New Zealand Film
Welcome to the New Zealand Film archive. Most New Zealand films have been made by small independent film-makers, often on a low budget and sometimes with sponsorship from the private sector or the NZ Film Commission. Only recently have international film companies used the New Zealand film industry as a source of feature films. However, the independent tradition of filmmaking in New Zealand dates back to the end of the 19th century, when film was first shot in New Zealand. The first feature film made in Godzone was "Hinemoa". It premiered on August 1, 1914 at the Lyric Theatre, Auckland.
The documentary film Cinema of Unease, by Sam Neill, presents an accessible history of film in New Zealand.
Most films are able to be accessed below, however some Films have been seperated into sub-categories, ie "New Zealand Documentaries", "Short Films" and "Peter Jackson Directs". The mother-lode can be prospected below.
Right: An artists rendition of Geoff Murphy's "Goodbye Pork Pie".
Children of the Dog Star (1984)
7.2/10
12-year-old Gretchen goes to stay with her uncle for the holidays and lets her imagination and talent for all things mechanical run wild. She is parti... Read more
For Good (2003)
5.4/10
Director: Stuart McKenzie
Starring: Michelle Langstone, Timothy Balme, Miranda Harcourt, Tim Gordon, Adam Gardiner,...
Would-be journalist Lisa Pearce is haunted by the abduction and murder of her childhood companion. When Lisa confronts the killer, she sparks a devast... Read more
Woodenhead (2003)
6.6/10
Director: Florian Habicht
Starring: Nicholas Butler, Teresa Peters
"Gert is ordered by a dump owner to deliver his beautiful mute daughter, Princess Plum, to her wedding. The two embark on a mystical journey through s... Read more
Hone Tuwhare: No Other Lips (1996)
Director: Gaylene Preston
Starring: Hone Tuwhare
Early in 1995, Hone Tuwhare one of the country's best-known, best-loved and most colourful literary figures allowed a film crew to observe him at home... Read more
A Song of Good (2008)
5.7/10
Director: Gregory King
Starring: Gareth Reeves, Matthew Sunderland, Ian Mune, Danielle Cormack, Johnathon Hendry
20-something slacker Gary Cradle (Gareth Reeves) has made a pig's ear of his life so far and after a series of botched attempts to get money for drugs... Read more
Operation 8 (2011)
7.4/10
Director: Errol Wright, Abi King-Jones
On October 15th 2007, activists around New Zealand woke to guns in their faces. Black-clad police smashed down doors, dragging families out onto roads... Read more
The Red House (2012)
6.8/10
Director: Alyx Duncan
Starring: Lee Stuart, Meng Jia Stuart
Beautifully photographed over three-and-a-half years in China and New Zealand, "The Red House" tells the story of Lee (Lee Stuart) and Jia (Meng Jia),... Read more
We're Here to Help (2007)
6.2/10
Director: Jonothan Cullinane
Starring: Erik Thomson, Miriama Smith, Michael Hurst
A sharply-scripted highly enjoyable kafka-esque comedy of a David-and-Goliath battle with the biggest bureaucracy of all - the tax department. Set in... Read more
The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King ( Blu-ray ) (2003)
8.9/10
Director: Peter Jackson
Starring: Bernard Hill, Cate Blanchett, David Wenham, Elijah Wood, Hugo Weaving, Ian Holm,...
Director Peter Jackson's triumphant finale to fantasy cinema's most acclaimed series has Frodo, Sam and the treacherous Gollum attempt to destroy the... Read more
The Brokenwood Mysteries: Series 1 (2014)
7.7/10
Starring: Neill Rea, Fern Sutherland
"The Brokenwood Mysteries" comprises four murder mystery stories set in a seemingly quiet country town where the town's newest resident, Detective Ins... Read more