Rollin' thru New Zealand with Kenny Rogers and The First Edition

As the opening of this 1974 documentary demonstrates, many people in the United States have never heard of New Zealand. In an attempt to remedy the situation, Kiwi director Tony Williams (the Bugger ads) followed Texan country rocker Kenny Rogers and his band The First Edition as they toured the country in a Road Services bus. All western shirts, shaggy hair, beards and satin jackets, they see the sights, meet the locals (many of them older rustic characters), play baseball, put down a hangi, break into song — and admire the country's slower, more dignified pace. 

New Zealand sure did love Kenny Rogers long before he was famous.  He was the most pleasant lovely man with a heart of gold and an eye always for the ladies.

– Bob Harvey

Key Cast & Crew

Bob Collins

Camera

Keith Hawke

Camera

Steve Locker-Lampson

Production Manager, Camera

Andy Fraser

Camera

Tony Williams

Director, Editor, Camera

John O'Shea

Producer