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".
Queen City Rocker (1986)
6.3/10
Director: Bruce Morrison
Starring: Matthew Hunter, Mark Pilisi, Peter Bland
In the turbulence of Auckland, Ska (Hunter) is a streetwise 19 year old, whose father is a drunkard and whose older sister works at a high-class massa... Read more
The Quiet Earth (Blu-Ray) (1985)
6.8/10
Director: Geoff Murphy
Starring: Alison Routledge, Anzac Wallace, Bruno Lawrence, Pete Smith
When everyone around him vanishes overnight, scientist Zac Hobson (Bruno Lawrence) finds himself seemingly the only person on the planet. The isolatio... Read more
The Quiet Earth (1985)
6.8/10
Director: Geoff Murphy
Starring: Bruno Lawrence, Alison Routledge, Peter Smith
A brilliant kiwi sci-fi thriller with Bruno Lawrence believing he is the last person on earth - until he stumbles on two more survivors, one a young w... Read more
Sylvia (1985)
6.6/10
Director: Michael Firth
Starring: Eleanor David, Mary Regan, Nigel Terry, Tom Wilkinson
Absorbing story of author-educator Sylvia Ashton-Warner, who brought new educational techniques to the teaching of the Maori students in 1940's New Ze... Read more
Mesmerized (1985)
4.9/10
Director: Michael Laughlin
Starring: Jodie Foster, John Lithgow, Michael Murphy, Dan Shor, Harry Andrews
Based on the true story of the intriguing Victoria Thompson murder trial that occurred in late 1800s New Zealand. This Gothic melodrama features Jodi... Read more
Mr Wrong (1985)
3.8/10
Director: Gaylene Preston
Starring: Heather Bolton, David Letch, Gary Stalker
Aka "Dark of the Night". What would you do if the car you had just bought made noises like somebody's dying breaths. This made in New Zealand psycho... Read more
Shaker Run (1985)
5.5/10
Director: Bruce Morrison
Starring: Cliff Robertson, Leif Garrett, Lisa Harrow
A seasoned stunt-car driver and his mechanic are finding things at low ebb in Dunedin. In return for needed cash they agree to provide transport to Cl... Read more
Came a Hot Friday (1984)
6.9/10
Director: Ian Mune
Starring: Billy T James, Peter Bland, Philip Gordon
In 1949 Wes and his sidekick Cyril are conmen eking out a meagre living by scamming small-town bookies. They arrive in Tainui and go to work with the... Read more
Trial Run (1984)
4.8/10
Director: Melanie Read
Starring: Annie Whittle, Judith Gibson, Christopher Broun
Rosemary didn't know how fast she could run... until she had to run for her life. There are three things that matter to Rosemary Edmonds (Annie Whittl... Read more
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