Introducing New Zealand

Recut from material shot at least five years before, this National Film Unit short appears to have been driven by the Tourist and Publicity Department. Coming in for praise are New Zealand’s primary exports (farm products), road and railways, and social security. In the 50s long distance air links were opening NZ up to the world but international tourism was not a major industry, and NZ was focused firmly on agriculture. People are shown farming, “a little unsmiling” on city streets, and at play (fishing, sailing and skiing). Kids drink milk and Māori are assimilating.  

From the air the pattern of some of our New Zealand towns reminds us of the town-planning of a century ago, when the early settlers tried hard to fit a grid-iron pattern of streets to some very hilly localities, leaving us without much room in some of our towns.

– From the narration

Key Cast & Crew

Michael Forlong

Original Editor, Original Director