The 1950s saw an explosion of youth culture in Aotearoa. Stories about “bodgies and widgies' ' tearing up the streets on motorbikes, canoodling in the cinemas and hanging around in milk bars scandalised many Kiwi adults. In fact, it’s often said the whole idea of “the teenager” was born in the 1950s. But is that really true? And what even is a “milk bar” anyway? In this episode we trace the history of kiwi teens including: The drama over the 1954 “Mazengarb Report” How people in their teens were viewed by wider society, both Pākehā and Māori, in the early 19th century. How the industrial revolution, and the introduction of compulsory education, reshaped those views. The experience of takatāpui (LGBTQ+) teenagers, including for Māori prior to colonisation, and Pākehā teens in the late 19th Century. Compulsory military service and a generally conservative society in the early 20th century. How “teen culture” emerged in the 1950s. How Māori teens experienced life in the city as Māori increasingly migrated to urban areas after WWII. The involvement of teens in protest movements from the 1960s onwards. For more on this subject: Teenagers: The Rise of Youth Culture in New Zealand by Chris Brickell All Shook Up by Redmer Yska The “Mazengarb Report” https://www.gutenberg.org/files/14760/14760-h/14760-h.htm#Page_11 Teeangers and Youth - Te Ara https://teara.govt.nz/en/teenagers-and-youth

Take a voyage through the history of New Zealand with The Aotearoa History Show from RNZ - a part-animated web-series that travels all the way through from 100 million years ago to the modern day, capturing the highlights of our nation’s story. Fourteen short, sharp episodes dissect the what, when, how, and (most importantly) why of our past. Co-presented by RNZ's Maori Issues Correspondent Leigh-Marama McLachlan and William Ray from the smash hit Black Sheep podcast, it’s an accessible and entertaining tale perfect for history newbies and history buffs alike. [YouTube, 2019] The story of New Zealand and its people from its geological origins to modern day, hosted by William Ray, Māni Dunlop and Leigh-Marama McLachlan, with animation by Chris Maguren. [Radio New Zealand, 2019-2022]