Fire in the Sky

The legacy of French nuclear testing in the Pacific goes well beyond the Rainbow Warrior. In Tahiti, we explore the lasting impacts of the testing programme on the people who had to live with it and reveal what the French government didn’t want Greenpeace- or rest of the world- to see. 

Written, presented and produced by: John Daniell and Noelle McCarthy
Sound design and mix: Marc Chesterman 
Researchers: Claire Logan and Caroline Fontaine
Executive Producers: Ethan Sills and Andrew Laxon
Music: Harbour Board, Marc Chesterman, Peter O’ Donoghue

For photos and videos related to the story, go to nzherald.co.nz/rainbowwarrior

Thanks to Dominique Prieur and Jean Marie Pontaut, authors of Secret Agent, published and copyrighted by the Librairie Arthème Fayard, 1995

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Each season of A Forgotten History explores a key story from New Zealand's past with fresh perspective on what happened at the time, and the lasting impacts of the moment.

Season 3: Rainbow Warrior 

40 years ago, two bombs went off in Auckland's harbour. The terror attack and the subsequent fallout changed New Zealand forever. 

Hosted by John Daniell and Noelle McCarthy. Presented by NZ Herald and Bird of Paradise Productions. 

Season 2: Mr Asia

In the 1970s, the Mr Asia drug syndicate was one of the largest sellers of heroin in the world. The group began in New Zealand, with two men at its centre: Marty Johnstone and Terry Clark.

As the syndicate spread around the world, for a few years, they were living the high life. And then, they started killing each other. 

Hosted by John Daniell and Noelle McCarthy. Presented by NZ Herald and Bird of Paradise Productions. 

Season 1: Tangiwai.

Christmas Eve, 1953. A historic year for New Zealand ended tragically, when 151 people died in the country's worst ever rail disaster. 70 years on, with only a handful of survivors still alive, did New Zealand learn the lessons of this horrific accident - or have we forgotten this tragedy? 

Hosted by Hamish Williams. Produced by the Motuihe Group for the New Zealand Herald.

All seasons made with funding from NZ on Air. Images used in the podcast tiles have been colourised. 

• No. of episodes: 21
• Latest episode: 2025-07-30
• History News News Commentary

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