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".
The Breaker Upperers (Blu-ray) (2018)
6.7/10
Director: Madeleine Sami, Jackie van Beek
Starring: Jemaine Clement, Oscar Kightley, Madeleine Sami, Jaquie Brown, James Rolleston,...
Two women cynical in love, set up an agency to break couples up as a way to avoid letting go and moving on with their lives. Read more
Hibiscus & Ruthless (2018)
7.5/10
Director: Stallone Vaiaoga-Ioasa
Starring: Suivai Autagavaia, Anna-Maree Thomas, Lafitaga Mafaufau, Yvonne Maea-Brown, Thie...
"No Going Out and No Boyfriends" - Hibiscus' obedience towards her Mum's rules is put to the test in her final year of University. As guys start to im... Read more
Kiwi Christmas (2017)
5.2/10
Director: Tony Simpson
Starring: Kari Vaananen, Sia Trokenheim, Xavier Horan, Luca Andrews, June Bishop, Samuel C...
Fed up with the materialism of Christmas, Santa runs away to New Zealand for a summer holiday. When two Kiwi kids figure out who he is, they have to f... Read more
Waru (2017)
6.3/10
Director: Katie Wolfe, Chelsea Cohen, Ainsley Gardiner, Casey Kaa, Renae Maihi, Awanui Simich-Pene, Briar Grace Smith, Paula Whetu Jones
Starring: Miriama McDowell, Jonny Brugh, Antonio Te Maioha, Kararaina Rangihau
A powerful and challenging story surrounding the funeral of a small boy Waru who dies at the hands of his caregiver and how the boys death impacts the... Read more
6 Days (2017)
6.2/10
Director: Toa Fraser
Starring: Mark Strong, Martin Shaw, Jamie Bell, Abbie Cornish
In April 1980, a half-dozen armed Arab separatists stormed the Iranian embassy in London and took 26 of the occupants hostage. The tense hours that fo... Read more
The Changeover (2017)
5.4/10
Director: Stuart McKenzie, Miranda Harcourt
Starring: Melanie Lynskey, Timothy Spall, Lucy Lawless, Nicholas Galitzine
Based on the Carnegie Medal winning novel by Margeret Mahy. Sixteen year-old Laura Chant lives with her mother and four-year-old brother Jacko in a po... Read more
The Free Man (2017)
6.3/10
Director: Toa Fraser
Freedom is defined as the power of self-determination attributed to the will; the quality of being independent of fate or necessity. To reach that lev... Read more
Spookers (2017)
6.1/10
Director: Florian Habicht
Starring: Huia Apiata, Barbara Armstrong
As night falls at Spookers, dozens of seemingly ordinary people become freaks, zombies and chainsaw-wielding clowns. Every weekend come rain, hail or... Read more
Gary of the Pacific (2017)
4.8/10
Director: Jarrod Holt, Ryan Hutchings, Nigel McCulloch
Starring: Josh Thomson, Megan Stevenson, Matt Whelan, David Fane, Leigh Hart
Struggling real-estate agent, Gary, wants to be a success. He's got a flash car, a fancy watch, now all he needs is the hot wife. But his girlfriend,... Read more
Pork Pie (Blu-ray) (2017)
6.4/10
Director: Matt Murphy
Starring: Dean O'Gorman, James Rolleston, Ashleigh Cummings
'Pork Pie' tracks the escapades of a trio of accidental outlaws as they travel the length of New Zealand in a yellow MINI Cooper S, protesting conform... Read more