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Episodes and Stories 87
  • 1:00:00

    When A Warrior Dies (1991)

    This documentary marks the anniversary of the bombing of the Greenpeace ship the Rainbow Warrior and traces the events surrounding its attack.
  • 1:30:00

    Being Billy Apple (2007)

    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 his name, then turned himself into a brand. Director Leanne Pooley follows Apple's life, and looks at his work in the context of the development of conceptual art overseas. This 70-minute documentary sees Apple talking with the filmmaker about whether it is important his face is even seen on screen.
  • 1:30:00

    Hillary On Everest (2003)

    Sir Edmund Hillary was the only person on the planet to have stood on the top of Everest and at the North and South Poles.This is the definitive account of one of the 20th Century's greatest explorers and adventurers with Sir Edmund Hillary talking candidly about his life and the events that made him famous.
  • 1:00:00

    Mani's Story

    The harrowing but eventually uplifting story of Mani who is neither man nor woman. The life of intersex activist Mani Bruce Mitchell. Assigned male at birth (and named Bruce), at the age of one she was taken off to specialists who reassigned her as female. Renamed Margaret, the rural New Zealand community where she lived held a meeting to discuss the decision and to encourage everyone to keep the family's secret. At eight, without explanation, she was given the surgery that 'feminised' her. This documentary charts her discovery of the truth, choosing to own her sense of herself as neither male nor female, and follows her journey to Milwaukee to present a paper with fellow activist David Vandertie.
  • 1:00:00

    Ten Guitars (1996)

    Ten Guitars gives warm-spirited context to the song that has been the soundtrack to countless back-lawn crate parties and freezing works chains.
  • 1:00:00

    Who's Killing The Kiwi

    This documentary looks at the grim reality of our fast-disappearing national symbol (kiwi could be extinct from the mainland in 20 years) and the inspirational efforts of people passionate about saving it.
  • 1:00:00

    New Zild: The Story Of New Zealand English

    Oft-derided across the dutch for its vowel-mangling pronunciation (sex fush'n'chups anyone?) and too fast-paced for tourists and Elton John to understand; is New Zealand's unique accent. Presented by Jim Mora; New Zild follows the evolution of New Zealand English; from the "colonial twang" to Billy T. Linguist Elizabeth Gordon explains the infamous HRT (High Rising Terminal) ending our sentences; and Mora interprets such phrases as 'air gun' (how are you going?) Features Lynn of Tawa in an accent face-off with Sam Neill and Judy Bailey.
  • 1:00:00

    Dalvanius (2002)

    This documentary--made in the final stages of his battle with lung cancer--looks back on the career of songwriter and entertainer Maui Dalvanius Prime. Originally from South Taranaki, he dreamed of becoming a circus ringmaster, but instead became a taonga of the Aotearoa music industry. He had numerous successes: in Sydney with The Fascinations, and his groundbreaking kapa haka disco hit 'Poi E'. In this programme, he talks about his struggle to come to terms with making Maori music and his plans on making last hikoi to the East Coast where he wrote 'Poi-E' with the late Ngoi Pewhairangi.
  • 1:00:00

    Pakeha Maori

    Documentary about the early decades of the 19th century when two distinct people were living in Aotearoa.
  • 0:30:00

    Top Half - The Best of 1983

    On February 15, 1980, Television One and South Pacific Television were dissolved and became Television One and Television Two, under the newly formed Broadcasting Corporation of New Zealand (BCNZ). Both channels started broadcasting under the new entity the next day, 16/02/1980.
  • 3:00:00

    An Angel At My Table (A Trilogy) (1990)

    The harrowing true-life story of Janet Frame, one of New Zealand’s most distinguished authors. The film follows Frame along her inspiring journey, from a poverty-stricken childhood to a misdiagnosis of schizophrenia and electroshock therapy to, finally, international literary fame. An Angel At My Table was adapted from the autobiographies of distinguished New Zealand novelist, Janet Frame (To the Is-Land, An Angel at my Table, The Envoy from Mirror City).
  • 1:00:00

    Kohanga Kids

    A moving and candid look at some of the first intake of Maori pre-schoolers into the Kohanga Reo movement during the 1980s.
  • 1:00:00

    One Man's View

    Life Begins at 70: A documentary in which a reporter joins in the activities of several people over 70-years of age and talks to them about the various sports they play.
  • 1:00:00

    Out Of The Shadows

    Children of well-known New Zealanders discuss what it's like to live in the shadow of their parents. Featuring the children of Donna Awatere-Huata, Barry Crump, Sam Hunt, and Sir Robert Muldoon.
  • 0:56:00

    A Flock of Students (2004)

    Filmed over the 2003 Otago University year, the documentary takes a bird's eye view of student life, making this programme in the style of a wildlife documentary and viewing student life in terms of nesting, feeding, mating and display. The documentary divides its curiosity between first-year students, or "freshers", safe in their supervised accommodation, and the more mature students, who prefer the wild life, out alone, in rented houses and flats, centred round the city's infamous main street of student life, Castle Street. Life for the learner birds seems, at first, to be one long party, as they congregate at the popular student watering holes, but eventually they settle down to study and to concentrate on the challenges of surviving a long, hard winter away from home – and on passing their exams, of course. Conceived, written & produced by Colin Hogg ; directed by Rebecca Mellor.
  • 1:30:00

    Wrestling With The Angel (2004)

    A documentary about author Janet Frame based on the eponymous biography by Michael King. It travels through the familiar Frame themes - her alleged mental illness, family tragedies, overseas stays, how she began writing. Its value, and fresh insight, lies in the interviews with Frame's close friends and key figures in her life. They shed light on her personality and achievements. King in particular provides a considered, often-amusing account of Frame's life. This was his last interview for film; he was killed in a car accident in 2004.
  • 1:00:00

    The Last Laugh (2011)

    Delve into the hilarious and sometimes solemn subject of Maori humour. We explore what really makes Maori people laugh and who the faces of Maori humour are - both past and present.
  • 1:00:00

    Th' Dudes - Right Second Time (2007)

    In 2006, Th' Dudes reformed after 26 years. This doco follows them on a national tour as members Peter Urlich, Dave Dobbyn, Ian Morris, Lez White and Bruce Hambling reflect on their former lives as late 70s popstars. Encouraged to behave like stars, they didn't disappoint. There are frank discussions about sex, drugs, an obscene t-shirt, on-stage nudity and other bad behaviour, but also the stories behind classic songs like 'Bliss', 'Right First Time' and 'Be Mine Tonight' which still captivate adoring, if aging, audiences a quarter of a century later.
  • 1:00:00

    Barefoot Cinema (2008)

    Artsville brings New Zealand art and artists to the screen with a series of vivid documentaries from a range of the country's best and independent producers, directors and writers. The season premiere, Barefoot Cinema, explores the career and life of renowned Kiwi cinematographer Alun Bollinger. Alun has worked in the New Zealand film industry for 30 years on films including River Queen, Perfect Strangers, The Frighteners, Heavenly Creatures, Vigil and Goodbye Pork Pie.
  • 1:00:00

    You Heard It Live (1996)

    A history of public broadcasting in NZ through events that were reported live on wireless, including government attempts to jam transmission.
  • 1:00:00

    Wild About New Zealand - Fiordland National Park (2013)

    Fiordland National Park: The largest national park in New Zealand and one of the largest in the world, the park covers the southwest corner of the South Island. The grandeur of its scenery, with its deep fiords, its glacial lakes, its mountains and waterfalls, make it a popular tourist destination.
  • 1:00:00

    Women at War (2003)

    A documentary about the experiences of five New Zealand women who served with the New Zealand forces during World War II.
  • 1:00:00

    Then and Now: A Century of Soldiering (2003)

    This documentary explores life in the New Zealand Army over the past 100 years, with a special emphasis on overseas action it has been involved in, starting with the Boer War.
  • 0:30:00

    NZ Story: Parris Goebel (2014)

    Season 1 , Episode 16
    Parris Goebel is the girl from South Auckland making it on the L.A. music scene, hear her story.
  • 0:52:00

    Private Lives of Gifted Children (2004)

    A documentary that examines four gifted children in New Zealand; an ice skating champ, a maths genius, a chess whizz and a classical musician and composer.
  • 0:54:00

    Real Dads Revealed (2002)

    For many men fatherhood is the most important role they will ever play in their entire life. And like a lot of roles in today's society, that role is changing. From the stern, authoritative and distant father of our fathers, a new man has emerged. Today's dads want to play a bigger part in raising their children. Silently they're reducing hours, juggling shifts or simply quitting work to take on the most important job of their life. Fatherhood. Real Dads revealed explores the changing role of fatherhood in New Zealand by examining the position from the point of view of the hands-on-Dad, and the generations either side of him; daughters, sons and grandfathers share their recollections and opinions. This documentary looks at where our fathers think their parenting role is headed, and what impact the changing role of Fathers is having on our children. It examines the stereotype of the cardy wearing, meek and mild househusband, and reveal dads that have taken the opportunity to play an active role in parenting, covering the whole spectrum of manhood.
  • 0:56:00

    Explorers (2004) Surveyor, Thomas Brunner

    Episode 2
    Explorers is a documentary series that retraces some of the epic journeys undertaken by our early explorers as they forged their way through unmapped country across New Zealand. Four nineteenth century overland journeys provide the challenge for host Peter Elliott , who swaps the comforts of modern maritime transport, familiar to him during Captains Log, for a pair of sturdy tramping boots. Elliott picks up his backpack and plunges into some of New Zealand's most forbidding and spectacular hinterland to uncover the tracks of four of our pioneering Pakeha explorers: Episode One: Draughtsman, Charles Heaphy Episode Two: Surveyor, Thomas Brunner Episode Three: Gold Prospector, Alpheus J (George) Barrington Episode Four: Missionary, William Colenso .
  • 1:00:00

    A Political Game (2004)

    A Political Game explores an issue whose origins are to be found in the first decades of this century. It is about the battle for the soul of New Zealand, about an affluent period in our history when internationalism was popular and idealism was affordable. In broad brush-strokes we learn the context of rugby, politics and apartheid from 1921 through to 1996 and today. What did we do, and why did we do it? What effect did we have not only on New Zealanders attitudes towards sporting and other contacts with South Africa, but on wider related issues such as New Zealand’s foreign policy? Outside South Africa itself, nowhere was the impact of that country’s racial politics greater than it was in New Zealand. What does this tell us about ourselves? Why was the New Zealand/South Africa rugby connection the subject of such an intense and protracted debate?
  • 0:52:00

    Khaki All Blacks (2004)

    A story of survival, comradeship, celebration, renewal and of course, rugby. Meet the men whose first success was to survive a war that divided a world. Khaki All Blacks is a television documentary that traces the links between war (Boer War through to the Second World War) and rugby.
  • 1:00:00

    Explorers Missionary, William Colenso

    Episode 4
    Explorers is a documentary series that retraces some of the epic journeys undertaken by our early explorers as they forged their way through unmapped country across New Zealand. Four nineteenth century overland journeys provide the challenge for host Peter Elliott, who swaps the comforts of modern maritime transport, familiar to him during Captains Log, for a pair of sturdy tramping boots. Elliott picks up his backpack and plunges into some of New Zealand's most forbidding and spectacular hinterland to uncover the tracks of four of our pioneering Pakeha explorers.
  • 0:30:00

    Séraphine Pick, Painter

    Seraphine Pick has haunted the New Zealand art world with a constantly changing stream of emotionally charged paintings.This film follows the work and life of this prominent Wellington artist.
  • 0:30:00

    Circus

    Transporting a big circus around the country is a logistical nightmare. See how much organisation is takes for a circus to cross the Cooks Strait.
  • 1:45:00

    The Price of Milk (2000)

    After living together happily on a dairy farm for sometime, Lucinda and Rob's relationship begins to lose its spark. Seeking advice from her best friend, Drosophilia, Lucinda begins to start a series of minor conflicts which she hopes will stir up the romance in her relationship. But things don't go the way Lucinda expects and soon she's embroiled in a bigger mess than she began with.
  • 0:49:00

    Sisters of the River

    The Sisters of Compassion are the only indigenous religious order in New Zealand. Founded in Jerusalem, a Maori settlement on the banks of the Whanganui River in the eighteenth century, the Sisters of Compassion have been at the forefront of social work in New Zealand. The film documents the often radical social work the Sisters have done over the last century.
  • 0:50:00

    The Big Art Trip - Auckland

    Season 1 , Episode 3
    Interviews this episode: King Kapisi, Hip Hop artist; Lisa Reihana, multi media artist; Kim Martinengo, furniture designer; Stephen Bradbourne, hot glass artist; Corporate art collection; Peter Siddell, painter; Emily Siddell, sculptor; Sylvia Siddell, painter; Andy Leleisi'uao, painter.
  • 0:50:00

    The Big Art Trip - New Plymouth & Wanganui

    Season 1 , Episode 5
    Interviews this episode: Shonagh Koea, writer in New Plymouth - reads an extract from "Time For a Killing" and "The really Good Stuff", short stories; Len Lye 1901 - 1980, Sculptor, Filmmaker, Painter, Writer. 2001 is Len Lye's Centenary Year; Sarah Sampson, artist/photographer/ teacher; Rangi Kipa, sculptor/carver and wife Julie Kipa, contemporary painter; Saint Joseph's Church, New Plymouth; Matt Henry and Stark, conceptual (blow it up) artists; Ross Mitchell-Anyon, potter - Whanganui.
  • 0:50:00

    The Big Art Trip - Palmerston North & Wellington

    Season 1 , Episode 7
    Interviews this episode: Alison Quigan, Artistic Director - Counterpoint Theatre; Robert Janke, Sculptor/Art Teacher; Wellington's water fountain, Cuba Mall; Marianne Muggeridge, Painter; Grant Tilly, Actor/Artist/Box Maker; Cloud Boy - Johannes Contag, Musician / Demarnia Lloyd, Song Writer / Craig Monk, Musician
  • 0:45:00

    The Big Art Trip - Christchurch & Waimate

    Season 1 , Episode 11
    Interviews this episode: Stephen McCarthy, Hannah Beehre and Aaron Beehre, musicians from band Pine; Heather Straka, artist; Bing Dawe, sculptor; "The Clinic": Anastasia Dailianis, director/performer; Adam Hayward, conceptualist; Haydn Kerr, director/performer; Philip Trusttum, painter.
  • 0:53:00

    The Big Art Trip - Dunedin, Central Otago, & Invercargill

    Season 1 , Episode 13
    Interviews this episode: Jim Cooper, artist "New Skin" thesis research; Ann Culy, artist -Lure; Rainer Beneke, artist - Lure; Hone Tuwhare, poet; Deborah Wai-Kapohe, soprano; Sue Mclaughlin and Nigel Brown, artist.
  • 0:55:00

    The Big Art Trip - Auckland

    Season 2 , Episode 2
    Interviews this episode: Jacqueline Fahey - Painter; Yuk King Tan - Pyrotechnic Sculptor; Lucid 3 - Music; John Reynolds - Painter; Bushell's Sign - Chat Piece; Natalie Robertson - Photographer/video.
  • 0:24:00

    Profiles - Fiona Pardington, Photographer

    Fiona Pardington's fields of investigation have been psychoanalysis, medicine, voyeurism, memory and the body, the history of the photographic image and the nature of the relationship between the photographer and subject, particularly as it relates to sexual difference, through the ambiguities of a simultaneous solicitation and resistance. She is best known as a specialist in "pure" or analogue photographic darkroom technique, most notably hand printing and toning. Recently her photographs have returned to the formality of the photographic still life, particularly in relationship to taonga (treasured) artifacts found in museums. Mauria mai, tono ano is a series of evocative photographs on ancestral greenstone heitiki photographed from the collection of the Auckland Museum. The foetal-like heitiki carry the whakapapa (geneology) of geographical points in Te Wai Ponnamu (South Island), offering limitless ways of seeing traditional objects through contemporary eyes. A suite of her Heitiki are being gifted to the Musee du Quai Branly in Paris by the New Zealand government. Pardington has received many fellowships, residencies, awards and grants, including the Ngai Tahu residency at Otago polytechnic 2006 , Frances Hodgkins Fellow in both 1996 & 97, Visa Gold Art Award 1997 and The Moet & Chandon Fellow, France, 1991-92. An extensive exhibition history both locally and internationally includes the recent exhibition in Valencia at the Casa Museo Benlliure, ULTRAMarte, Contemporary Art From New Zealand. Selected public shows include Te Hei Tiki Auckland City Gallery 2005, Public/Private The 2nd Auckland Triennial 2004, and the Arts and Industry Urban Biennial, 2004
  • 0:28:00

    Who Laughs Last?

    A prolific and successful playwright, Roger Hall has consistently written for the stage. He has also written scripts for radio and television, and for children. Hall's writing is known for its comedy, political and social purpose, and underlying pathos. His plays have toured widely and have been performed at international venues. His biggest success was with Middle Age Spread that ran for 18 months in London's West End and won the award for Comedy of the Year (1979). Hall has been the recipient of awards and fellowships in recognition of his work. He published an autobiography, Bums on Seats, in 1998. Screened on Artsville, TV One (TVNZ) 2006.
  • 0:57:00

    Hone Tuwhare (1996)

    A rare insight into one of New Zealand's best-loved and most colourful literary figures - poet Hone Tuwhare. Also known as 'No Other Lips'.
  • 0:23:00

    Profiles - Margaret Mahy - Made in New Zealand

    A documentary about acclaimed New Zealand author Margaret Mahy, examines her life as a writer, the importance of New Zealand settings on her work; and the international success she's enjoyed.
  • 0:59:00

    Adventures in Maoriland: Alexander Markey and the Making of Hei tiki (1985)

    Adventures in Maoriland - The Making of Hei Tiki. Having exploited and offended Maori when in NZ in 1928 to make his film Under the Southern Cross, Hollywood director Alexander Markey returned two years later to make Hei Tiki, spending about four years around Taupo in the process and upsetting everyone all over again. The film, based on a Maori legend, was panned upon its New York release in 1935. This documentary tells the remarkable story of the making of Hei Tiki, and includes clips from the film, footage of the cast and crew at work, and interviews with descendants of the actors.
  • 0:28:00

    Hindsight - Tangata Whenua

    Season 2 , Episode 2
    What has been the recent Maori experience? We pick up the tale from the urbanisation of the 50s onwards, the 'Maori renaissance', the awakening of activism, treaty settlements and corporatisation. Presented, written, and produced by Damian Christie.
  • 0:57:00

    Karli Thomas and The Raiders of the Last Tuna

    The Pacific Ocean supplies over 60 per cent of the world's tuna consumption, but at what cost? The most valuable stocks of Pacific tuna are already in an over-fished state, while the big eye tuna and the blue fin tuna are in danger of extinction. Enter Kiwi eco-warrior Karli Thomas and her crew, as they patrol the Pacific high seas, battling plunder and piracy to save Pacific tuna stocks from destruction. Karli Thomas And The Raiders Of The Last Tuna follows the protesters on a three month voyage to the world's most remote stretches of ocean - the Pacific high seas. It is in these international waters that thousands of legal and illegal vessels are racing to take as much as they can of the dwindling tuna population. Karli and her fellow eco-warriors put their lives on the line to search for outright piracy and unlicensed ships. Along the way, they find increasing signs of the effects of over-fishing and dodgy fishing practices such as shark finning. It's the Wild West for the world's fishing fleets, and the last frontier for tuna.
  • 0:58:00

    Tarawera (2000)

    In June 1886 Mt Tarawera spectacularly erupted, and this documentary tells the story of the people who were caught in the catastrophic events. Around 120 people lost their lives, and the internationally famous Pink and White Terraces were destroyed. The documentary features an animated re-creation of the eruption, archival images, interviews with descendants of those involved, and readings from written eyewitness accounts. The author of the book Tarawera, Ron Keam, is also interviewed.
  • 1:01:00

    Soul in the Sea (2013)

    The true story of one woman's quest to befriend and protect an extroverted wild dolphin, Moko. Filmed in the six months leading up to Moko's death, Soul in the Sea follows a journey of discovery, devastating loss, and resolution. It's a love story with a difference; breaking through the invisible wall between people and animals, celebrating the incredible experience of friendship with a lone wild dolphin, and questioning whether we are truly aware of these souls in the sea. The greatest friendships can come out of the blue. With Kirsty Carrington, Errin Hallen, Grant Duffield, Peter Cavanagh, Dave Peck, Robert Purewa, Howard Hyland, Andy Bassett, Mike Jones, Jamie Quirk, Colin Holmes, TJ Haney, Karen Esterhuizen, Martin Williams, Dr Ingrid Visser, Phil Van Dusschoten Diane Turner, Pouroto Ngaropo, John Heaphy. Amy Taylor: Director, Producer, Cinematographer, Editor, Suzanne Chisholm, Michael Parfit: Executive Producer, James Brown: Online Editor, Dick Reade: Sound mix and design, Matthew Caradus: Composer, Amit Tripuraneni: Colour correction, Colourlab Pictures, Anthony Terry: Graphic design and website
  • 1:12:00

    Early Days Yet (2001)

    Early Days Yet is a documentary which explores the life of Allen Curnow, who was one of New Zealands greatest writers. Curnow not only won multiple New Zealand book awards and the Commonwealth Poetry Prize, he was also the first person outside of Britain to receive the Queen's Gold Medal for Poetry. Exploring Allen Curnow's distinguished life and work, this documentary is a portrait of a man who worked on the cutting edge of literature for almost 70 years.