New Zealand's worst ever rail disaster occurred at 10:21pm, Christmas Eve, 1953. We explore the unfortunate series of events that led to Ka 949 plunging into the Whangaehu River, and hear from those there that night about the nightmare they witnessed.

Guests:
John Mahy
Bob Silk
Bruce Thompson
Jim McAloon 



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. 

New Zealand's worst ever rail disaster occurred at 10:21pm, Christmas Eve, 1953. We explore the unfortunate series of events that led to Ka 949 plunging into the Whangaehu River, and hear from those there that night about the nightmare they witnessed.
Guests: John Mahy Bob Silk Bruce Thompson Jim McAloon  
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.

NZ Herald Presents is a curated feed of original, limited series from the NZ Herald.

From gripping investigations to untold histories and deeply human stories, each series is brought to life through rich sound design, compelling narration and high-quality production.

 

NZ Herald Presents is a curated feed of original, limited series from the NZ Herald.
From gripping investigations to untold histories and deeply human stories, each series is brought to life through rich sound design, compelling narration and high-quality production.
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NZ Herald Presents

Christmas Eve

After the manhunt, the police investigation, the political back and forth, and the 'trial of the century', the big questions remain - who was really responsible for bombing the Rainbow Warrior and how did it change New Zealand?

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

After the manhunt, the police investigation, the political back and forth, and the 'trial of the century', the big questions remain - who was really responsible for bombing the Rainbow Warrior and how did it change New Zealand?
Written, presented and produced by: John Daniell and Noelle McCarthy Sound design and mix: Marc Chesterman&nbsp; Researchers: Claire Logan and Caroline Fontaine Executive Producers: Ethan Sills and Andrew Laxon Music: Harbour Board, Marc Chesterman, Peter O&rsquo; 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 Arth&egrave;me Fayard, 1995

Friends and Allies 

As the biggest trial NZ has ever seen approaches, the fallout from the bombing comes to a head for French politicians, spies are betrayed, tensions ramp up between leaders, and Kiwi police head to enemy territory in their hunt for evidence.

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

As the biggest trial NZ has ever seen approaches, the fallout from the bombing comes to a head for French politicians, spies are betrayed, tensions ramp up between leaders, and Kiwi police head to enemy territory in their hunt for evidence.
Written, presented and produced by: John Daniell and Noelle McCarthy Sound design and mix: Marc Chesterman&nbsp; Researchers: Claire Logan and Caroline Fontaine Executive Producers: Ethan Sills and Andrew Laxon Music: Harbour Board, Marc Chesterman, Peter O&rsquo; 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 Arth&egrave;me Fayard, 1995

Not Her Real Name

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

The legacy of French nuclear testing in the Pacific goes well beyond the Rainbow Warrior.&nbsp;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&rsquo;t want Greenpeace- or rest of&nbsp;the world- to see.&nbsp;
Written, presented and produced by: John Daniell and Noelle McCarthy Sound design and mix: Marc Chesterman&nbsp; Researchers: Claire Logan and Caroline Fontaine Executive Producers: Ethan Sills and Andrew Laxon Music: Harbour Board, Marc Chesterman, Peter O&rsquo; 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 Arth&egrave;me Fayard, 1995

Christmas Eve

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