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Island of Spirits
Television (Full Length) – 1973
This 1973 film sees poet Alistair Te Ariki Campbell explore the history of Kāpiti Island — from being a stronghold for Māori chief Te Rauparaha, to whaling station and its present form as a bird sanctuary. The film chronicles Campbell’s first visit to the legendary motu, where he feeds a kākā parrot a date from his mouth, and witnesses a remarkable scene where a weka kills a Norway rat. With impressionistic sequences set to verse, director Peter Coates’ ‘poetic realisation’ of the island was called “a remarkable contribution to NZ television” by Listener critic David Weatherall.
This island is alive with ghosts ...– The opening to the narration
Key Cast & Crew
See all 12 credits
Produced by
NZ Broadcasting Corporation
Music
Music composed by Ian McDonald
Performed by the NZBC Orchestra - conductor Vanco Cavdarski, leader Alex Lindsay
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