gulf to have their music played. -
I Was There 1970s - Entertainment
Season The 1970s , Episode 51970s - Entertainment: John Rowles introduced the decade with his best known contribution to our musical landscape, Cheryl Moana Marie, but he was soon eclipsed by the voices of the 70s, the protest singers like Jon Hanlon and Shona Laing, before the emergence of rockers like Hello Sailor, Th’ Dudes and Sharon O’Neill. But TV was the star, going colour in 1973, TV2 arriving in 1975, and childhood classics such as Play School, Spot On, Nice One Stu and Hey Hey It’s Andy – in the evening we sat down to our own fare, Pukemanu, Close to Home, and Fair Go. -
I Was There 1970s - Social Trends
Season The 1970s , Episode 21970s - Social Trends: Protests and big social change were the social characteristics of the 70s. Maori were finding their voice and demanding what was theirs through the Land Marches and Bastion Point occupation. We protested racist rugby tours, dams, nuclear warship visits and the Vietnam war, and ended the Dawn Raids against Pacific Island overstayers. At the same time, significant institutions were formed, institutional safety nets like the DPB and ACC, and the Waitangi Tribunal, which would shape the kind of country we were to become. -
I Was There 1970s - Big Event - Erebus
Season The 1970s , Episode 31970s - Big Event - Erebus: Just as the Wahine had cast a cloud over the end of the 1960s, so the Erebus air disaster would do to the 1970s, with the single greatest loss of life of New Zealanders outside of wartime (one more than the Napier earthquake). But the impact of the loss of life was compounded over the subsequent questions as to who was or wasn’t at fault, the Mahon inquiry, and an apology finally issued by Air New Zealand decades later. -
I Was There 1980s - The Decade in News
Season The 1980s , Episode 1The 80s saw forestry strikes and anti-nuclear protests, as well as the most divisive demonstrations we’ve seen with the Springbok Tour. We were shocked by bombings of the Trades Hall in Wellington and the Rainbow Warrior in Auckland, delighted by a visit from the Pope and the first successful heart transplant. -
I Was There 1970s - Sports & Recreation
Season The 1970s , Episode 41970s - Sports & Recreation: Our rowing 8 won gold at Munich in 1972, but in 1974 it was Christchurch’s chance to shine as the host of the Commonwealth Games – the city transformed as everyone ‘Joined Together’. New Zealand had an unusual role at the Montreal Olympics in 1976, sparking 26 African nations to boycott over our rugby ties with South Africa – John Walker had a clear run to a gold medal, and our hockey team won gold too. 1978 was a true milestone for our colonial nation though, our first cricket win against England, at the Basin Reserve. But protest would continue against racist tours in and by South Africa… setting the scene for the Springbok Tour in the 1980s. -
I Was There 1980s - Societal Change
Season The 1980s , Episode 280s - Societal Change: The 80s was a decade of massive social upheaval. From the locked-down economy of Rob Muldoon, to the massive transformation of David Lange’s 1984 Government, Rogernomics, Homosexual law reform - and even weekend retail trading. At the same time the stock market was a license to print money, until it all came tumbling down... -
I Was There 1980s - Sports & Leisure
Season The 1980s , Episode 480s - Sports & Leisure: While the Springbok Tour didn’t get the 80s off to the best possible start, we had plenty to celebrate later on that decade. The very next year in fact, we were glad to support the non-controversial All Whites as they made their first ever appearance at the Football World Cup. Five years later it was time to rehabilitate rugby in the eyes of the public, as we hosted the first Rugby World Cup - and claimed the trophy as our own. -
I Was There 1990s - Entertainment
Season The 1990s , Episode 590s - Entertainment: Often unsure about exactly who we were as a nation, the 1990s saw New Zealand culture at the fore. Shortland Street was “kiwi as” from the outset, and has been a juggernaut of local production ever since. The 90s was also the era of the game shows, from Sale of the Century, to Wheel of Fortune and Blind Date - overseas formats, that we took and made distinctly our own. -
I Was There 1990s - Social Trends
Season The 1990s , Episode 290s - Social Trends: The National Government stormed to power in the 1990 and made itself known with a number of policies and the prudent stewardship of finance minister Ruth Richardson. The Mother of All Budgets, the Employment Contracts Act, Student Loans and benefit cuts saw protests on the streets, while discontent was focused on an influx of wealthy Asian immigrants making New Zealand their home. -
I Was There 1980s - Big Event - Springbok Tour
Season The 1980s , Episode 380s - Big Event - Springbok Tour: The Springbok Tour, and the protests that resulted, didn’t just disrupt a few rugby games, it divided a nation. Pitting family members and workmates against one another, debating that now classic question - is there any place for politics in sport? -
I Was There 1990s - The Decade in News
Season The 1990s , Episode 190s - The decade in news: The 90s might have started off with the celebration of our sesquicentennial, but there were some dark times approaching: The mass killing at Aramoana and the Bain murders. Cave Creek. Things were literally dark in Auckland as the power went out for weeks on end. Race relations were tense, with attacks on One Tree Hill, the America’s Cup and an occupation at Moutoa Gardens. -
I Was There 1990s - Sports & Leisure
Season The 1990s , Episode 4Join legendary TV presenters Dougal Stevenson, Jennie Goodwin, Judy Bailey and Tom Bradley in a brand new local series, I Was There showing every weeknight in June. Each episode is presented by one of our iconic Kiwi newsreaders and covers a new decade. From the 60s through to the 90s, as viewers are taken through the biggest moments in New Zealand history over four momentous periods of change. I Was There unearths footage from rare archives, and fresh interviews offer new perspectives on the moments that changed our nation, from national tragedies to sporting triumphs and cultural milestones - all from the people who lived them. -
I Was There 1990s - The Big Event - MMP
Season The 1990s , Episode 390s - The Big Event - MMP: 1996 saw one of the biggest changes to our political system since women got the vote in 1893. Support for MMP was as mixed as its name suggests, and from the first election under the Mixed Member Proportional system in 1996, our political landscape was changed. The stranglehold over Parliament by the two main parties was gone, and how.
