New Zealand Docos
New Zealand has a rich tradition of quality documentary-making. We may not be able to get Merita Mita's 'Patu' but we do have the searing social commentary of 'In A Land of Plenty' or 'Out of Sight'. Look into New Zealand's history with 'The New Zealand Wars' or 'The Toogood Years'. These are New Zealand stories made by New Zealanders and a great treasure for us here.
Pictured: The tragic story of the Wahine ferry disaster is told in 'Shipwreck! Deadly Harbour'
Frodo is Great - Who Is That? (2004)
8.7/10
Director: Stan Alley
Starring: Peter Jackson, Elijah Wood, Orlando Bloom, Bret McKenzie
This film follows Bret McKenzie's career diversion from Flight of the Concords into Middle Earth and back again. We travel with Bret, Jemiane Cleme... Read more
Being Billy Apple (2007)
Director: Leanne Pooley
Billy Apple: enigma, con man, or artist? Being Billy Apple looks at one of New Zealand's most controversial contemporary artists: a man who changed hi... Read more
This Is New Zealand (1970)
Director: Hugh Macdonald
Directed by Hugh Macdonald, "This Is New Zealand" was made to promote the country at Expo '70 in Osaka, Japan. An ambitious concept saw iconic NZ imag... Read more
Intersexion (2012)
7.9/10
Director: Grant Lahood
In this award-winning documentary, New Zealand's first 'out' intersex person, Mani Bruce Mitchell, travels the globe to talk to other intersexuals: th... Read more
Change, Loss and Grief (2011)
'Change, Loss and Grief' is filmed in NZ Sign Language with English subtitles. It features members of the Deaf Community sharing their experiences of... Read more
Sisters From Siberia (2009)
Director: Russell Campbell
In 2006, Wellington City Councillor Stephanie Cook succeeds, after some difficulty, in adopting two sisters from a children's home in Siberia. Katya i... Read more
Inside Child Poverty (2011)
Director: Bryan Bruce
We used to think of New Zealand as a great place to bring up kids. Not anymore. Multi-award winning documentary maker Bryan Bruce spent 6 months inve... Read more
The Promise (2005)
6/10
Director: Leanne Pooley
After Lesley Martin took her mother’s life to end her suffering from terminal cancer, she told the world about it in a book, To Die Like A Dog. Martin... Read more
Murder on the Blade? (2003)
Director: Keith Hunter
On New Year's Eve 1997, holiday-makers Olivia Hope and Ben Smart disappeared from the Marlborough Sounds. Five months later, Scott Watson was arreste... Read more
Rubbings from a Live Man (2008)
7.7/10
Director: Florian Habicht
Starring: Warwick Broadhead
Filmmaker Florian Habicht ('Kaikohe Demolition', 'Woodenhead') takes veteran performer Warwick Broadhead as his subject matter in this captivating bio... Read more