Eyewitness

The moments that made us who we are as described by the people who were there.

Presented and produced by Justin Gregory and Sonia Yee

Abstract illustration featuring an eye on a pink background. Text reads "Eye Witness" below it.

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'I delayed the Millennium by five or six minutes' - Murray Kingi on The Gathering 2000

At the turn of the millennium 15,000 people gathered at the top of a mountain to dance. And then, it rained. A lot. Produced by Kirsten Johnstone
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RSE scheme 'transformed' the New Zealand fruit growing industry

Millions of dollars worth of New Zealand fruit and grapes were at risk of rotting on the branches due to a worker shortage. Until a bunch of growers took a risk. Produced by Eva Corlett.
Pete Bumseng

'I was all Xena, all the time'

Once upon a time, a TV show changed the way people around the world saw New Zealand, ushered in a new way for fans to get together and made a permanent impact on one fan's life. Produced by Justin Gregory
Gabrielle Podvoiskis dressed as Xena at her 21st Birthday party.

Shoot Straight and Tell the Truth

The 1972 Munich Olympics was meant to be a festival of sport. But that's not how it turned out. Produced by Sonia Sly.
A Fairfax photographer captured one of the defining images of the Munich Olympics in 1972. This Palestinian is one of a group that had taken 12 Israeli athletes hostage.

Never again? The case of James Whakaruru

On Eyewitness - it's been 20 years since the killing of a child shocked the country. We said it must never happen again. So why has it? Produced by Katie Doyle.
James Whakaruru.

Barry De Geest: 'We were used as guinea pigs'

On Eyewitness - a look at the drug that affected the lives of 10,000 babies...the story of Thalidomide. Produced by Sonia Sly.
A special chair made for Barry.

Melani Anae:'We said we weren't going to take it anymore'

When the police started cracking down on Pasifika overstayers, a group of young people called the Polynesian Panthers started pushing back. Produced by Jamie Tahana.
Shania Twain live at Spark Arena

Brent Hansen: 'Live Aid was 16 hours of guessing what happened next'

The 1985 Live Aid concert was broadcast all around the world. But it very nearly wasn't seen here. Produced by Katie Scotcher.
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A Very Bright Idea

Timaru man Colin Murdoch was one of the world's great inventors. Produced by Justin Gregory.
Colin Murdoch with two of his inventions.

The Rugby War

In 1995 rugby dropped its amateur ethos and went openly professional - but not before nearly tearing itself in two. Produced by Justin Gregory
Solomon Islands' academic Kabini Sanga.

Eyewitness: the Sisters Overseas Service and the 1977 Abortion Act

When restrictive new abortion laws were passed in this country, a grass roots group of women immediately mobilised. Produced by Claire Crofton.
Pro-abortion demonstration moving down Manners Street, Wellington. Photographed by an Evening Post staff photographer on the 23rd of June 1976.

Eyewitness: 10 years on from Napier Siege

When a routine search warrant goes suddenly wrong, an ordinary man becomes a hero. Produced by Anneke Smith.
A Defence Force LAV (light armoured vehicle) heads up Chaucer Road during the Napier Siege.

Eyewitness: The Wool Shock of 1966

Not that long ago, the New Zealand economy was built on sheep, sheep and more sheep. We were asking for economic trouble and in the late 1960s, we got it. Produced by Justin Gregory.
Sheep.

Dialling up the past: the evolution of telecommunications in NZ

In the last century we have seen a massive revolution in telecommunications. Technological advances have brought the world closer together, but we have lost something too. Liz Garton looks at the shift from manual to automatic telephone exchanges - a roll out that took nearly a century.
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Niue and Niu Silani

For over a century, Niueans have been moving to New Zealand in search of a better life. Did they find it?
Actor Shimpal Lelisi poses before the sign identifying his village of Liku in Niue.