Guyon Espiner & Corin Dann explore the backstory to today’s front page, diving into NZ’s political past and asking, "How did we get here?" But there's a twist: One knows the topic, the other doesn’t.
Podcast Overview
Guyon Espiner & Corin Dann explore the backstory to today’s front page, diving into NZ’s political past and asking, "How did we get here?" But there's a twist: One knows the topic, the other doesn’t.
Language
🇺🇲
Publishing Since
8/15/2025
2 verified contact emails on file for Context
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Recent Episodes
April 15, 2026
Sin and Scandals: When the Personal becomes Political
<p>Labour leader Chris Hipkins cries in response to a social media post by his ex-wife. Should we be listening? We chart the history of political scandals from the Profumo Affair through to Bill Clinton and Monica Lewinsky. </p><p>Political scandals from the Profumo Affair through to Bill Clinton and Monica Lewinsky – how has journalistic reporting on this thorny issue evolved and how much do we really need to hear about the private lives of our political leaders? </p><p>Labour leader Chris Hipkins cries in response to a social media post by his ex-wife. Is that something we need to know about? What about Shane Jones watching blue movies and putting it on his ministerial credit card? Are we bothered about Meteria Turei's benefit claiming history? How about the sexual preferences of Michael Joseph Savage? Is it in the public interest or are the public just interested? Where should reporters draw the line expecially when social media breaks the story?</p><p>Watch the video version of the <a href="https://youtu.be/dtsZ1tCUA-E">episode here</a></p><p>Or you can watch the full series on the <a href="https://www.rnz.co.nz/video/context">RNZ website here.</a></p><p>Thanks to Ngā Taonga Sound & Vision.</p><p>Have a topic you'd like Corin or Guyon to explore? Send your ideas to context@rnz.co.nz</p><p><a href="https://www.rnz.co.nz/podcast/context?share=8c3ed875-9cae-4f67-8c3e-07fa679a5881">Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details</a></p>
April 8, 2026
NZ's Royal Problem: The Power of the Crown
<p>After Andrew Mountbatten Windsor's arrest for his links to Epstein, questions arise about his place in the line of succession. We explore how New Zealand remains tied to the Crown and why changing it is more complex than it seems.</p><p>As scandal surrounds Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, attention has turned to his place in the royal line of succession in New Zealand. In this episode of Context, we explore how New Zealand remains tied to the Crown and why changing it is more complex than it seems.</p><p>Here’s the catch: if the UK moves to remove him, countries like New Zealand would need to pass their own laws to match it. So what does that actually mean? And if New Zealand became a republic what would have to change? </p><p>Corin Dann and Guyon Espiner trace the long evolution of our system from the Treaty of Waitangi, through dominion status and the Constitution Act 1986, to the modern role of the Governor-General. Along the way: Why NZ has a legal say in the line of succession What would replace the monarch as head of state And what happens to agreements made with the Crown Could New Zealand walk away from the monarchy and what would we be walking into?</p><p>Watch the video version of the episode <a href="https://youtu.be/QkVOZaKeQgA">here.</a></p><p>Or you can watch the full series on the <a href="https://www.rnz.co.nz/video/context">RNZ website here.</a></p><p>Thanks to Ngā Taonga Sound & Vision.</p><p>Have a topic you'd like Corin or Guyon to explore? Send your ideas to context@rnz.co.nz</p><p><a href="https://www.rnz.co.nz/podcast/context?share=97aff243-cf2d-4089-b922-2dbc6c28c2fe">Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details</a></p>
April 1, 2026
Pharmac: Bitter Pill or Best Medicine?
<p>New Zealand is the only country with a drug-buying agency like Pharmac - but how did we get here? This episode traces its origins, and through politics and patient stories explores the tough trade-offs at the heart of our health system</p><p>Pharmac decides which medicines New Zealanders get and which they don’t. It’s one of the most powerful institutions in our health system, negotiating hard with global drug companies to save billions. But that success comes with a trade-off: not every life-saving treatment can be funded. So how did New Zealand end up with a system like this? In this episode of Context, we trace the history of Pharmac from its creation in the 1990s to the controversial role it plays today. Along the way, we unpack how it works: the tough negotiations, the use of generics, and the cost-benefit decisions that can determine who gets access to medicine. We also explore the human side of those decisions. The cancer patients forced to go overseas for treatment. The families campaigning for drugs that aren’t funded. And the growing political pressure on a system that was designed to stay independent. As new, high-cost treatments emerge, including weight-loss drugs like Ozempic, the stakes are only getting higher. Is Pharmac a world-leading model that protects New Zealand’s health budget? Or a system that leaves some patients behind? This is the story of the trade-offs at the heart of New Zealand’s healthcare system.</p><p>Watch the video version of the episode<a href="https://youtu.be/TvGs1spw4Kc"> here.</a></p><p>Or you can watch the full series on the <a href="https://www.rnz.co.nz/video/context">RNZ website here.</a></p><p>Thanks to Ngā Taonga Sound & Vision.</p><p>Have a topic you'd like Corin or Guyon to explore? Send your ideas to context@rnz.co.nz</p><p><a href="https://www.rnz.co.nz/podcast/context?share=27efae77-9801-41fa-bbdf-3f58bcaa5ec5">Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details</a></p>
18 total episodes available
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