Just before he died, John Daniell's step-dad told him a secret from his time as a spy. A secret that was possibly New Zealand's biggest of the Cold War and that has never been revealed. Until now.

To see more images and details about the series, vist the website here.

In the midst of the Cold War, first John Daniell's mum and then his step-dad worked for New Zealand's Security Intelligence Service (SIS). Spies stayed in the spare bedroom. His step-dad went out on missions. And John kept secrets.

Over five episodes, John Daniell and his friend, RNZ journalist Guyon Espiner, search for the truth behind a family story that might just be one of New Zealand's biggest Cold War secrets.

For nearly a year John and Guyon have been investigating this closely guarded secret. Having spoken to former Prime Ministers, senior officials, experts on intelligence services and even former spies themselves, they can now reveal this never-before-told story.

Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

On his 10th birthday, John Daniell's Mum tells him she used to work for the SIS. But that's just the start of the secrets...

John Daniell grew up in a house where spying was the family business. His mum had worked for New Zealand's Security Intelligence (SIS) before he was born and his step-dad worked for them throughout his childhood.

Through the tense years of the Cold War, John's step-dad, who we're calling Jim Stewart, went out on missions and the family kept New Zealand's secrets. The SIS - known as The Service - works on a need to know basis. But one night, not long before he died, Jim told John a story about one particular mission; a raid on a foreign embassy right here in New Zealand that has remained a closely guarded secret. Until now.

Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

New Zealand has Cold War spy stories we know about - and some we don't. Even now, it's hard to get people to talk. The big question is: who do you trust?

To see more images and details about the series, vist the website here.

Throughout the Cold War a front-line of sorts stretched around the world, with intelligence officers in the trenches. It reached even to New Zealand, as the two nuclear superpowers squared off over political ideology and power.

Since 1956 New Zealand has been part of the Five Eyes intelligence network, spying on friend and foe alike alongside the United States, Britain, Canada and Australia. The raid on the Czechoslovakian embassy revealed in this podcast was just one operation amongst a world of intrigue. A wilderness of mirrors, where spies fought over information and influence.

In Episode 2 we tell the stories of top New Zealand civil servant and alleged Russian agent Bill Sutch, the expulsion of USSR ambassador Vsevolod Sofinsky, and, from Australia, the Skripov Affair. We hear how the Soviets used "useful idiots" and John's mum chases a target across Wellington.

Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details