The Day After

On Christmas Day, the small nation of New Zealand - hosting the Queen and Prince Philip at the time - awoke to news of the horrific tragedy that was impossible to avoid. For some though, they were waking up to news that their loved ones had perished.

Guests:
Jim McAloon
Graeme Stewart
John Mahy
Beryl Donovan
Don Alabaster

Presenter and producer: Hamish Williams
Researcher: Neesha Bremner
Sound engineer: Shaun D Wilson
Production assistants: Kathy Cunningham and Hohepa Te Moana
Executive Producers: Ethan Sills and Andrew Laxon

Select music by Anthonie Tonnon. Made with funding by NZ On Air / Irirangi Te Motu.

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: 22
• Latest episode: 2025-08-06
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