Heritage Talk: Nuclear New Zealand

If you think that New Zealand is ‘nuclear-free’, you are in for a big surprise. The father of nuclear physics was a New Zealander – this year is the 150th anniversary of his birth - and like any other civilised country, we make good medical and industrial use of radiation. You can’t avoid it!

Of course, like the rest of the world, some stupid things were done in the past through ignorance. Heard of Rotorua’s radium baths? Shoe pedascopes? So, what is the truth? Should you be worried? Do you have questions you want to ask? You are invited to listen to an expert give a gentle introduction to the facts and to learn how an irrational fear called radiophobia is distorting the world approach to dealing with climate change.

Presented by Dr Gavin Wallace of the Wainuiomata Historical Society.

Photograph courtesy of Auckland Libraries Heritage Collection.