Media Releases
What's New from RNZ in 2026
Released at 2:32 pm on 23 January 2026
23 January 2026
RNZ’s radio lineup returns after the summer break on Monday, and listeners can look forward to their favourite programmes and presenters returning refreshed as well as some new additions to the schedule that will strengthen RNZ’s live radio offering.
Celebrated journalist and broadcaster Guyon Espiner returns to a regular slot on RNZ National, fronting a revamped Midday Report, where his interviewing skills will be put to daily use. The programme will include regular local and international correspondents including a weekly politics segment with Paddy Gower on Fridays. Espiner will continue to work on other projects across RNZ including his successful multi-media programme 30 with Guyon Espiner. Get Images.
John Campbell is set to join Ingrid Hipkiss as Morning Report co-host in the coming months. Corin Dann takes on his new role as RNZ’s Business Editor and will continue to feature on the programme alongside Europe Correspondent Alice Wilkins, Money Correspondent Susan Edmunds, Rural Reporter Gianina Schwanecke and reporters and correspondents from around the motu.
At the other end of the day, expect to hear more news at 10pm with the extended bulletin providing important end of day updates, especially during times of national emergency such as this week's major weather event.
Saturday Morning returns on 31 January with Susie Ferguson and Mihingarangi Forbes, with a new start time of 8am and beloved show Country Life returning to the 7am time slot on Saturdays.
Chief Audio Officer Pip Keane said RNZ National was preparing for a big year in 2026 delivering informative and entertaining programming across the station with a focus on breaking news, key interviews and engaging guests.
"We wrapped up 2025 with strong audiences across radio and digital and we cemented our role as a lifeline utility with special bulletins during the Southland storm in October, demonstrating our role in an emergency. This year is going to be an important year with an election, Commonwealth Games and FIFA World Cup.
“Following our audio plan, we will be continuing to review and refresh our radio programmes to ensure they are delivering for audiences and keeping New Zealanders informed as well as entertained in what promises to be a busy year.”
On RNZ Concert, Music Alive with Clarissa Dunn will now be broadcast from 7pm, seven nights a week, making the most of the radio station’s unique recordings of top New Zealand classical performances, including live broadcasts. Evenings with David Morriss will now air from 9pm-midnight, continuing to deliver the late-night wind-down loved by audiences.
RNZ’s digital acceleration continues, with more website improvements on the way following the success of the new Life, Video and Podcast sections on rnz.co.nz, and exciting new podcasts and video content to be released throughout 2026.
Upcoming releases include popular digital creator How to DAD taking on elite athletes in their sporting disciplines in Out of my League, new podcast Far from Town in collaboration with Shepherdess magazine and Sound of My Father, a very personal podcast from documentary maker Rita Attwood.
Following their cinema releases, RNZ Video will be the streaming home of Dame Gaylene Preston’s documentary on acclaimed artist Dame Robin White, Grace, and Mighty Indeed, an award-winning documentary showcasing the vital work of female scientists in Antarctica.
There’ll be a wealth of fresh Aotearoa history programmes including new chapters of the award-winning history series NZ Wars and Untold Pacific History in production, and several new series underway including docudrama Te Pahi: The Chief, the King and the Thieves presented by Eugene Bingham.
William Ray’s popular history podcast Black Sheep returns for a ninth season, with a new dramatized podcast about ‘New Zealand’s own Sherlock Holmes’ in The Casefiles of Inspector Cummings, featuring Michael Galvin in the title role.
In comedy, a third season of social media hit The Adventures of Piripi Kaiwaru AKA Phillip! and Coconet’s The School Repeaters will come to RNZ Video early this year.
RNZ’s regular podcasts will also return from next week, including award-winning current affairs podcast The Detail, Country Life, Our Changing World, Mediawatch and Here Now. Also returning for 2026 is acclaimed Māori current affairs podcast MATA. At The Movies will relaunch as a podcast feed with film reviews from regular RNZ National contributors.
RNZ Interim Head of Content John Hartevelt said the schedule of returning and new content in 2026 cemented RNZ as the home for New Zealand’s stories.
“RNZ is proud to offer a uniquely New Zealand perspective with series and podcasts that reflect the diversity of Aotearoa. We are working hard to reach audiences where they are with a mix of stories in different formats across a range of platforms.”
Coming soon
VIDEO | SPORT
Out of My League
16 February
Where some people wonder ‘Wow, imagine trying to sprint 400 metres!’- How to DAD is lacing up his shoes ready to give it a crack. I mean, how good would the Olympics have been with an ‘Average Joe’ lane, so you could really grasp how extraordinary our athletes truly are? How to DAD is your Joe. Stream at rnz.co.nz/video from 16 February.
PODCASTS | POLITICS
Politics NZ
From Monday 26 January
If you follow New Zealand politics, you'll want to follow Politics NZ. Get Nine to Noon Politics, Wallace Chapman's The Whip, Morning Report's politicians panel, Focus on Politics, The House, and Context all in one feed each day. Follow on your favourite podcast app or listen at rnz.co.nz/podcasts.
Politics NZ artwork is adapted from ‘Sketch for new Parliament building, Wellington’ (1964) by Sir Basil Spence. Courtesy of Gillian Blee and the National Library of New Zealand.
PODCASTS | HISTORY, TE AO MĀORI
The Negotiators
Thursday 29 January
Meet the gutsy characters that steered their tribes through a minefield of complex treaty settlement negotiations. How do ordinary individuals cope with the weight of collective expectation as they come face to face with the formidable might of the Crown? This is their personal story.
Listen to the podcast of the Whakaata Māori show at rnz.co.nz/podcasts or on podcast apps. Made with support from NZ on Air.
PODCAST | HISTORY
Black Sheep
Friday 30 January
Black Sheep returns for its 9th season with a new cast of rogues, villains and controversial characters: Murderous nurses, foul-mouthed goldfield barkeepers, sly grogging kāuri gum dealers and more! Join William Ray as he looks at the darker side of New Zealand history. Listen at rnz.co.nz/podcasts or on podcast apps, or on RNZ National on Sundays at 7am.
PODCAST | ART, TE AO MĀORI
Pūtātara: Revolutions in Māori Art
Monday 23 February
Matariki Williams and Jamie Tahana transport us to the moments and movements around which Māori art has evolved and revolved, opening with the first Ngā Puna Waihanga hui in Te Kaha in 1973 and taking us right up to today. Listen at rnz.co.nz/podcasts or on podcast apps. This is one of three arts and culture podcasts commissioned through a Creative New Zealand, NZ On Air and RNZ co-fund, in response to the New Mirrors research that focused on strengthening arts and culture media for Aotearoa New Zealand.
VIDEO | COMEDY, PASIFIKA
The School Repeaters
Monday 2 March
On the last day of senior year, the Pizza Pie Bandits, Jay-Jay, Tomasi, Fuso, and Ina, attempt what is meant to be the ultimate prank. It backfires spectacularly, tarnishing Takamo Grammar’s prestigious name in a way no one will forget. Facing expulsion and the loss of their graduation credits, Jay-Jay hatches a wild plan to save their skins: repeat their senior year, join the rugby team, and lead the school to victory against their bitter rivals, St. Cath’s, in the legendary end-of-year match.
A six-part series by Coconet, made with support from NZ On Air.
PODCAST | RURAL, WOMEN
Far from Town
Wednesday 11 March
Far from Town is a collaboration between RNZ and Shepherdess magazine, telling the stories of the lives of six rural women. We find them by travelling down gravel roads, along stunning coastlines and up remote valleys to farms and homesteads and learn that what connects these women isn’t distance from the city – it’s strength, humour and honesty.
Episodes out every Wednesday at rnz.co.nz/podcasts or on podcast apps, or on RNZ National on Sundays at 7am.
ENDS
