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".
Whale Rider (2002)
7.6/10
Director: Niki Caro
Starring: Keisha Castle-Hughes, Cliff Curtis, Vicky Haughton, Rawiri Paratene, Grant Roa,...
There is a legend that Paikea rode on the back of a whale and led his people to New Zealand. Since that time tradition has decreed that the first-born... Read more
The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers - Extended Edition (2002)
6.2/10
Director: Peter Jackson
Starring: Elijah Wood, Ian McKellen, Liv Tyler, Viggo Mortensen, Sean Astin, Cate Blanchet...
A new version of the second instalment in the epic trilogy now includes over 40 minutes of never-before-seen footage. Frodo Baggins and the Fellowshi... Read more
The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (2002)
8.7/10
Director: Peter Jackson
Starring: Sean Astin, Orlando Bloom, Christopher Lee, Ian McKellen, Viggo Mortensen, Miran...
With the Fellowship of the Ring splintered, the war for Middle Earth continues in the second Tolkien tale from Peter Jackson. As warriors Aragorn (Vig... Read more
The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring ( Blu-ray ) (2001)
8.8/10
Director: Peter Jackson
Starring: Cate Blanchett, Christopher Lee, Elijah Wood, Hugo Weaving, Ian Holm, Ian McKell...
In the first installment of director Peter Jackson's ambitious and successful film adaptation of J.R.R. Tolkien's fantasy trilogy, Elijah Wood stars a... Read more
Crooked Earth (2001)
5.7/10
Director: Sam Pillsbury
Starring: Temuera Morrison, Lawrence Makoare, Jaime Passier-Armstrong, Quinton Hita, Nancy...
After 20 years service in the army, Captain Will Bastion (Temuera Morrison) is forced to resign his commission for an incident his superiors want kept... Read more
Being Eve: The Complete Series (2001)
8.2/10
Starring: Fleur Saville, Stephen Lovatt, Alison Bruce, Tandi Wright
Made in New Zealand this award-winning teen comedy/drama series focuses on the life of 15-year-old philosopher, Eve Baxter as she tries to understand... Read more
Her Majesty (2001)
7.1/10
Director: Mark J Gordon
Starring: Sally Andrews, Vicky Haughton, Mark Clare, Liddy Holloway
1953 New Zealand. Elizabeth Wakefield (Sally Andrews) is a 13 year old with a dream. She wants the newly crowned Queen Elizabeth to visit her Waikato... Read more
The Waiting Place (2001)
5.5/10
Director: Cristobal Araus Lobos
Starring: Dave Perrett, Dane Giraud, Vadim Ledogorov, Michelle Langstone
The unsetting story of two escaped convicts who hold up in a desolate psychiatric hospital while they await their ride to freedom. With nothing left t... Read more
The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001)
8.8/10
Director: Peter Jackson
Starring: Elijah Wood, Viggo Mortensen, Ian Holm, Ian McKellen, Liv Tyler, Cate Blanchett,...
In the first installment of director Peter Jackson's ambitious and successful film adaptation of J.R.R. Tolkien's fantasy trilogy, Elijah Wood stars a... Read more
Snakeskin (2001)
5.6/10
Director: Gillian Ashurst
Starring: Melanie Lynskey, Boyd Kestner, Dean O'Gorman, Oliver Driver
A mysterious American hitchhiker latches on to a couple for a ride and the trouble keeps coming in director Gillian Ashurst's feature debut. Complete... Read more