The New Old

In this series, Back Benches presenter Wallace Chapman looks at New Zealand, and connects the old and the new. From beer to servants, each of the 13 episodes looks at a particular activity or aspect of Kiwi culture, examining how it has changed or had a resurgence. The topics range from leisure activities — like bowling — to meatier matters like spirituality and the role of women. Chapman often brings a touch of humour to the interviews. Go to the clip selector under the video player to find a particular episode from the list: artisans, baking, beer, bowling clubs, Christianity, cinemas, farmers' markets, gardening, housewives, servants, tailoring, towns and transportation ('A Carless Life').