Episode 1: A Decent Society

If you thought the political upheavals of the 1980s were dramatic, just wait for the sequel. Juggernaut 2: The Story of the Fourth National Government picks up the story as a weary New Zealand enters the 1990s, expecting calm but instead finding itself steered by a renewed force of radical change. This podcast from The Spinoff chronicles a decade defined by profound economic shocks, severe austerity measures, and a whirlwind of policy reforms that reshaped the nation's social fabric. You'll hear about the complex and historic renegotiation of Crown-Māori relations, internal power struggles that led to a shocking Beehive coup, and the unlikely introduction of a new electoral system that forever altered the political landscape. The narrative is built on firsthand accounts, featuring new and exclusive interviews with key figures who were in the room, from Prime Ministers Jim Bolger and Jenny Shipley to Finance Minister Ruth Richardson, opposition leader Helen Clark, and Treaty Negotiations Minister Doug Graham. It’s a detailed, character-driven examination of how the decisions of that decade, made amidst fresh crises and a blizzard of reforms, continue to echo through contemporary New Zealand life. Each episode delves into the personal ambitions, fierce ideologies, and unexpected consequences that defined an era often remembered for its brutality and its lasting political transformations.