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".
Chunuk Bair (1992)
6.5/10
Director: Dale G Bradley
Starring: Robert Powell, Kevin J Wilson
The tragedy of Gallipoli is told through the heroic experience of the Wellington Regiment over a 3 days as, exhausted and shell-shocked, they battle t... Read more
Crush (1992)
5.9/10
Director: Alison Maclean
Starring: Marcia Gay Harden, William Zappa, Donogh Rees, Caitlin Bossley
A psychological thriller about a befriended American woman's impact on the life of a 15 year old girl leading to shattering consequences. Stars Marcia... Read more
Te Rua (1991)
8/10
Director: Barry Barclay
Starring: Donna Akersten, Stuart Devenie, Vanessa Rare, Wi Kuki Kaa, Gunter Meisner, Nissi...
A hundred years after the theft from New Zealand of three irreplaceable tribal carvings, two members of the Maori tribe decide it's time for ancient g... Read more
Braindead ( Aka Dead Alive ) (1991)
8.1/10
Director: Peter Jackson
Starring: Timothy Balme, Elizabeth Moody, Diana Penalver, Ian Watkin, Jed Brophy
Taking a trip back to suburban Wellington of the '50s, director Peter Jackson has created the mother of all zombie movies. Jam-packed with demented jo... Read more
Billy T Live (1990)
Starring: Billy T James
On April 29, 1990 one of the greatest events of New Zealand entertainment took place in Auckland. This was no run of the mill stage show, it was Billy... Read more
User Friendly (1990)
5.2/10
Director: Gregor Nicholas
Starring: Alison Bruce, David Letch, Judith Gibson, William Brandt
If a carved wooden dog with teeth like a shark followed you home...what would you do?! Augusta thinks the statue might be just what she needs, but ex-... Read more
An Angel At My Table (1990)
7.6/10
Director: Jane Campion
Starring: Kerry Fox, Karen Fergusson, Alexia Keogh, Iris Churn
Jane Campion's remarkable award-winning film based on the autobiographical writing of Janet Frame is a portrait of a sweet-natured, imaginative, painf... Read more
Meet the Feebles (1990)
6.7/10
Director: Peter Jackson
Starring: Harry, Bletch, Heidi
From that gross but sensational director of 'Bad Taste' comes this 'Sluppet' movie. The film revolves around the famous 'Feebles Variety Massacre' - t... Read more
Ruby and Rata (1990)
6/10
Director: Gaylene Preston
Starring: Vanessa Rare, Yvonne Lawley, Simon Barnett
The winning flick about Ruby, an elderly woman not yet ready for a retirement home and Rata, a would be rock singer and solo mother well practiced in... Read more
A Soldier's Tale (1989)
6.3/10
Director: Larry Parr
Starring: Benoit Regent, Gabriel Byrne, Judge Reinhold, Maurice Garrel, Marianne Basler, P...
In wartime France a New Zealand soldier on a weekend leave meets a young French woman who is under suspicion of colluding with the occupying Germans t... Read more