Bill Saunders

The career of pioneering documentarian Bill Saunders began in the early days of New Zealand television. He went on to champion a fly on the wall documentary style and win Feltex Awards for acclaimed films on Moriori, and the elderly. Saunders was the final remaining member of TVNZ’s documentary unit when it was disbanded in 1988, and an outspoken advocate of public service broadcasting until his death in 1995.

Though still a young man he was yet the elder statesman of New Zealand’s documentary makers … He was a true gentleman, integrity and compassion the hallmarks of both the man and his work. Keith Hunter, writing a tribute to his colleague, The Sunday Star-Times, 7 May 1995